Most of the advances recorded in the field of healthcare are aimed at improving the quality of medical services. Modern technologies have become consequential in the sector. Patient education technology is an emerging subsection that is being utilized to maximize the health gains of different patients. The field focuses on the use of different innovations and advancements to empower or improve patients’ knowledge. The purpose of this development is to improve health outcomes through the use of Internet-based models and devices. Computer technologies and smartphones are tapped to support the practice. It is agreeable that the use of these technologies can inform patients about different self-care plans and eventually improve healthcare delivery. Nursing care stands a chance to benefit from this field since more patients are empowered to be part of every medical practice. This essay explores the unique attributes of patient education and how the idea can support patients’ health needs.
Analysis of Patient Education Technology
Healthcare practitioners such as nurses are currently utilizing various technologies to deliver high-quality support to their patients. The adopted technologies have been observed to maximize coordination of care, address clients’ needs, and promote the concept of multidisciplinary teams (Stribling & Richardson, 2016). Effective adoption of healthcare technology is capable of improving access to information, coordination, and communication. Krau (2015) indicates that the rate at which different technologies are implemented in medical practice will transform the health outcomes of underserved populations.
Example
Patient education technology is a wide area characterized by different models. A good example is the use of smartphones and handheld devices to share medical information between caregivers and patients. Apps can be installed in such devices whereby physicians and nurses can offer timely updates about self-care and medications (Krau, 2015). Such gadgets can be used to monitor different symptoms or improvements.
Features of the Presented Example
Mobile phones are revolutionary inventions that have transformed the manner in which information is shared (Stribling & Richardson, 2016). In the healthcare sector, these devices have been synced and equipped with new apps that seek to address a number of healthcare issues. For example, many healthcare organizations have designed different applications that seek to educate patients about various illnesses. Patients can use such apps to monitor various complications or illnesses (Krau, 2015). Apps can also guide patients to take their medications at the right time.
Handheld devices can be used to share personalized data to family members and patients. Individuals who have been discharged can receive timely information to support their personal care models. Members of the family can receive similar insights without having to visit the targeted hospital (Stribling & Richardson, 2016). Experts believe that more apps and models will emerge whereby mobile phones will be utilized to improve this area of patient education technology.
Personal Experience
As a practitioner, I have been on the frontline to embrace the power of technology in healthcare services delivery. I observed that most of my patients and family their members have access to handheld devices such as tablets and smartphones. This observation has encouraged me to advance my care delivery philosophy. I decided to use various apps such as Whatsapp to communicate with my patients after being discharged from the hospital. The app offers timely guidelines to make sure patients engage in self-care (Sawyer et al., 2016). I have been keen to ensure my patients develop better lifestyle practices characterized by exercises and healthy food materials. These goals are achieved by giving timely updates to the beneficiaries using the app. Emails and text messages have been suitable for individuals who do not use the social media app.
From this explanation, it should be observed that most of the involved patients and their relatives have managed to record positive health outcomes. The benefits of this technology can be utilized to empower more patients. The approach ensures that information, data, medical updates, and feedbacks are shared instantly (Krau, 2015). This model will maximize the health outcomes of more patients. The negative aspect of this example is that it might not support the health needs of every patient. This is the case because the Internet is unavailable to many people. Additionally, computer illiterate patients who lack smartphones might not benefit from this technology (Sawyer et al., 2016). I strongly believe that the issue can be addressed by creating a superior healthcare app to replace Whatsapp. Health institutions should support the app by educating more people about its benefits.
Conclusion
Patient education technology is a new development that empowers both the patient and the nurse. An informed patient will be willing to revise or develop an evidence-based personal care model. This understanding empowers be to consider new technologies that can ensure patient education is maximized. The concept of personalization will be taken seriously to ensure more patients receive timely information to support their health needs. Hospitals should embrace the power of information systems to guide practitioners to meet the health outcomes of every patient.
References
Krau, S. D. (2015). The influence of technology in nursing education. Nursing Clinics of North America, 50(2), 379-387. Web.
Sawyer, T., Nelson, M. J., McKee, V., Bowers, M. T., Meggitt, C., Baxt, S., … Granger, B. B. (2016). Implementing electronic tablet-based education of acute care patients. Critical Care Nurse, 36(1), 60-70. Web.
Stribling, J. C., & Richardson, J. E. (2016). Placing wireless tablets in clinical settings for patient education. Journal of Medical Library Association, 104(2), 159-164. Web.