NUR 514 Discuss how emerging technologies (consumer, mobile and telehealth technologies) impact patient care and the storage of health information

NUR 514 Discuss how emerging technologies (consumer, mobile and telehealth technologies) impact patient care and the storage of health information

The emerging technologies used in the healthcare field impact patient care. EMR (electronic medical records) allow quick access to patient information and assist in providing coordinated care (DeNisco, 2021). This information can be accessed by a provided via computer, tablet, or smartphone, allowing for real-time quality reporting and quick action in critical situations. Technology use of communication between systems with interoperability decreases delay reporting issues and provides a safer, more reliable way of medication management (DeNisco, 2021). These same systems allow patients to retrieve pertinent health information. The age of advanced technology and shared knowledge that benefits the patient must be handled with meticulous professional care. Nurses must document information accurately and in real time. Any missed notification of critical information to a physician can be detrimental to the patient, and the nurse as these electronic records are legal documents. Another concern is HIPAA (The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) which protects health information (PHI) and requires privacy and confidentiality (DeNisco, 2021). Information gathered in the health care setting must be written or signed consent documentation to transfer data to another physician or facility. This information is also readily available to all working in a clinical environment. Often clinical staff does not realize that when they are working on or walking away from their mobile computers, they leave patient information exposed. This is a direct HIPAA violation. One action that is good practice can protect the patient, and the nurse is to use a privacy screen before walking away from the computer or completely logging out. Even though the digital age is advancing patient access to HPI, it does propose many other avenues for error.

References

DeNisco, S. (2021). Advanced Practice Nursing.

The Electronic Health Record (EHR) is the primary means of interprofessional communication. The ethical and legal issues are patient safety and quality, and documentation. The United States has reached 95 percent penetration with electronic health records as a tool to document healthcare delivery in acute care hospitals and aid clinical decision-making since adopting the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act in 2009. There is growing evidence that electronic health records (EHRs) have unexpected consequences that compromise patient safety. Safe and effective clinical care is only possible if doctors are equipped with the tools, they need to make ethical decisions based on usability challenges (McBride et al., 2018). 

The American Nurses Association (ANA) (2015) Scope and Standards of Nursing Practice set the standard of practice for registered nurses in the United States, including the requirement that “Nurses shall document important data accurately and, in a way accessible to the interprofessional team” (ANA, 2015, p. 54). All nursing documentation must adhere to “factuality, correctness, completeness, timeliness, organization, and compliance” (ANA, 2015, p. 270). Documentation must be transparent and correct for nurses’ contributions to patient outcomes and healthcare organizations’ continued success (McBride et al., 2018).

The necessity of using encryption software on all computers and mobile devices. Email encryption is one form of in-transit encryption. An intrusion detection system’s job is to monitor any suspicious behavior on a network. Solutions for auditing that keep an eye out for unauthorized access to protected health information. Protect confidentiality by locking screens, informing the team of locking screens, locking screens and informing the team of any changes through frequent audits. This will help ensure conformity with applicable norms and limits of practice.

References

McBride, S., Tietze, M., Robichaux, C., Stokes, L., & Weber, E. (2018). Identifying and addressing ethical issues with use of electronic health records. OJIN: The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing, 23(1). https://doi.org/10.3912/ojin.vol23no01man05

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Thank you for sharing your post. I have a story regarding the email encryption option for sharing protected health information (PHI). I work for the VA, and they have a very secure email system and constant computer system updates to prevent malicious emails from attempting to infiltrate and take PHI. In one instance I had to request records from Kaiser Permanente because one of our patients was seen and cared for by Kaiser and we needed documents to coordinate continuing care. I faxed the request for information (ROI) as I usually do to their medical records office. Then I received a fax back explaining that records requested from other doctor’s offices must send a request via encrypted email and they provided the right email to use. I did as I was indicated and after some days went by, I received an email from them that had the records attached. Once I proceeded to access the email my computer alerted me that the file had been deleted by the VA security systems as a precaution because it was flagged as suspicious. I had to contact IT and explain the situation to them, and the files had to be scanned by a security person and make sure it was safe to access. Then the file was faxed to me for faster access. This whole process saves the VA from unsecured emails that are sent to access the system to steal PHI. At the same time, the care of the patient was delayed because the complete process took 2 weeks to get resolved. I think there has to be a faster way to verify that emails are clear and do not pose a threat to the security of the VA system to provide faster care for patients. 

Emerging technologies such as consumer, mobile, and telehealth technologies have significantly impacted patient care and the storage of health information. One of the most significant impacts has been the ability to provide patients with greater access to healthcare services through telehealth technologies, such as remote patient monitoring and virtual consultations. The above observation enables patients to receive medical care and advice from the comfort of their own homes, which can be especially beneficial for those who live in rural or remote areas or for those who have mobility issues.

Mobile technologies also play a significant role in patient care. Many healthcare providers now offer mobile apps that allow patients to access their health records, schedule appointments, and communicate with their healthcare providers (Vyas et al., 2022). This can improve patient engagement and help patients take a more active role in managing their health. Consumer technologies, such as wearable devices, also play a role in patient care by providing patients with real-time data about their health and activity levels. This can help patients identify patterns and trends that may indicate a need for medical attention, and it can also help healthcare providers monitor patients’ progress with chronic conditions.

Regarding health information storage, these technologies have made it easier for healthcare providers to collect and store patient data, but they also raise concerns about data security and privacy. Electronic health records (EHRs) have been widely adopted in healthcare organizations and allow for more efficient and accurate sharing of patient information among providers (Vyas et al., 2022). However, issues with data breaches, hacking and cyber security still need to be addressed. Overall, emerging technologies can improve patient care and the storage of health information, but it is also essential to consider the potential risks and challenges.

One ethical or legal issue related to EHRs that can impact a registered nursing practice is the issue of patient privacy and confidentiality. Electronic Health Records (EHRs) contain sensitive personal and medical information, and if not properly secured, this information can be accessed, shared, or stolen by unauthorized individuals. This can lead to patient privacy and confidentiality breaches, which can have serious legal and ethical consequences for the nursing practice. To address this issue, nursing practices must ensure that their EHR systems are adequately secured and that all staff is trained on the importance of maintaining patient privacy and confidentiality. They must also comply with federal and state laws and regulations governing the handling and security of personal health information.

One measure that can be implemented to protect patient privacy and confidentiality in accordance with HIPAA is implementing secure communication methods, such as using encryption when sending electronically protected health information (ePHI) and ensuring that any third-party service providers have appropriate safeguards in place to protect ePHI.

Reference

Vyas, S., Bhargava, D., Bhola, J., Ujjan, J. A., Eswaran, S., & Rahmani, A. W. (2022). Critical retrospection of performance of emerging mobile technologies in health data management. Journal of Healthcare Engineering, 2022. https://www.hindawi.com/journals/jhe/2022/8903604/

Emerging technologies have had a huge and positive impact in patient care and access to care. However, as we all know anything that goes on the internet can be findable, which can be a concern when it comes to protected health information and patient privacy. “Development of new technology has been moving so fast that critical prior issues have not always been addressed effectively. The 1996 law, however, requires that staff know the key elements of HIPAA and apply them (DeNisco, 2019).” One legal concern related to EHRs I can think of is how communication with physicians has changed from phone calls to texting or secure chat messaging. It would be so easy to accidentally message information to the wrong physician or even to someone who may not even be in the hospital. Double and triple checking the number or having someone else check would be a great step to take, also making sure no specific patient identifiers are in the message. Additionally, it is important for those to log out of their devices and never share your password with anyone. On the EPIC EHR that we use at our hospital, there is also a safety that when entering a patients chart it will ask if you want to “break the glass”, ensuring that is really a chart you want to enter and look at.

DeNisco, S. M., & Barker, A. M. (2019). Advanced practice nursing: Essential knowledge for the profession (4th ed.). Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning. ISBN-13: 9781284072570

Emerging health technology has a profound impact on patient care. As technology in health care continues to evolve increasing access to care by diminishing geographical barriers. Increasing access to care will undoubtedly increase the volume of stored protected personal information and the challenges it creates. Main challenges include creating a wide reliable network. In order to accomplish this political support will be necessary, economic backing, a standardized frame work of function must be established and would require an inter-sectoral collaboration (Iyamu, I., Gomez-Ramirez, O. Chang, H.J. Watts, S. Mckee, G. Gilbert, M., 2022). 

As we move towards an increasing digital world security of protected information is paramount. One of the fundamental practices nursing can do to secure protected health information is to limit access. Limiting access includes no sharing passwords, securing the computer when walk away, not discussing private information of patients, and only sharing information with those directly involved in a patient care. The security of personal protected information is the responsibility of everyone who access the information.

Reference:

Iyamu, I. Gomez-Ramirez, O. Chang, H.J. Watts, S. Mckee, G. Gilbert, M. (2022).

            Challenges in the Development of Digital Public Health interventions and mapped

solutions. Retrieved from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9152201/

One of my favorite emerging technologies is the mobile Teams app. This mobile app benefits patient care because I can reach the provider directly. Texting is allowed, but direct calling is what I use the most. Teams also eliminate the time it takes to hunt down pager numbers and provider colors for contact numbers. The app also stores conversations via text messages, so the information can be recalled if providers text back instructions or orders.

Most importantly, the app is protected and secure, which is major because theft, breaches, and unauthorized access to health information is a huge issue and can cause legal issues for healthcare providers. When nurses “snoop” and access information not needed to perform the job, it breaks the nurse’s oath and puts nurses at risk of losing their employment. Breaches in the form of theft in 2010 affected 5.4 million people (Gamble, 2017). So, in my nursing practice, the one way I can protect patients’ information and breaches is to ensure my computer displaying PHI (protected health information) is locked when stepping away from my workspace. I see, more times than none, computer screens left wide open for others to view. I think it’s negligence, and nurses should be more mindful and careful with patient information, especially in the ER (emergency room), because all walks of life come through there. Patients trust us with their life history, and we must protect it.

Gamble, M. (2017). 5 Legal Issues Surrounding Electronic Medical Records. Www.beckershospitalreview.com. https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/legal-regulatory-issues/5-legal-issues-surrounding-electronic-medical-records.html?oly_enc_id=0927J2557189H6U