HIV is a common problem today despite many medical efforts to curb its spread. However, health policies and standards significantly impact the care of HIV-infected patients. Advances in medical technology have had a significant impact on HIV patients as well as their families and people at risk. At the same time, in order to successfully care for and promote the recovery of people, it is necessary to use suitable modern technologies. Thus, it will help to better fulfill all the requirements to meet the unique requirements of people with such needs as HIV patients.
The Impact of Technology
The impact of technology on HIV-infected patients, their families, and the country’s population. Technological advances make it possible to achieve success in the ways and methods of treating the disease as well as preventing its spread. Implementing numerous technological innovations in patient care has significantly reduced mortality (Jani & De Schacht, 2019). This is significant progress in the field of HIV treatment since any positive dynamics can significantly affect the total number of people whose recovery process has been facilitated. At the same time, modern research in the field of medical technologies provides successful treatment through antiretroviral therapy (ART).
Advantages and Disadvantages of Technology
Antiretroviral therapy is one of the most influential and widespread technologies in the field of HIV care. ART is among the most highly effective HIV treatments (Pellowski et al., 2019). In this regard, scientific work and numerous studies are regularly carried out to analyze the effect of therapy on people. This type of care can lead to improved patient outcomes. However, scientists highlight some disadvantages associated with ART. For example, this type of therapy is associated with numerous side effects, including nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2022). In addition, this treatment is expensive, and many patients can hardly afford the medicines. This means there are certain increased risks for people from less well-off backgrounds. The reviewed data entirely correlates with my medical practice, as ART is more effective than other methods. At the same time, however, it is vital to observe psychological and moral support measures to provide comprehensive care for patients. Some people cannot pay for this type of treatment, which is also not covered by insurance programs, making matters even worse.
Potential Barriers to Technology
Limited resources are one of the biggest obstacles to achieving effective treatments and patient care. The high cost of ART is a significant barrier for many HIV patients, as disadvantaged populations cannot receive proper care. According to Kiplagat et al. (2022), HIV patients who are uninsured or underinsured are less likely to receive ART due to the high cost of the drug. In addition, some patients may face other barriers to accessing medical technology, such as poor infrastructure, resulting in limited access to healthcare facilities. The human immunodeficiency virus has a high mutagenicity, that is, the ability to change its genetic information, which allows it to adapt to adverse environmental conditions, including the action of an antiviral drug. In the context of ART treatment, several drugs are used at once, with different application points. As part of therapy, this ensures the suppression of all stages of the development of the virus, as well as its mutational activity.
Care Coordination and Use of Community Resources
If appropriately managed, patient care and resource allocation can be efficient and more reliable. The use of community resources can play a positive role in helping to treat HIV. Community-based health interventions can improve and scale up ART among patients with HIV. This can be effective because the high cost of treatment will be offset by opportunities that society can provide, such as grassroots initiatives. Nurses can play a significant role in this process as they have the opportunity to spread the word about HIV treatment for awareness and support from the public.
As evidence of such a resource-based approach to treatment, one can refer to numerous scientific works on this topic. Researchers have found evidence that the community can influence treatment opportunities by providing a platform to raise funds for treatment by its members (Barnabas et al., 2020). In this way, people can significantly improve the complicated situation of the infected. Research also shows that while this general approach is practical, there are some downsides. Reducing the burden on the medical system can make it much easier for insurance companies and care providers to stop paying attention to this problem (Colvin, 2019). Thus, this is a disadvantage that may somewhat understate the existing problem. In addition, some patients may refuse to participate in the support program due to the possible stigmatization of those infected with HIV. The lack and disinterest of people in the community can also be a significant barrier to successfully assisting in treatment.
Help Practice Standards and Policies
Organizational government policies, as well as the many standards adopted to coordinate care for HIV patients, can guide healthcare professionals in the application of medical technologies. Education and transparent standards for the use of equipment and methods of treatment and care with the help of community resources can significantly accelerate recovery. Statutes and guides are introduced in the field of medicine to establish more effective methods of care. The American Nurses Association has established standards of practice emphasizing the importance of patient-centered care and care coordination (Shaw et al., 2019). In this way, it is possible to better understand the objectives of treatment and their possible outcomes as well as negative consequences.
These standards and practices will help me more confidently guide my work with HIV-infected patients. With precise guidelines and rules, it will be possible to more accurately identify critical issues to further remove existing barriers. Thus, guidelines are of great importance in the practice of nurses, as they help health workers to conduct their work more efficiently. Thanks to this, it is possible to achieve more significant results in the care procedures for HIV patients.
Influence of Policies of Different Levels on the Sphere of Nursing Practice
Local, state, and federal policies regarding the care and treatment of patients with HIV can significantly affect the bottom line. Such statutes are intended for nurses since guidance can positively affect the coordination of movements. For example, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) has led to increased access for people to various treatments that were not available to everyone. This also directly relates to HIV since its treatment is quite expensive. Services for many people, including people living with HIV. In addition to explicit directions in the organization of care, public policy can provide funding for many programs that require attention.
The National Board of State Councils for Nursing (NCSBN) can set standards for nursing practice and education, including the use of technology in health care. This can significantly affect the work of medical personnel, as they are obliged to obey the rules put forward. Thus the impact of standards and policies is quite significant at the national and local levels. In addition, government nursing councils may have their policies and recommendations regarding the use of technology in nursing practice. These practices are also subject to local adjustments and regulations, making them flexible for the specific needs of different states. For example, Florida has developed guidelines for the use of telemedicine in nursing practice that include requirements for informed consent, documentation, and the use of secure communications technologies (Almubark et al., 2022). Such standards and policies can help nurses perform their tasks more accurately and efficiently. As a volunteer, I spent 30 hours working with a selected category of patients and getting to know the current rules of care.
Ethical Aspects and Applied Technologies
Nursing ethics is a guiding principle for action regarding technological innovation in clinics. In some cases, this may manifest itself in the fact that it is necessary to teach the patient himself how to use certain technologies. In this case, perfect knowledge of the subject matter is essential. The National Council of State Boards for Nursing (NCSBN) provides guidance to nurses on the safe and effective use of technology (Dickison et al., 2019). In this way, traumatic use of specific equipment can be prevented, and nurses’ awareness can be improved. State council standards of nursing practice and organizational or government policy play a critical role in guiding the use of technology. Individual healthcare facilities may have policies related to the use of electronic health records, telemedicine, or other forms of technology. In such cases, these guidelines will also apply to materials that regulate the handling of technological items by medical personnel.
Experiences
I met with friend Glory Charles from whom I was able to learn many important issues about technology and care. While working, I looked at many sources that were important to me as a specialist. One of these is the Health Resources and Services Administration’s (HRSA) (2022) which provides recommendations for the introduction of technologies in HIV treatment. From this review, I learned how innovations in HIV care can be used. Learning the problem directly affected my knowledge of service capabilities, patient safety, and the costs of the medical system. The work experience helped me understand HIV better and adjust my care plans. These changes can significantly affect the effectiveness of my work in the future. At the same time, I was interested in the use of telemedicine in this area because I am interested in finding out how effective it is.
Conclusion
It is worth noting that the use of technology, care coordination, and community resources can have a significant impact on how medical staff treats patients. Regulations and policies have the necessary number of prescriptions that must be processed by doctors and nurses in order to improve their professionalism. Thanks to competent instructions, it is possible to achieve the best quality of care in combination with the use of modern technologies. HIV requires a strict approach and quick correct action because a person with this infection is at an increased chance of contracting other diseases. The use of technology can go a long way in helping to ensure the care and recovery of people.
References
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Kiplagat, J., Tran, D. N., Barber, T., Njuguna, B., Vedanthan, R., Triant, V. A., & Pastakia, S. D. (2022). How health systems can adapt to a population ageing with HIV and comorbid disease. The Lancet HIV, 9(4), 281-292. Web.
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