ASSIGNMENT : Technology Across the Care Continuum

Overview:
Write 3 pages describing the effective use of patient-care technologies, communication systems, and information systems across the care continuum of a health care system of your choice. Add a one-page executive summary your organization could use to disseminate these ideas.
Because a lack of knowledge when using technology can lead to errors in patient care, effective use of technology in health care is paramount to providing a safe health care delivery environment.
Questions to Consider:
To deepen your understanding, you are encouraged to consider the questions below and discuss them with a fellow learner, a work associate, an interested friend, or a member of the business community.
How might standardized nursing language (SNL), interprofessional communication, information system support, staff and patient education, organizational culture, and state and national regulations influence technology use?
What are the complexities in using technology across a continuum of care?
What are the opportunities?
What are the barriers?
How can we manage change and technology use to develop improved patient outcomes?
Assessment Instructions:
In the role of a nurse leader, describe the effective use of patient-care technologies across the care continuum in a chosen health care system.

Preparation:
Choose any type of health care system, for example, acute, ambulatory, or home health or telehealth.

Directions:
Technology Across the Care Continuum:
Include the following in your 3–4-page description:
A brief overview of the care continuum in your selected health care system.
Describe the types of patient-care technologies and how they are used across the care continuum in your system. Be sure to include communication and information systems.
Identify strengths and weaknesses in the systems and describe how to manage change and technology to improve patient outcomes.
Support your description of effective patient care with current nursing and informatics theoretical ideas.

Executive Summary:
Based on the description above, add a 1-page executive summary that captures the following points:
Current state of technology across the care continuum in your system.
Proposed improvements.
Risks of making or not making changes or improvements.
Recommended next steps.

SAMPLE SOLUTION

Executive Summary
The dynamic changes and improvement of technology in the care continuum have enhanced quality care delivery across the healthcare facility, particularly in the ambulatory services. Electronic Health Records (HER) allows providers to efficiently offer remote services such as diagnosis, observation, consultation, intervention, treatment, and rehabilitation. In addition, social networking plays a fundamental role because nurses can share nutritional and educational tips with their patients to ensure that they adhere to the treatment plans especially after they have been discharged (Friedman, Parrish, & Ross, 2013). Besides, the application of technology in providing ambulatory services enables the nurses to share the information of the patients across all departments. This allows efficient flow of diagnostic information, avoid confusion, and eliminates the possible occurrence of medical errors.
However, we recognize that the applications of technology in a care continuum are unlimited. Therefore, more can be done to embrace current and advanced technological tools to enhance the patient experience further. The proposed improvements…