Introduction
The need to improve patient care outcomes has influenced the research and development in various aspects of technology to enable hospitals and health professionals to deliver equal services to sick people in the healthcare system. The increasing level of digitalization has made healthcare units maximize the use of engineering for effective service delivery. During the COVID-19 nightmare, various sectors, including healthcare, encountered extreme challenges following the strict measures developed by the governments and the Ministry of Health to curb the spread of the virus. Nursing informatics facilitates practices such as data analysis, system management, and clinical practices in healthcare settings. Integrating computer competencies and telehealth is vital for ensuring quality care. Informatics abilities are helpful in enhancing the knowledge of exploring various sources of data to acquire relevant information necessary for the paper. The discussion will focus on the impact of technology in creating a more inclusive healthcare provision through the adoption of telehealth services and the role of informatics skills in enhancing e-health development.
Telehealth
Telehealth refers to the use of digital information and communication devices such as mobile phones, computers, and laptops to access healthcare services a patient may need without physically visiting the hospital facility. It enables caregivers to manage health conditions of the patient (Mataxen & Webb, 2019). Furthermore, the technologies are vital for doctors because they enable easy coordination and consultation amongst professionals. The system facilitates electronic conversations between patients and nurses. E-health promotes easy access to care services for large populations of people. Therefore, the implementation of telehealth practice in the healthcare system plays an essential role in ensuring marginalized communities across the country can receive the necessary information. The application of e-health solutions such as Doximity Dialer indicates the progress of sustaining equity-entered care. The adoption would enable sick individuals and their providers to communicate effectively through a virtual platform.
Contribution of Telehealth to Healthcare System
Encouraging Virtual Appointment
The adoption of e-health is essential in the healthcare system because it enables clinics to offer effective virtual appointments. The technique allows patients to meet their regular care provider through videoconference or through a web-based approach. For instance, during the pandemic, hospitals limited the number of visits, making it difficult for some individuals to access care. Through the virtual method, a patient can receive the services when an in-person visit is not possible (Rush et al., 2018). Furthermore, the procedure makes it easier for sick people who cannot afford to reach hospitals due to financial constraints to have the necessary services.
Promote Consultation Amongst Doctors
The use of e-health provides a platform whereby nurses can easily inquire more information concerning a given diagnosis to ensure they deliver better treatment. Through the technology, doctors can offer their input, thus reducing potential errors that can risk the lives of sick persons. For instance, after a diagnosis is made, the primary care provider can choose to send test results and exam notes to the specialists for further review. This would enable doctors to have proper insight into the problem. When there are cases of adjustment based on the assessment, the specialist may have an appointment with the patient or conduct a virtual meeting with the individual while at the provider’s office. The technique is essential in eliminating unnecessary in-person referrals and the burden of patient travel from one hospital to another.
Facilitating Remote Monitoring
Generally, after patients are released from hospitals, they require a continuous check by the nurses to determine how they are progressing and responding to the treatment. Due to economic factors and health conditions, some sick people may find it challenging to revisit healthcare facilities for regular check-ups. This makes consumers who cannot access the services boycott, which risks their lives in case of the required change in medication based on their immune response. However, with the application of telehealth, doctors can remotely monitor the recovery progress of their clients (Mataxen & Webb, 2019). The existence of wearable devices that records heartbeat, tremors, and sleeping patterns then transmit results automatically to the healthcare team allows physicians to have control of the treatment (Dinh-Le et al., 2019). Similarly, the patient can use technologies such as mobile apps to upload health details, including blood sugar levels, to the care provider to determine and examine the outcome.
Keeping Personal Health Records (PHR)
Health records are a vital requirement for doctors before beginning disease management. The adoption of e-health is essential in enabling patients to electronically collect, control, and maintains personal health information. When the details are uploaded to the PHR system, nurses can easily access the information through web-enabled technologies such as computers. A PHR is critical, especially during emergencies, because it enables doctors to have a proper insight into the current medications, diagnoses, and cases of drug allergies. This makes them able to deliver exact treatment that cannot tamper with the patient’s health condition.
Reducing Congestion in the Clinics
Telehealth technology allows healthcare facilities to limit the number of outpatient visits, enabling them to have a reduced number of in-persons. When patients are congested in the hospital, some may contract other transmissible diseases, thus complicating their health status (Leontjevas et al., 2021). The application of telemedicine allows nurses to attend to many patients without having physical contact. This lowers the chances of the patient suffering from other illnesses. Furthermore, it promotes faster service delivery within the clinics because only in-patients will be handled.
Informatics Skills and Knowledge in Telehealth Development
Generally, nursing informatics skills and knowledge play a significant role in influencing telehealth applications in healthcare facilities. The competencies encompass different aspects, such as recording and management of data. Nurses can access and analyze the patient details in the system through the capabilities, enabling them to provide better care to the sick person (Wu, 2021). In addition, informatics knowledge makes it easier for professionals to effectively navigate e-health accordingly, increasing the system’s productivity.
Furthermore, computer knowledge facilitates easy management of the system. When nurses have relevant informatics skills, they can tackle minor challenges from the technology which can interfere with daily operations. Having the capabilities to identify and analyze electronic records is essential in healthcare because providers will be able to examine the available data and draw a reliable conclusion based on the information given in the system. Such practices will ensure that the adoption of telehealth in hospitals meets the objective of increasing patient care and quality of services.
Doximity Tool
Doximity is a digital platform tool that facilitates e-health services amongst medical professionals. The system enables doctors and other care providers to access the latest news and research in the healthcare field, collaborate with one another, and even improve their careers as indicated in Doximity (2022). It aims at promoting the productivity of nurses to ensure they deliver the best care services to the patients. The Doximity Dialer allows sick persons to have an easy journey during their illness with their providers since it promotes continued communication and consultation throughout the recovery period.
It also promotes inclusivity and equitable access to healthcare services. Regardless of their age, language, or disability, patients can use the platform to obtain the care they need. It, therefore, eliminates barriers and discriminations that hinder people from receiving equity-centered services. For instance, hospitals that cannot accommodate patients with a wheelchair can effectively offer their care to the individual at a remote location. Similarly, clients that have transportation issues have the potential to obtain health provisions wherever they are.
The application of e-health also allows patients to reduce the gross costs associated with receiving care. Expenses such as transport and accommodation consume consumers’ finance, thus making the healthcare service expensive. When patients are kept at home, severe expenditures are reduced. Similarly, it enables health professionals to attend to many sick individuals within less time. These make the hospitals and patients save a considerable amount of money.
Challenges Facing Telehealth
Despite the effectiveness of telehealth in the healthcare system, there are some limitations that affect its progress in ensuring inclusive accessibility to care facilities. For instance, most areas that require e-health intervention, such as rural regions, do not have reliable broadband internet. The lack of network limits the provision of healthcare services to patients, thus lowering the equitable access to care. Moreover, because the procedure is based on an online platform, the privacy of patients’ details is a crucial concern.
Conclusion
In summary, incorporating telehealth services into the healthcare system provides a massive advantage to a diverse population of patients. Several factors such as finances and disabilities limit sick people from accessing proper care services. The adoption of e-health ensures all the barriers to equitable healthcare provision are eliminated, allowing easy access to the facilities. Nursing informatics allows nurses to have the abilities to manage and analyse patients’ information effectively. The platform promotes remote monitoring of patients, virtual appointments, personal health records, and effective consultation amongst primary providers. The application of the Doximity Dialer tool enables patients and hospitals to reduce expenses. Limited internet access in rural areas limits sick persons from receiving an inclusive healthcare system.
References
Dinh-Le, C., Chuang, R., Chokshi, S., & Mann, D. (2019). Wearable health technology and electronic health record integration: Scoping review and future directions. JMIR mHealth and uHealth, 7(9), e12861. Web.
Doximity (2022), Creating a more inclusive healthcare system through telehealth. Web.
Leontjevas, R., Knippenberg, I. A., Bakker, C., Koopmans, R. T., & Gerritsen, D. L. (2021). Telehealth and telecommunication in nursing homes during COVID-19 antiepidemic measures in the Netherlands. International psychogeriatrics, 33(8), 835-836. Web.
Mataxen, P. A., & Webb, L. D. (2019). Telehealth nursing: More than just a phone call. Nursing2020, 49(4), 11-13. Web.
Rush, K. L., Hatt, L., Janke, R., Burton, L., Ferrier, M., & Tetrault, M. (2018). The efficacy of telehealth delivered educational approaches for patients with chronic diseases: A systematic review. Patient Education and Counseling, 101(8), 1310-1321. Web.
Wu, Y. (2021). Utilization of telehealth and the advancement of nursing informatics during COVID-19 pandemic. International Journal of Nursing Sciences. Web.