Discussion: Healthcare Information Technology Trends

A general healthcare technology trend I have seen used more, especially since Covid 19 is telehealth technology. If the patient knows how to navigate using a computer or smartphone, they can communicate with their primary or secondary provider without being in a clinical setting. I work for home care, and we serve some Veteran clients. The Veterans Administration (VA) will send the rurally located veterans a small tabletop computer to communicate face-to-face with the provider. The VA uses weight scales, blood pressure cuff monitors, and glucose monitoring systems with equipment sent to the veteran’s home that transmits information to the VA in real-time or weekly (U. S. Department of Veteran Affairs, 2021) Discussion: Healthcare Information Technology Trends.

The challenge to telehealth is broadband services, especially in remote areas. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) report states, “America’s broadband builders are now trenching conduit, pulling fiber, and installing new high-speed cell sites at an unprecedented clip.” The FCC further reports “on March 31, 2020; the commission adopted a Report and Order establishing a three-year, $100 million Connected Care Pilot Program to help defray the cost of bringing telehealth services directly to low-income patients and veterans” (2020 Broadband Deployment Report, 2020). A potential telehealth risk is data safety. Any communications over the internet are at risk for interception and a target for cybercriminals. To protect oneself from the potential for protected health information (PHI) getting into the wrong hands, “healthcare providers should educate patients about cybersecurity and the steps they should take to improve the overall safety of their interactions online by” Pennic (2020)

● Educating patients about the telehealth security threats

● Using a VPN both during telehealth services and for general device usage

● Frequently updating all apps and operating systems, not just telehealth platforms

● Enabling anti-malware and virus scans to run all the time

● Restricting app permissions to what is necessary for app functionality only

● Recognizing social engineering and other types of cyber-attacks (Pennic, 2020).

I think the next big technological healthcare trend will be artificial intelligence (AI). Like using robots for specific surgical procedures. Health Tech reports using robots to decontaminate hospital or clinical rooms between patients by emitting ultraviolet lights to kill germs. Thermal cameras to detect temperatures of humans entering the building, and RDIF technology to track employee handwashing. Virtual reality to train healthcare staff (Joy, 2020) AI algorithms will save time, alleviate nursing shortages, and be more cost-effective in the future of nursing Discussion: Healthcare Information Technology Trends.

References

 

2020 Broadband Deployment Report. (2020, April 24). Retrieved 2021, from Federal Communications Commission: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/FCC-20-50A1.pdf

Joy, K. (2020, December 22). Healthcare Tech Trends for 2021: New Tools to Watch From robots to home-based care models, the past year’s wave of innovation is poised to continue. Retrieved 2021, from Health Tech: https://healthtechmagazine.net/article/2020/12/healthcare-tech-trends-2021-new-tools-watch

Pennic, J. (2020, July 22). Telehealth and Cybersecurity: What You Should Know. Retrieved 2021, from HIT Consultant: https://hitconsultant.net/2020/07/22/telehealth-cybersecurity-what-you-should-know/#.YOYwvExOnSE

S.2197 – A bill to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to increase the Federal medical assistance percentage for States that provide Medicaid coverage for telehealth services. (2021). Retrieved 2021, from Congress.gov: https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/senate-bill/2197?q=%7B%22search%22%3A%5B%22%5C%22telehealth%5C%22%22%5D%7D&r=1&s=2

U. S. Department of Veteran Affairs. (2021). Retrieved 2021, from Welcome to VA Telehealth Services: https://telehealth.va.gov/

Discussion: Healthcare Information Technology Trends

Throughout history, technological advancements have appeared for one purpose before finding applications elsewhere that lead to spikes in its usage and development. The internet, for example, was originally developed to share research before becoming a staple of work and entertainment. But technology—new and repurposed—will undoubtedly continue to be a driver of healthcare information. Informaticists often stay tuned to trends to monitor what the next new technology will be or how the next new idea for applying existing technology can benefit outcomes Discussion: Healthcare Information Technology Trends.

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