Alessandra Bongiovanni- Module 6

Telemedicine helping ill patients across the north

CBC

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/telemedicine-helping-ill-patients-across-north-182019317.html

 

As we know telemedicine is rapidly growing across the world and not just in the United States.  This article was chosen because this type of technology allows sick individuals suffering from cancer that live in rural or remote areas to still receive care.  With this patients connect to a video network that allows for teleconferncing between them and the doctor.   Another aspect of telemedicine project that is being launched is where nurses and patients meet and the visit is videotaped.  Afterwards, the doctor reviews this tape and from this provides the patient with the plan of care. 

 

This article provides a review on the latest projects that launching in telemedicine.  It addresses the problem of how patients have less access to medicine depending on where they live, but new ways of communicating they can still receive more care then none at all.  With this more patients will be declining care based on where they live. 

 

As expressed in the article 50,000 people accessed medical care through the Ontario Telemedicine Network and I believe can be even higher here in the United States.  As with any part of the world, there are areas here that remote away from healthcare facilities and doctors offices so be able to communicate to a physician using teleconferencing can save individuals the time and discouragement to travel for a routine appointment. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Alessandra Bongiovanni- Module 5

Technology to play a bigger role in hospital care

Amber Dance

Journal Entry #5

http://www.latimes.com/health/future/la-he-future-of-hospitals-20120913,0,779637.story

 

This article was chosen because of its focus on telemedicine.  As mentioned in the article telemedicine is the future of healthcare and will be a dominant force.  This article discusses the advances in technology with the use of robots.  Robots will help patients and nurses and other healthcare personnel stay connected to physicians, which will improve the healthcare delivery system.  With technology, hospital stays can be shorter, safer, and can prevent more infections.  Infection prevention is a major aspect hospital staff try to prevent and biggest and most simplest thing one can do is wash their hands.  The use of electronic ID bands is another form of technology being initiated in which nurses and doctors have to scan themselves everytime they wash their hands and this will determine who is and who is not washing their hands.  This article caught my attention with how far a long healthcare and technology have come along with the use of robots to act as standins for doctors and help deliver care.  It's pretty jaw dropping, but did we expect less from genius minds that surround us. 

The article above is a product description along with opinions of how well these advances are going to influence healthcare from a positive standpoint.  The need addressed is how technology will help hospitals to promote a moder-patient focused approach to healthcare. 

After reading about the use of electronic ID bands for scanning to monitor those who are washing hands in my opinion is a unbelievable and strong approach to infection prevention.  Although this can not be fully trusthworthy because some people may scan their bracelet, but avoid washing their hands.  Although we cannot control the individual, I believe the system will help in monitoring and improving hand washing. 

 

Alessandra Bongiovanni- Module 4

E-Health Opportunities for Seniors

Jane E. Brody

Journal Entry #4

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/08/e-health-opportunities-for-seniors/?ref=thedigitaldoctor

 

           This article was found the NY Times website.  The elderly is one part of the population with the least connection with e-health whether through browsing the internet, using the computer and smartphones to name a few.  For the elderly being having the higher risk for disease and illness, it is very important that they have access to information that can be beneficial to their health.  Being a medical-surgical nurse, the elderly take up a majority of census, which is part of the reason I chose this article and believe I can encourage my own patients to engage in e-health. 

The amount of knowledge on staying healthy that can be found through the internet is incredible.  Although some of it can drive a person crazy or can be misleading if the information is not accurate, one can learn so much.  Since computers and technology are a thing for the younger generations, this new way of life may be scary for an older person.  They can also be costly for devices and for internet access, but there are ways around this because libraries give individuals access to both computers and internet.  I do believe where there is a drive or a will to learn there is a way to do so.  Sometimes for the elderly it is easy to just have a family member do the searching for them, which can be beneficial.  The information can be printed for them to read and learn from. 

The article written by Jane Brody is in fact an opinion.  There is no research related to the article, just view points on the important of e-health for the elderly and also gives pointers on how one can access vital information.  What was addressed in the article is the need for elderly individuals to take part in managing their health records, learning about their health, ways of staying healthy, and so much more one can do with technology. 

            The solution for older persons to take advantage through technology is that now websites and tools are increasingly being designed with the special needs and challenges of the elderly in mind with easy to access links as well. One site that can be used is seniorhealth.gov.  One as mentioned can contact a local library, senior center or other local organization and ask whether it offers computer training for older adults. In areas such as New York City, a nonprofit called Older Adults Technology Services offers free computer labs and computing courses for seniors in English and Spanish.

With this sort of help, our older population can jump on the bandwagon and really get a jump start to staying up to date with their e-health.  Although it will take time, I believe doing so will prove beneficial.  Some of the websites provided in this article I can pass on to my elderly patients at the hospital.  Once they have an understanding of how easy this type of learning can be, numbers would certainly increase and individuals will be amazed on helpful this information can be for them. 

Alessandra Bongiovanni- Module 3

Apps Alert the Doctor When Trouble Looms

By: Matt Richtel

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/08/apps-alert-the-doctor-when-trouble-looms/?ref=thedigitaldoctor

 

Why was this article, blog, post, or multimedia chosen?

While browsing articles in the New York Times website under the Health Tab, this article was one of the first to appear.  The title of the article caught my attention and I thought to myself before I read it, "How can an app really alert a doctor of trouble".  I opened the article and read it through.  The article mentions chronic issues people face with pain, depression, and even PTSD with military soldiers.  Pretty much what the app does is alert doctors when their patients socialization is going down hill and when their chronic illness is going to flare-up.  For example a patient with chronic GI pain may not be going to the mall or going to the gym when they feel their body going into a pain crisis.  Another thing is being a part of the US Army, PTSD is not uncommon and is often seen amongst soldiers.  The app will help identify times of withdrawl and mania right before a PTSD flare-up.

 

What makes it interesting, appropriate, or reputable?

What makes this article or app interesting is the fact that is it working with the patient to catch a crisis before it occurs.  The app can stop a patient suffering from depression from hurting themselves or others. Not really knowing how true or accurate this app can be, the idea of it is very interesting and has caught my attention.

 

 

Is it an opinion? Case study? Research study? Product review?

The article falls under that of a product review of this new application.  Although opinions are mentioned within this text, it does describe the app and where it is being used and tested and describes its purpose.

 

What was the need, problem, issue or trend addressed in the article, blog, post, or multimedia?

The problem addressed in the article is the fact that doctor's do not know when their patients are going downhill or about to go into a crisis and by the time they are alerted it is too late- and they end up having to visit them in the hospital ER.  With this app doctor's can catch something in time before a patient does head for the rabbit hole as mentioned in the article. 

 

What was the solution for which technology had an answer?

The solution for catching a crisis before it occurs is with the use of this app.  The app will monitor a person's behavior and any change in patterns of behavior.  It is an early warning system that can prevent something from occurring. 

 

What implications might this have in healthcare delivery?

This app may be the start of a brilliant system or may be the complete opposite.  I do agree that consent must be obtained to go forth with this, but more testing still needs to be done before launching this app.  The app can be misleading to something as a person just having the flu or just a misinterpretation of their behavior.  If it is used for doctor's to just check-in if they notice a different behavior in their patient, I think it will be very reputable.  I also believe this is a good way for doctor's to stay in contact with their patients through the good and the bad. 

 

 

What did you learn from it that might have application for your practice?

Being a bedside nurse in a hospital this app wouldn't be of  much use for me.  It is something that would be used by doctor's and their patient's in the outpatient setting.  While thinking about this app and this article, an idea came to mind that I wouldn't mind discussing with the class.  I don't know how this can work, but the idea sounds good.