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