Introduction
Information technology (IT) has become an essential component of many spheres of people’s activities. In health care, IT plays a particularly significant role due to enabling nurses and physicians to operate sets of data in a faster and more efficient way. The present paper examines the concepts of big data and data mining, as well as continuity planning and the use of informatics in healthcare education.
Big Data and Data Mining
An aspect of big data and data mining that seems particularly interesting is the use of electronic health records (EHRs). EHR is the technology allows storing great amounts of clinical data in one place for a long time (Ross, Wei, & Ohno-Machado, 2015). Ross et al. (2015) note that EHRs represent big data because they comprise data sets and involve data processing. Thus, the value of this concept to healthcare cannot be overestimated.
The Concept of Continuity Planning
Continuity planning is the discipline which helps in arranging an organization’s successful work in the future. As Kliem and Richie (2016) note, one of the ways of interpreting business continuity (BC) is “before crisis” (p. 1). With the help of BC, it is possible to predict potential threats to a company’s effective operations and avoid these risks. A BC plan includes such aspects as the analysis of a firm’s threats, the list of steps to be taken to maintain the flow of operations, and contact data for emergencies (Kliem & Richie, 2016).
Also, a BC plan incorporates backup information and methods of collaboration between different teams and departments. In the healthcare setting, having BC arrangements is not only a business or ethical decision: it is the legal obligation (Rock, 2016). As a manager of a hospital or clinic, I would recommend a preparedness program covering the following aspects:
- analyzing emerging threats;
- updating software and its security;
- backing up all hospital and patient data at least once in three months;
- eliminating outdated information and reviewing the plan frequently.
The Use of Informatics in Healthcare Education
With the rapid development of IT, there is hardly any sphere where informatics has not been involved. An article by Swenty and Titzer (2014) discusses the use of informatics in healthcare education. Scholars remark that there is a need for training nursing students on the use of IT to make them able to perform assessments, order medical tests, and evaluate diagnostic measures (Swenty & Titzer, 2014).
The major benefit of using IT in healthcare education is the possibility to make innovative, effective connections between learners and teachers. Apart from that, professors can share professional materials and resources with those who want to become healthcare professionals. One more benefit of employing IT in education is that students obtain access to innovative tools and apps, which increases their professional outlook and knowledge.
Along with advantages, adding IT to the curriculum may have some limitations. The main problem that may occur is the lack of Internet access or its poor quality. Another disadvantage is that students may neglect crucial issues due to the lack of focus on details. Still, Swenty and Titzer (2014) note that the advantages of using IT in healthcare education outnumber the disadvantages. Therefore, this method seems viable to implement because of increased possibilities for learners and their future clients.
Conclusion
Health care is the sphere in which constant development is a necessity. With the help of emerging IT options, the possibilities for healthcare employees and students increase substantially. Such aspects as data mining, big data, continuity planning, and the use of informatics in education serve as prerequisites of successful planning and improvement of various activities. Despite some limitations, IT offers a variety of advantages for nurses and physicians, as well as their patients.
References
Kliem, R. L., & Richie, G. D. (2016). Business continuity planning: A project management approach. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press.
Rock, T. (2016). 4 reasons to update a hospital business continuity plan. Web.
Ross, M. K., Wei, W., & Ohno-Machado, L. (2014). “Big data” and the electronic health record. Yearbook of Medical Informatics, 9(1), 97-104.
Swenty, C. L., & Titzer, J. L. (2014). A sense of urgency: Integrating technology and informatics in advance practice nursing education. The Journal of Nurse Practitioners, 10(10), e57-e67.