“ Moreover, public health researchers are actively using electronic clinical data that are
aggregated across populations to produce research that is beneficial to society
menachemi. “In responding to your peers, identify at least three safety concerns of
vulnerable individuals (e.g., children, pregnant women, individuals in prison) with the
implementation of information technology. Please include a source to support your
response.
Ngyun : Specific areas for improvement were found to include slow system response, decreased
communication between clinical areas, complex navigation due to multiple screens, and poor
support for decision-making due to overuse of checkboxes and ‘copy and paste’ practice [22,25].
Interoperability of EHR systems into existing technology infrastructure was also found to be an
important issue [21,43,48,49]. While EHR systems were found to be well integrated,
communication with physicians outside the system was quite difficult.
Hi Marissa, Thank you for sharing. Maintain patient confidentiality is indeed a critical
component to nursing care, and to all healthcare members. As you mentioned, it is difficult at
times, and as my post mentions-it is becoming more difficult! This is due to the widespread use
of technology by healthcare personnel, healthcare facilities and people as whole. It is important
not only to refrain from providing information to those who do not have authorization, but to be
mindful of where we are keeping patient information. As technology use increases in healthcare
facilities, one can mistakenly leave a computer on wheels or in a patient room with private health
information open. It can happen suddenly, where a patient may call out for help and we run to
their aid--forgetting to close out of whatever computer we were using. Additionally, Protection
of privacy has gone beyond the walls of the facility we work in. Social media is an example of
this. Through social media, the barrier that was once between healthcare providers and patients is
, removed and all of our lives are evermore connected. One may feel they have upheld to the
standards of patient confidentiality within their workplace, and later post about a traumatic event
with “a patient” and maybe how it impacted their life in a means to express themselves, to later
be investigated for a breach in confidentiality. Online via social media, there are no walls of
privacy. Everyone knows someone, and therefore the days of just referring to a patient as
Mr.Smith and using them as case study are not that simple anymore. Another example may be of
family members or parents of younger children who want to take pictures or record medical
procedures (ie lacerations and stitch placement). The access to portable technologies makes
breaching confidentiality that much easier. As nurses, it is our responsibility to uphold to privacy
standards and to be aware of our hospital policies regarding recording or photographing patient
procedures. Although the patient may verbally consent, there may be documentation involved for
the staff providing services or healthcare facility to authorize such a request (McGonigle &
Mastrian, 2015).
References
McGonigle, D., & Mastrian, K. G. (2015). Nursing informatics and the foundation of knowledge
(Third ed.). Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.
Nur 305: 3-1 Discussion
Patient Safety and Quality
As a healthcare provider, patient safety and quality care is of great importance. Protecting
patient privacy and confidentiality is a crucial component in upholding the best standards. HIT
has had a major influence in increasing patient safety and quality of care. However, as the use of
aggregated across populations to produce research that is beneficial to society
menachemi. “In responding to your peers, identify at least three safety concerns of
vulnerable individuals (e.g., children, pregnant women, individuals in prison) with the
implementation of information technology. Please include a source to support your
response.
Ngyun : Specific areas for improvement were found to include slow system response, decreased
communication between clinical areas, complex navigation due to multiple screens, and poor
support for decision-making due to overuse of checkboxes and ‘copy and paste’ practice [22,25].
Interoperability of EHR systems into existing technology infrastructure was also found to be an
important issue [21,43,48,49]. While EHR systems were found to be well integrated,
communication with physicians outside the system was quite difficult.
Hi Marissa, Thank you for sharing. Maintain patient confidentiality is indeed a critical
component to nursing care, and to all healthcare members. As you mentioned, it is difficult at
times, and as my post mentions-it is becoming more difficult! This is due to the widespread use
of technology by healthcare personnel, healthcare facilities and people as whole. It is important
not only to refrain from providing information to those who do not have authorization, but to be
mindful of where we are keeping patient information. As technology use increases in healthcare
facilities, one can mistakenly leave a computer on wheels or in a patient room with private health
information open. It can happen suddenly, where a patient may call out for help and we run to
their aid--forgetting to close out of whatever computer we were using. Additionally, Protection
of privacy has gone beyond the walls of the facility we work in. Social media is an example of
this. Through social media, the barrier that was once between healthcare providers and patients is
, removed and all of our lives are evermore connected. One may feel they have upheld to the
standards of patient confidentiality within their workplace, and later post about a traumatic event
with “a patient” and maybe how it impacted their life in a means to express themselves, to later
be investigated for a breach in confidentiality. Online via social media, there are no walls of
privacy. Everyone knows someone, and therefore the days of just referring to a patient as
Mr.Smith and using them as case study are not that simple anymore. Another example may be of
family members or parents of younger children who want to take pictures or record medical
procedures (ie lacerations and stitch placement). The access to portable technologies makes
breaching confidentiality that much easier. As nurses, it is our responsibility to uphold to privacy
standards and to be aware of our hospital policies regarding recording or photographing patient
procedures. Although the patient may verbally consent, there may be documentation involved for
the staff providing services or healthcare facility to authorize such a request (McGonigle &
Mastrian, 2015).
References
McGonigle, D., & Mastrian, K. G. (2015). Nursing informatics and the foundation of knowledge
(Third ed.). Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.
Nur 305: 3-1 Discussion
Patient Safety and Quality
As a healthcare provider, patient safety and quality care is of great importance. Protecting
patient privacy and confidentiality is a crucial component in upholding the best standards. HIT
has had a major influence in increasing patient safety and quality of care. However, as the use of
