Implementing Technology to Improve Family Centered Care and Workflow in the NICU

Parents of infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit endure a significant amount of stress and anxiety transitioning to parenthood. The plan of having a baby most often did not include admission to the NICU. The NICU team strives to promote an environment conducive to the Family Centered Care Model, inclusive of parents as partners in care. The incorporation of education and support to parents, as well as opening the lines of communication will foster a positive environment for parents, infants, and the NICU team forming a cohesive team approach to care. Implementation of a web-based program through the March of Dimes NICU Family Support Program, will not only fill in the void of education, but also facilitate an environment of comfort, bonding, communication, as well as reducing stress. Empowering parents in the NICU leads to increased involvement in patient care, advocacy and bonding; further improving patient care, outcomes and potentially reducing length of stay (Zimmerman, 2012).  

The implementation of the FCC Model and the March of Dimes web-based educational-support program for parents elicits improved nursing workflow at the bedside, facilitating an environment of reduced stress, effective bonding and parent involvement; while increasing nursing time at the bedside promoting Family Centered Care (see diagram).  Workflow by definition takes into consideration the tasks and activities involved in nursing care to complete a project (Whittenberg, 2010).  Parents can take ownership and accountability for their educational needs and video requirements (CPR, Shaken Baby and SIDS) prior to discharge; combined with continuous NICU team support.  The information from the Family Support Program will interface with the EMR and become part of the infant chart noting the education requirements prior to discharge, what has been completed and where deficits or needs are required.  The future of healthcare combines technology with bedside support to facilitate ongoing high quality, efficient care, to ensure the best outcomes for our patients.

References

March of Dimes (2015). NICU Family Support. Retrieved: February 19, 2015. http://www.marchofdimes.org/mission/march-of-dimes-services-in-the-nicu.aspx#

Whittenberg, N.(2010). Workflow Viewpoints. Journal of Health Information Management. 24(3):71-75.

Zimmerman, K., Baursachs, C. (2012). Empowering NICU Parents. International Journal of Childbirth Education. 27(1):50-53.

Nursing Leaders: Facilitating Quality and Safety through Technology

Nursing leaders today have the benefit and capacity to incorporate the latest technology to ensure quality and safety into the delivery of patient care.  Technology is fascinating, amazing, ever changing, improving and essential to the delivery of quality healthcare.   Leaders are responsible to remain current with the technological advancements, as well as forward thinkers to facilitate initiatives that are efficient, cost-effective, ensuring the best patient outcomes (Weston & Roberts, 2013).  Due to healthcare demands from the government, complexity of care, the aging population and workforce, nurse executives must incorporate technology as a means to advance the health of our current population (Trepanier & Crenshaw, 2013).

The American Organization of Nurse Executives (2015), notes leaders in healthcare must utilize their training and education to the full capacity, eliciting a cohesive team approach to healthcare along side physicians and other disciplines in healthcare to design and shape the healthcare of tomorrow. AONE Guiding Principles: For Future Patient Care Delivery. The continuing focus on healthcare will remain on the delivery of safe, quality care for our patients, as well as performance improvement initiatives, utilization of technology and improving the health of our population (Weston & Roberts, 2013).  

Data Sets and Information Management

References

AONE (2015). http://www.aone.org/resources/leadership%20tools/guideprinciples.shtml Retrieved: February 13, 2015.

Trepanier, S. & Crenshaw, J. (2013). Succession Planning: A Call to Action for Nurse Executives. Journal of Nursing Management. 21:980-985.

Weston, M. & Roberts D. (2013). The Influence of Quality Improvement Efforts on Patient Outcomes and Nursing Work: A Perspective from Chief Nursing Officers At Three Large Health Systems. OJIN: The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing. 18(3).

Human Technology Interface

Human Technology Interface is significant, as well as essential to nursing practice within healthcare today.  The goal of culminating technology in the delivery of patient care is to ensure efficiency, accuracy, quality and safety for patients.  It is equally important to establish a process that is clearly defined, understood and utilized to become successful from both the patient and healthcare organization standpoint (Vogelsmeier et al., 2008).

Technological advancements in healthcare are the way of the future.  The incorporation of Electronic Health Record standards through the Meaningful Use Act inclusive of documentation, data collection and patient accessibility as on example of facilitating improvements in patient care through technology.  Stage 3 in MU is anticipated to include promoting patient engagement and accountability in care, in addition to accessibility of their medical records (Gephart & Effken, 2013). Patients access to records will aid in communication and facilitation of appropriate management of care; ultimately improving quality, population health, compliance and reduced healthcare costs.

Technology can also be a facilitator for patient bonding within the hospital setting.  For example, parent-infant bonding in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, which can often be delayed as a result of complications of infant and mother, inability to commute, other children at home, or limited resources and/or support.  Parents can communicate with the nursing team, as well as see, hear, and speak to their newborn requiring intensive care with a system such as Baby Time: Bonding in the NICU via IPad Technology.  Unfortunately, at times a mother may still be admitted in the hospital, but too ill to visit her infant and this technology would greatly assist the maternal bonding, proven beneficial to parents and infants.   After discharge, parents can also incorporate the use of a Baby App to collect data on infant feeding, diaper changes, and sleep time for upcoming Pediatrician visits.

Although technology in healthcare is grown at a rapid pace proving greatly beneficial with vast improvements to the delivery of care, further need is required in facilitating interoperability to ensure the incorporation and exchange of healthcare information and data, steering from the silo effect to a universal exchange system (Thede, 2012). 

References

Gephart, S. & Effken, J. (2013). Using Health Information Technology to Engage Patients in their Care. Online Journal of Nursing Informatics. 17(3).

Thede, L. (2012). Informatics: Where Is It? OJIN: The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing. 17(1).

Vogelsveier, A., Halbesleben, J., Scott-Cawiezell, J. (2008). Technology Implementation and Workarounds in the Nursing Home. Journal of American Medical Informatics Association. 15(1):114-119.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iX4FNMsjphs