Technology Trends in Healthcare

 
Electronic health records have been one of the biggest advancements in technology in healthcare. An EHR is the digital version of a patient’s paper chart and make patient information instantly available while remaining secure to authorized users (What Is an Electronic Health Record (EHR)? | HealthIT.gov, n.d.). I have seen the benefits of EHRs from a provider and patient perspective in the healthcare setting. From a provider perspective, having access to an EHR at all times creates a seamless patient care environment. There have been multiple times where I am in a patient room and able to review their chart while answering patient’s questions that they may have. This creates a unique opportunity to constantly have the patient resources that I need and makes me feel more confident in the care that I am providing. From a patient perspective, I have also seen the benefits of EHRs in the medical setting. Many times patients forget what medications they are taking or forget what procedures or care they may have gotten recently. With patient access to EHRs, patients are able to quickly look up what medications they are taking as well as recent care or lab work they have gotten done which provides us with more accurate information on how to care for these patients. On top of this, one major benefit with EHRs is that it reduces errors in the hospital setting. In the US, medical errors caused an estimated 250,000 deaths each year (Medical Error Statistics, n.d.). The use of digital patient records allows providers to track and standardize patient interactions providing the potential of reduced error (7 Benefits of EHR for Hospitals | the Univ. Of Scranton, 2022). Digital paper trails are created allowing there to be minimal confusion in orders and the ability to easily track down the ordering provider to ask clarifying questions. This also creates the ability for orders to be checked by multiple participating providers in the patients care and patient information to be constantly reviewed, reducing errors and improving patient care experiences.

There are also risks associated with electronic health records. One major risk is patient information security and protecting against data theft. Healthcare has historically lacked behind when it comes to cybersecurity and EHRs are no different (Boyles, 2019). One attack has compromised 78.8 million patient records in the past and every year health organizations fall prey to hackers (Boyles, 2019). Hospital employees tend to be the biggest risk factor when it comes to exposure of patient data which is why cybersecurity training is essential for all employees (Boyles, 2019). On top of this, any out of date software can also create vulnerabilities that can be exploited (Boyles, 2019). When trying to secure patient data and keep it safe, EHRs may not be the best option as attacks and breaches are seen often.

Telehealth is one aspect of technology in healthcare that has advanced and will continue to advance in the future. Telehealth allows providers to visit with patients over a video chat which means that the patient and provider do not need to be in the same place at the time of the visit (Alu, 2022). There are many benefits and aspects to Telehealth that I believe will grow and change healthcare in the future. Telehealth will increase access with patients who live in rural areas or patients with decreased mobility (Alu, 2022). This is beneficial as practitioners can foster a healthy relationship and encourage healthy lifestyles for patients that may not have easy access to a physicians office (Alu, 2022). This will also allow healthcare providers to follow up with their patients in a more efficient and timely manner and continue to check on their patients through video chat or messaging (Alu, 2022). Telehealth became popular with the start of the pandemic, but I believe it will continue to trend upward in popularity as healthcare continues to evolve.

I believe that Telehealth will continue to improve patient care and patient outcomes because of the availability of its service to patients. It it normally very quick to schedule and set up a Telehealth visit with a provider which allows patients to receive timely care. It also allows providers to easily follow up with their patients which can ensure that patients are compliant with care. A risk with Telehealth is that a provider is not able to examine the patient. They are not able to monitor vital signs or listen to a patients heart or lungs which is why Telehealth can never replace in person physician appointments. Telehealth will serve as a great tool in addition to physician appointments for patients to ensure that their care is up to date and no changes need to be made between visits.