NR 512 Week 7 Narrated Power Point Presentation

Name

Chamberlain University

NR-512: Fundamentals of Nursing Informatics

Prof. Name

Date

Telemedicine and Telehealth in Health Care

NR 512 Week 7 Narrated PowerPoint Presentation
October 20, 2019

Introduction

Telemedicine, derived from the Greek word “Tele” (distance) and the Latin word “mederi” (to heal), refers to the remote delivery of healthcare services and clinical information through telecommunications technology. This encompasses a variety of services, including internet, wireless, satellite, and telephone media. The American Telemedicine Association defines telemedicine as a vital part of modern healthcare, and its evolution began in 1905 with the transmission of electrocardiograms. However, its broad impact became particularly evident in the 1990s, with the rise of teleradiology, which revolutionized the radiology specialty.

Telehealth, as defined by the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), utilizes electronic information and telecommunications technologies to provide long-distance healthcare services, health education, and public health administration. It incorporates tools like videoconferencing, the internet, store-and-forward imaging, streaming media, and wireless communications.

Why I Chose This Topic?

The increasing complexity of healthcare needs has led to several challenges, including difficulty for physicians in obtaining appropriate call coverage, rising healthcare costs, and an aging population with a nursing shortage. These issues have resulted in diminished access to quality healthcare services. Telemedicine offers a solution by providing convenient access to healthcare anytime and anywhere, improving communication between patients and healthcare professionals.

Telemedicine addresses these challenges by offering remote services, especially in rural or remote areas where access to healthcare is often limited. By utilizing telehealth for follow-up visits and chronic care management, patients can avoid unnecessary hospital readmissions and emergency room visits. This not only helps reduce healthcare costs but also enhances patient satisfaction by providing timely, convenient care.

Impact on Practice

Telemedicine can significantly enhance healthcare delivery by enabling quicker diagnoses, reducing hospital readmissions, and allowing patients to undergo rehabilitation at home. It improves access to care, particularly in rural areas, and promotes interprofessional collaboration by linking general practitioners to specialists. Moreover, telemedicine aids in reducing healthcare costs by offering remote consultations, home monitoring, and improved management of chronic diseases.

For example, the use of telehealth in heart failure monitoring has reduced hospital readmissions from 20% to less than 4%. Additionally, timely interventions for stroke patients through telestroke programs have increased treatment effectiveness from 15% to 85%. Furthermore, telemedicine has also contributed to reducing the carbon footprint by eliminating the need for extensive travel for care.

NR 512 Week 7 Narrated Power Point Presentation

Pros and Cons of Telemedicine

Pros

Increases healthcare accessibility.
Improves health outcomes and patient satisfaction.
Reduces healthcare costs by preventing unnecessary hospital visits.
Supports clinical education and enhances interprofessional collaboration.
Increases organizational productivity and patient engagement.

Cons

Potential risks to patient privacy and confidentiality.
The rapid pace of technological advancements necessitates continuous training for healthcare professionals.
Challenges in maintaining trust and rapport between patients and healthcare providers.
The shift to telemedicine may reduce face-to-face interaction, potentially affecting the patient-provider relationship.

Despite these challenges, telemedicine provides patients with the flexibility to consult healthcare providers remotely, including during after-hours, thus increasing healthcare accessibility and reducing no-shows and late appointments.

Application and Relevance of Informatics to Telemedicine

Nursing informatics plays a crucial role in the implementation and management of telehealth systems. Informatics nurses assist in setting up and troubleshooting the necessary equipment for telemedicine in patients’ homes and educate healthcare workers on its proper usage. This ensures that technology is integrated effectively into patient care and that nurses can use telehealth tools to monitor patient conditions remotely.

Nurse informaticists are responsible for streamlining electronic health record systems and working with IT departments to ensure that telehealth solutions are implemented smoothly. Their expertise allows healthcare providers to use technology efficiently, improving the overall healthcare experience for patients and clinicians alike.

Nursing Informatics Skills Utilized

In the field of nursing informatics, several key skills are utilized to support telemedicine:

Technical/computer skills for managing telemedicine systems.
Critical thinking and problem-solving to address issues with technology and patient care.
Leadership and collaboration skills to educate and guide healthcare teams.
Patient data protection to maintain privacy and security in telemedicine systems.
Communication skills for educating patients and their families about telehealth services and technology.

Nurses in informatics must blend technical knowledge with clinical expertise, ensuring that technology improves patient outcomes without compromising the human aspect of care.

Future Recommendations

To ensure the sustainability and growth of telemedicine, several recommendations can be made:

Personalizing healthcare delivery by matching patients with appropriate technologies.
Ensuring secure, efficient data exchanges between patients and providers.
Expanding opportunities for patient education through telehealth platforms.
Adapting care and business models to sustain telemedicine initiatives.
Increasing research and evidence-based practices to support telemedicine’s continued development.

These strategies will enable the ongoing integration of telemedicine into healthcare systems, improving both accessibility and quality of care.

Conclusion

Telemedicine and telehealth, integrated with nursing informatics, offer numerous benefits, including reduced healthcare costs, improved patient outcomes, and enhanced accessibility. By leveraging technology, telemedicine addresses critical issues in healthcare, such as access to care, patient satisfaction, and the management of chronic diseases. As healthcare continues to evolve, the role of informatics nurses in supporting and enhancing telehealth initiatives will be essential for the future of patient care.

References

Bose, E., & Radhakrishnan, K. (2018). Using unsupervised machine learning to identify subgroups among home health patients with heart failure using telehealth. CIN: Computers, Informatics, Nursing, 36(5), 242-248. https://doi.org/10.1097/cin.0000000000000423

Healthit.gov. (2019). Why is telehealth important for rural providers? HealthIT.gov. Retrieved October 19, 2019, from https://www.healthit.gov/faq/why-telehealth-important-rural-providers

Kalb, T. (2015). Increasing quality through telemedicine in the intensive care unit. Critical Care Clinics, 31(2), 257-273. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ccc.2014.12.005

Rincon, T., Manos, E., & Pierce, J. (2017). Telehealth intensive care unit nurse surveillance of sepsis. CIN: Computers, Informatics, Nursing, 35(9), 459-464. https://doi.org/10.1097/cin.0000000000000355

NR 512 Week 7 Narrated Power Point Presentation

Rutledge, C., Haney, T., Bordelon, M., Renaud, M., & Fowler, C. (2014). Telehealth: Preparing advanced practice nurses to address healthcare needs in rural and underserved populations. International Journal of Nursing Education Scholarship, 11(1). https://doi.org/10.1515/ijnes-2013-0061

Sanghavi, D., Guru, P., & Moreno Franco, P. (2019). Quality improvement and telemedicine intensive care unit. Critical Care Clinics, 35(3), 451-462. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ccc.2019.02.003

Telemedicine.arizona.edu. (2019). 8 reasons to adopt telehealth. Telemedicine.arizona.edu. Retrieved October 19, 2019, from https://telemedicine.arizona.edu/blog/8-reasons-adopt-telehealth