Nursing and Health IT Quiz

Technology Solutions Used by Nurses for Safe and Efficient Patient Care

• Technology is impacting patient safety in healthcare
• Information technologies (ITs) are crucial for improving care, especially patient safety
• The deployment of IT is vital for improving patient outcomes
• Nurses use various technologies to enhance clinical skills and improve efficiency in patient care workflows

Objectives

• Overview of major information technologies (ITs) in healthcare with potential impacts on safety
• Description of manner in which ITs are used to boost patient safety
• Assessment of the impact of healthcare technology deployments on nurses

Introduction

• Educational programs in nursing focus on developing knowledge, skills, and attitudes needed to provide high-quality, cost-effective, and safe patient care.
• In 2009 the World Health Organization (WHO) backed the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act, allocating over $17 billion to improve the use of IT in healthcare systems (EHRs)
• While financial incentives are promoting technological adoption, challenges remain with the rapid implementation, and safety issues have arisen regarding patient care
• The introduction of EHRs has shown that they reduce medication errors and improve patient care and safety significantly.
• This lecture will provide background knowledge and tools for organizations in the area of health IT and patient safety
• Resources are offered for healthcare organizations to use in their practice settings to ensure the safest patient care possible

Nurses and Technology

• New medical technologies can significantly help nurses with routine tasks, reducing human error
• Technology isn't designed to replace the personal touch that nurses provide to patients
• Nurses work with families, explain procedures, and address patient concerns
• Human interaction in healthcare is equally crucial for patient success
• The balance between technology and human touch is important for effective healthcare
• Nurses excel at integrating nursing science with computer technology and information science, ultimately improving communication, documentation, and efficiency in patient care

Common Software Useful to Nurses

• Laboratory and radiological systems
• Quality and safety computer systems, such as provider order entry (CPOE)
• Inventory systems that simplify nurse tasks when processing IVs, dressings, and other patient care supplies
• Electronic medical records (EMRs) to chart patient care
• Admission-discharge-transfer systems
• Medication administration records (MAR) software

Clinical Decision Support Systems (CDSS)

• Computer-based programs analyzing EHR data to prompt and remind healthcare providers about evidence-based clinical guidelines
• Advanced CDSS features include drug-disease interaction checks, individualized dosing support for conditions affecting kidney function, and recommendations on necessary lab tests during medication use

Automated IV Pumps

• Control the dosages and drips of intravenous fluids, reducing human error in medication administration
• Allow for changes in dosages based on patient needs
• Some provide self-administration options for patients, reducing patient wait time for medications and meals
• Automated IV kits allow for more effective workflow management, freeing nurses for other tasks
• Training on specific hospital-provided automated IV pumps is crucial.
• Many nursing schools offer training on new software, including automated IV pumps and their importance

Portable Monitors

• Allow nurses to effectively monitor patient vital signs, even while on the move
• Portable devices monitor critical vital signs like ECG, respirations, and oxygen saturation
• Transmit these findings to a central monitor to allow nurses to immediately respond to a possible emergency situation.
• Nurses can track vital signs hourly, which helps keep patients safe and monitored
• The system gives nurses alerts and alarms through the portable monitor when there is a health matter requiring response

Smart Beds

• Track patient movement, weight, and even vital signs continuously
• Designed with the objective of monitoring and supporting patient safety
• Help nurses continuously monitor the patient's well-being and activities
• Smart beds allow for regular updates and instant communications to improve patient outcomes; the nurse can immediately see important data.
• Provide patient care within the comfort and safety of their room, reducing the need to move patients unnecessarily

Wearable Devices

• Transform the healthcare industry by allowing for constant access to important patient health data
• Help track heart rates, exercise, sleep patterns, respiration rates, and other vital metrics
• Provide improved data communication, reducing the possibility of human error by nurses when documenting care procedures
• Allows nurses to monitor patient health consistently
• Support improved patient outcomes

Electronic Health Records (EHRs)

• Replacing older paper-based systems for recording and retrieving patient information
• Allow nurses to document and retrieve patient-related care information
• Enable easy access to data to help healthcare workers prioritize patient care
• Information is shared with the rest of the healthcare team, including doctors and even patients themselves
• EHRs aid in monitoring patients by identifying potential issues or changes in a person's health

Centralized Command Centers

• Use machine learning and complex algorithms to provide real-time predictive insights
• Help with patient tracking, bed availability, emergency department flow, and reducing patient wait times
• Help speed up discharge processes and improve operating room efficiencies
• Specifically designed for capacity management across hospitals in a country
• Hospitals report improved patient experiences and higher capacity rates

Telehealth and Apps

• A new valuable addition to the healthcare world
• Help patients quickly be diagnosed without leaving their homes
• Allow for virtual video chats with healthcare professionals
• Allow patients to share information such as symptoms or rashes for immediate diagnosis
• Improve health outcomes and help patients and doctors work to improve overall health
• Saves time and money for patients and doctors
• Prevent sick patients from spreading germs in public places
• Change how clinics operate and how patients are cared for

How Nurses Are Using Health Informatics to Improve Patient Care and Safety

• Improved patient safety is a primary concern for any healthcare provider, and nurses are on the front lines
• By using health informatics in their workflows, nurses can prevent patient harm from medication errors, misdiagnosis, falls, and other issues.
• Quick and informed decisions are possible because of the readily available data

Reduced Medical Errors

• Health informatics provides important data that can help prevent these errors, and nurses can use the data to make quick decisions
• Electronic records improve error reduction by providing information about drug interactions and allergies
• Nurses are able to make better decisions and improve patient safety because of enhanced access to important clinical data

Reduced Costs

• Medical errors cost billions of dollars every year
• Health informatics helps prevent medical errors, thus substantially reducing related costs to healthcare
• Health informatics helps to automate certain tasks and helps improve nurse productivity while reducing healthcare-related costs

Summary

• Nurses trained in this technology to best incorporate data into their workflow can enhance the quality and efficiency of patient care.

Reference

• Alexander S, Frith K, Hoy H, et al. (2019), Applied clinical informatics for nurses, Chapter 10 (p 145-160).

Test your knowledge on the integration of technology in nursing practices with this quiz. Explore key concepts such as Electronic Health Records (EHRs), clinical decision support systems, and the impact of health IT on nursing care. Understand the balance between technology and human interaction in enhancing patient care.