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Running head: INTEGRATING TECHNOLOGY AND HEALTHCARE

Integrating Technology and Healthcare Kelsey Rape Auburn University

INTEGRATING TECHNOLOGY AND HEALTHCARE

Abstract In a country of constant change and progressive improvements, one must continue to stay up-todate in order to succeed. Technology is growing exponentially, and therefore continues to effect all of the surrounding industries, especially healthcare. While new improvements promise an increase in the accessibility and the quality of care, they also threaten reliability and face-to-face interaction with therapists and specialists. It is important to analyze both the positive and negative aspects of technology integration to maintain the best possible outcome for patient care. Furthermore, primary prevention is necessary in today s healthcare because it helps to decrease the chances of developing chronic illnesses and increases the chances of better health outcomes. With technology making such major changes in the healthcare system, primary prevention is one matter than cannot be altered negatively. Many people depend on modern advancements for their information, so while technological improvements are useful in todays society, the need for regulations to reduce the chances of health disparities related to unreliable information is critical. Patients should be able to access their health information in order to prevent unnecessary trips to the doctor or to catch an illness early on. Nothing, however, can take the place of a nursing educator as it pertains to this primary prevention. While technology advances, so must the role of the health care providers to ensure that sure patients have the most favorable health results. Keywords: technology, modern, applications, health, healthcare

INTEGRATING TECHNOLOGY AND HEALTHCARE

The United States stands as a strong, developing country that is constantly making advances in modern technology and healthcare. In 2004, only 65% of American adults owned a phone; however, 91% of adults in the United States today own and regularly use a cell phone (Rainie, 2013). Twenty years ago, cell phones would have been used primarily for phone calls, but cell phones are now seen as a means of information, communication, distraction, and leisure time. The truth is that the United States is surrounded by technology. These advances have brought both good and bad to many professions, including the healthcare industry (Daschle & Frist, 2013). With so many Americans living in a world where theres an app for that, it is important that technology does not take the place of quality healthcare. The United States is also a country with a growing problem with chronic illness. For this reason, primary health education is a necessity. While technology can bring new, accessible information to educate Americans, it is important to make sure it applicable to the patients within the entire healthcare system. The purpose of this paper is to summarize the advantages and disadvantages of incorporating technology into healthcare, while highlighting the importance of primary prevention. There are many advantages that come along with incorporating modern technology into healthcare. Many Americans lack essential primary care that could prevent serious illnesses simply because of financial issues, denial, or a lack of interest or responsibility to seek care. One main problem is a shortage of information readily available to them. With nearly eight billion mobile users on earth and more than one billion in North America alone, technology has made adequate, well-validated health information more accessible ("Pros and cons," 2013). Healthcare opportunities are now expanded to include innovations such as tele -health, electronic medical records, mobile device apps, and online databases that include patient teaching ("Information technology and," 2011). Various advancements can also be seen through social media sites such

INTEGRATING TECHNOLOGY AND HEALTHCARE

as Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, and Instagram. Technological improvements are helping to shift power from hospitals, doctors, and caregivers, to the patients (Daschle & Frist, 2013). Americans can now login to a computer or mobile device and can potentially have all of their medical advice at their fingertips, people are now able to control their own health outcomes. Primary prevention is a key piece to these health outcomes, and since the United States has an issue with chronic illness that could be prevented with lifestyle changes and education, technological advances should highlight these opportunities. If a patient can logon to their computer or mobile device and be educated effortlessly, he or she is more likely to seek care. This allows for less issues due to convenience, availability, and cost. Analysts even suggest that this new mobile technology could potentially save the healthcare industry and its patients billions each year ("Pros and cons," 2013). If they have information that is readily accessible, they are more likely to use this in order to prevent unwanted illnesses or complications, which would save money for patients, healthcare facilities, and insurance companies (Collins, 2011). When the patient first notices a change in their body, they not only are able to search for advice on how to treat or manage it, but whether or not it is important enough to see a physician. Because of the accessibility of mobile technology, the information they seek can be accessed 24/7 and almost anywhere (Rainie, 2013). Although most technological advances are in the early and experimental stages, their improvements can also help save money in healthcare costs while improving patient treatment. Many patients do not require an in-person evaluation, which means they can use online resources for basic information ("Pros and cons," 2013). Patients who can connect with their physicians more easily by online means, for instance, will not need to make costly and unnecessary trips to the emergency room or to see specialists (Rainie, 2013). For example, mobile devices can be used in the management of diabetes for those suffering with this

INTEGRATING TECHNOLOGY AND HEALTHCARE

disease. Better management of the diabetes would result in fewer hospitalizations and lower costs ("Pros and cons," 2013). This also allows for physicians and therapists to work collaboratively and connect to more than one patient at a time because of this nearby technology (Daschle & Frist, 2013). Instead of a physician giving medical advice to just one patient, he or she could post it online or on a mobile device app, and a larger population could access it. At least 80 percent of United States physicians use a smartphone, tablet, laptop or combination of devices, and if patients knew how to access this information and best use it, it could positively change the course of a treatment plan (Daschle & Frist, 2013). This accessible, patient-centered, and cost-effective care seen with modern technology would not be possible if it were not for the maturation of the modern technologies, the integration of smartphones, and the constant connection with social networking (Rainie, 2013). While there are many advantages that go along with the integration of modern technology into healthcare, one must consider the less favorable outcomes that could come from allowing patients to research and manage their own care. Because primary prevention plays such a significant role in healthcare, it is important that modern advances in technology do not alter the efficiency of our healthcare system. However, this free access to online information can become an interference to care if not regulated correctly (Daschle & Frist, 2013). One way that online medical advice can disrupt this system is by false reliability. With so many search engines and mobile apps available, it is important to distinguish which give the most truthful and dependable information. When it comes to healthcare and patients lives, accuracy is only improved by the availability of meaningful and information-based data ("Information technology and," 2011). Many online resources have information submitted by various users, regardless of whether or not they have valid, professional experience. This allows more room for gaps of inaccurate

INTEGRATING TECHNOLOGY AND HEALTHCARE

information. Because users have immediate access to over 800 conditions, diseases, and healthrelated advice, it is easy for information to become outdated or written incorrectly (Collins, 2011). Online resources may also include medical jargon that is not understood correctly, which would call for further clarification from an expert (Rainie, 2013). When patients begin to depend on the information accessed via new technology, they put too much trust in these devices, rather than seeking physicians advice. If one relies too heavily on online information regarding his or her healthcare, they could also misread huge side effects from an illness and never seek healthcare. In the long run, this could produce larger costs and worse healthcare outcomes because illness were not prevented and treated early enough. Additionally, of the approximately 15,000 health-related apps currently accessible, some are simply not purposeful for the improvement of healthcare ("Pros and cons," 2013). This makes online searching difficult for patients because they have a harder time choosing what is the most resourceful, accurate and appropriate advice. Because primary prevention is key in nursing education and disease control, it is essential that these resources and applications give the most applicable information. Although there are many advantages to the integration of these technological advances, patient wellness should have attention first and foremost. The cell phone is the most quickly adopted consumer technology in the history of the world, but if not used correctly, the impact on healthcare outcomes could take a fall (Rainie, 2013). Experts of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) state that mobile technology integration healthcare apps can make a significant difference to public hea lth and healthcare delivery ("Pros and cons," 2013). The keyword here is can. In a country constantly in growth and looking for the next best thing, it is necessary that people slow down, step back, and take a look at the impact technology will make. There are many positive aspects to health care,

INTEGRATING TECHNOLOGY AND HEALTHCARE

but because face-to-face education is so crucial, technology changes must be altered to fit the countrys needs. Medicine has been greatly impacted by technology, but technology has its place in medicine ("Information technology and," 2011). Since modern technology has changed so rapidly, it only means that nursing education needs to change just as rapidly in order to keep up. Americans need to be aware that although the incorporation of technology into healthcare is helpful and necessary in todays world, there are still boundaries that need to be kept. Nurses and health care providers can be the link to patients so that this information is relayed in the most beneficial manner. While new information promises improvements in both the quality of medical material and financial savings, the new advancements are still in the developmental stages, and they have many glitches to overcome ("Pros and cons," 2013). It is now up to our country to decide: will we allow technology to continue to take a larger grip in healthcare? This is an issue that not only effects patients, but healthcare providers, and primarily nurses. I learned a great deal from my inquiry into the topic of integrating technology and healthcare. I have always been aware of the technological changes that have taken place in my lifetime but never took in account the major changes they bring to the health of this country. Whenever I think that there could be something wrong with my health, I am guilty of turning to the internet and searching for my answers. The search engine usually brings up about 15 different answers of various answers to my questions. Although I always saw this as helpful, I never thought about the larger impact it has on the health industry. Primary prevention plays such a key role in the health outcomes of Americans, especially in a country with poor lifestyle choices and chronic illnesses. It is important that Americans get the right information and that is interpreted correctly for this prevention to be useful. Researching this topic has made it very clear to me that as a nurse, it is my duty to pull fiction away from fact and educate patients

INTEGRATING TECHNOLOGY AND HEALTHCARE

properly. Patients should understand how to interpret online information and mobile findings, as well as be able to distinguish what information is valid or invalid. Modern technology most certainly has its place in our countrys healthcare system, and the basic fact is that this industry will only escalate in its size and impact on our health. The smartest minds of our generation should take advantage of this technology explosion and use their thoughts to helping the United States get and remain healthly (Daschle & Frist, 2013).

INTEGRATING TECHNOLOGY AND HEALTHCARE

References (2011). Information technology and nursing. The Academic Nurse, Retrieved from http://www.cumc.columbia.edu/nursing/pdf/AcademicNurseFall2011.pdf Collins, F. (2011). Mobile technology and health care. NIH Medline Plus, 5(4), 2-3. Retrieved from http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/magazine/issues/winter11/articles/winter11pg23.html Daschle, T., & Frist, B. (2013, August 14). Technology and the changing business of health care. Retrieved from http://healthaffairs.org/blog/2013/08/14/technology-and-the-changingbusiness-of-health-care/ Pros and cons of mobile technology in health care. (2013, Sept 10). Retrieved from http://www.aimseducation.edu/blog/pros-and-cons-of-mobile-technology-in-health-care/ Rainie, L. (2013, June 06). Cell phone ownership hits 91% of adults. Retrieved from http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2013/06/06/cell-phone-ownership-hits-91-ofadults/

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