Technological Communication in Healthcare

Technological Ways of Communication in Healthcare

• Technological advancements in healthcare significantly impact communication between providers, patients, and families.
• Information technology innovations often alter how healthcare professionals communicate with patients and their families, as well as with each other.

Importance of Technology in Healthcare

• Technology enhances patient access to healthcare.
• Technological tools aid in data gathering and assessment.
• Technology plays a role in care delivery.
• Technology supports the evaluation of treatment efficacy.

Role of Communication in Patient-Provider Relationships

• Communication can either enhance or hinder the formation of trust-based relationships among patients, families, and providers.
• The type and amount of clinical data obtained directly impacts how healthcare conditions are assessed and managed.
• The way medical regimens are understood is influenced by communication.
• Communication expands the scope of care beyond the initial patient-provider interaction.

Electronic Health Records (EHRs)

• EHRs are the most commonly used method for storing and transmitting patient health information.
• EHRs include a comprehensive health history.
• EHRs are digital databases that can be maintained throughout a patient's life.

Types of Electronic Health Records

• Electronic Medical Records (EMRs) were the initial systems used by clinicians for storing patient diagnoses and treatments within a single provider's office.
• Electronic Health Records (EHRs) provide a more comprehensive record of a patient's health history across different points in time.
• Personal Health Records (PHRs) are electronic applications that allow patients to store, manage, access, and edit their own health information.

Patient Portals

• Patient portals are secure online websites providing patients with 24/7 access to their personal health information.

m-Health (Mobile Health)

• m-Health utilizes devices and applications to collect and transmit health data, often for self-management of chronic conditions.
• m-Health apps empower patients with chronic diseases to manage their complex treatment plans. (Examples: fitness trackers, heart rate or asthma and diabetes monitoring).

Telemedicine

• Telemedicine facilitates the exchange of medical information between different locations to improve patient health.
• Telemedicine uses various devices, including two-way video, email, smartphones, and wireless tools, to support assessment and treatment processes.

Patients' Needs for Guidance in Using Internet Information

• The importance of patient-provider communication and the value of the Internet for accessing health information are acknowledged by the Healthy People 2010 report.
• Caution is necessary when using Internet health information due to variations in website quality.

Patient-Provider Relationship with Internet Search Platforms

• Providers should show interest in the content and sources of patient-obtained health information.
• Providers should view a patient searching for health information as an attempt to enhance conversations.
• Patients should be directed to high-quality health-related websites that the provider has personally reviewed.

Patients' Use of Support Group Activities on the Internet

• Patients and their families utilize the Internet for support groups and discussions related to illnesses or diseases.
• Interactive communication options, such as chat rooms, discussion forums, and email exchanges, help patients and their families connect.
• Patients and families may use the Internet to inform themselves in order to better discuss health issues with their providers.

Explore the technological advancements shaping communication in healthcare. This quiz covers the importance of technology in enhancing patient access and its role in building trust between patients and providers. Test your knowledge on how information technology influences interactions and care delivery in the healthcare setting.