Before the utilization of computer technology within healthcare, several issues were prevalent and directly impeded the quality of patient care. Records were organized in non-universal and non-permanent structures and were not always easily accessed. Similarly, individuals in remote locations had little access to medical consultation and treatment. Patients with ongoing conditions would always be at risk of worsening their health without their knowledge. Essentially, all processes from administrative to patient-related would be more time-consuming, costly, and ineffective than they are now. The emergence of computer technology within healthcare is the catalyst of many changes that began to display the improvement of medical procedures and care quality.
The introduction of electronic health records, or EHRs, has been essential in improving information exchange and care quality through computer technology. The implementation of EHRs has driven upgrades in both treatment and diagnostic processes by making a variety of medical information easily accessible and available. Compared to more old-fashioned methods for storing medical records, the computerization of documents and other materials provides time-efficient and easy recording, storage, and transfer of information (Rathert et al., 2019). It directly affects the quality of care by allowing medical staff to save time and energy by managing information gathering and administrative processes through software. More advanced systems allow for accurate patient identification, no document duplication, and other vital factors in ensuring patient safety and care.
Telehealth and telemedicine refer to any form of electronic communication between patients and healthcare professionals. This process is usually fostered on either computers or phones in the modern-day. The use of electronic communication defines telemedicine, and IT features by medical professionals to provide services for patients in remote locations. This can include evaluations, diagnoses, consultations, and the transfer of medical imaging (Gajarawala & Pelkowski, 2021). Telehealth provides remote reviews of patients and detection of changes in a patient’s condition, usually in the case of an alteration to therapy or medications being required. Because this form of analysis would be conducted virtually, it requires efficient computer technology.
As medical services become more prevalent in remote locations or in facilities in which the ratio of doctors to patients is substantial, remote monitoring may become essential to maintain a high quality of care. Remote monitoring, an ecosystem of computer and medical technology is vital to facilitating such a process. This includes patients being able to monitor their health at home, both to eliminate unnecessary doctor visits and to save on future costs (Walker et al., 2019). Additionally, the acquired data from patients can be sent to healthcare centers and providers. Even within hospital settings, remote monitoring allows doctors not to lose track of a patient’s condition in the case of overcrowding or other issues.
The introduction of already developed and innovative computer technology into the sphere of healthcare is essential in maintaining patients’ safety and care quality. The aforementioned technologies allow doctors and other medical staff to prioritize care and treatment instead of administrative processes. Repetitive work that is prone to human error is much better handled by modern computer technology. EHRs can provide vital information quickly and with ease. Telehealth allows patients to be always aware of their well-being. Remote monitoring assures that professionals are observing the state of a patient’s condition. As such, computer technology allows the medical practice to expand and improve interventions and patient well-being.
Works Cited
Gajarawala, Shilpa, N., & Pelkowski, Jessica, N. “Telehealth benefits and barriers”. The Journal for Nurse Practitioners, vol. 17, no. 2, 2021, pp. 218-221, Web.
Rathert, Cheryl, et al. “Seven years after Meaningful Use: Physicians’ and nurses’ experiences with electronic health records.” Health Care Management Review, vol. 44, no. 1, 2019, pp.30-40, Web.
Walker, Rachel, C., et al. “Patient expectations and experiences of remote monitoring for chronic diseases: systematic review and thematic synthesis of qualitative studies.” International Journal of Medical Informatics, vol. 124, no. 1, 2019, pp.78-85, Web.