a brief description of general healthcare technology trends, particularly related to data/information you have observed in use in your healthcare organization or nursing practice. Describe any potential challenges or risks that may be inherent in the technologies associated with these trends you described. Then, describe at least one potential benefit and one potential risk associated with data safety, legislation, and patient care for the technologies you described. Next, explain which healthcare technology trends you believe are most promising for impacting healthcare technology in nursing practice and explain why. Describe whether this promise will contribute to improvements in patient care outcomes, efficiencies, or data management. Be specific and provide examples.
Sample Answer
General Healthcare Technology Trends (Data/Information Focus):
In my healthcare organization/practice, I've observed several prominent technology trends centered around data and information:
- Electronic Health Records (EHRs) and Interoperability: While EHRs are now standard, the focus is increasingly on making data flow more seamlessly between different departments (e.g., lab to nursing, physician to pharmacy) and even external providers or systems. This involves implementing Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) and adopting standards like FHIR (Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources).
- Telehealth and Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM): The use of telehealth platforms for virtual visits has become widespread and is now being integrated more formally. RPM technologies, such as wearable devices tracking vital signs (blood pressure, blood glucose, oxygen saturation) or apps for symptom logging, are being used to monitor patients outside traditional clinical settings, especially post-discharge or for chronic conditions.
- Clinical Decision Support (CDS) Systems: EHRs are increasingly incorporating more sophisticated CDS tools that provide alerts and reminders based on patient data entered into the system (e.g., drug-drug interaction alerts, reminders for preventative screenings based on age/diagnosis, alerts for abnormal lab values).
- Data Analytics and Reporting: There's a growing emphasis on using aggregated, deGeneral Healthcare Technology Trends (Data/Information Focus):