Healthcare Informatics Resources

Healthcare Informatics and Nutrition

Admin — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 16:10:03 +0000

With computerized technology, an individual’s nutritional status can be assessed and analyzed with thoroughness. This technology can be utilized in many different aspects to complete a nutritional assessment. One aspect is a measurement of oral intake and urinary output over a 24 hour period or for several days. This inputted data can be utilized to make dietary recommendations by the healthcare provider including the dietitian. BMI or Body Mass Index can also be assessed by completing a nutritional assessment. This computerized data can also be used to make dietary recommendations by the healthcare provider. Management of chronic conditions can also by assessed to assist in promoting optimal health status. This can be accomplished by evaluating computed lab data to monitor lab results such as blood glucoses for an diabetic individual. With this analysis, dietary modifications can be recommended to promote optimal health status if needed for this individual. Nutritional assessments and recommendations by the healthcare provider can assist in wound healing, weight gain or loss, and achieving an optimal health status. Computerized nutritional assessments are one of many healthcare assessments that can be utilized in patient care.

Health Assessment for Nursing Practice

Admin — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 16:02:11 +0000

Many healthcare facilities currently utilize an EMR or an electronic medical record for patient healthcare documentation. This is also a tool to utilize and document health care assessments. The advantages on an EMR are numerous, and some of these advantages are communication of patient care data that can be accessed by many different healthcare professionals. This is an important factor especially concerning patient safety as healthcare data can be accessed to provide seamless patient care. This also provides access to healthcare information when the patient is unable to provide healthcare information as in an emergency situation. Another important factor is communication among healthcare professionals such as acute care professionals and primary care professionals or between the lab personnel and a physician. With the disadvantages, there are some, but the advantages of an EMR outweigh the disadvantages. Some of the disadvantages include continual updates of computer equipment and continual requirements of staff education which is a cost factor for healthcare facilities that utilize an EMR. Informatics and healthcare assessments can and are blended which is an asset to patient care especially with patient safety and enhancing communication among healthcare professionals.

Healthcare Informatics and Health Assessment

Admin — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 16:03:31 +0000

Healthcare informatics is utilized by most healthcare facilities and professionals in the United States. In the daily care of patients, some form of computerized technology is used. In studying skin, hair and nails, head, eyes, ears, nose and throat, and the respiratory system, different forms of technology are utilized to complete assessment of these body systems. In terms of an electronic medical record, the assessment of these body systems are imputed into a computerized program. This allows this assessment to be accessed by all healthcare providers caring for a particular patient. Vital sign assessment is completed by computerized technology such as an automatic blood pressure and temperature assessment. Computerized radiological equipment such as CT scanner is used to assess body systems including the head, nose, throat, lungs, etc. Also, computerized laboratory equipment is utilized to assess body systems such as blood gases for the respiratory system. With this explanation, it is apparent the overlap of healthcare informatics and health assessment.

Healthcare Informatics and Health Assessment

Admin — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 15:55:50 +0000

According to Cowen and Moorhead (2006), healthcare informatics is defined as “the processes of science, computer science, and information science to manage and communicate data, information, and knowledge in practice and facilitates the integration of data, information, and knowledge to support patients, nurses, and other providers in their decision-making in all roles and settings” (p. 126). An electronic medical record (EMR) is defined as a set of databases that contains the health information for patients within a given institution or organization (Health IT, 2007). The creation of electronic patient records will allow patient medical histories and health assessments to be shared from provider to provider which will allow important patient information to be communicated to provide safe patient care by all providers. The electronic medical record will also assist in eliminating redundant paper charting by making nurses’ job easier and more effective (Simpson, 2003). It will also eliminate separate, individual charts to be maintained for each patient by healthcare providers (Simpson, 2003). With information technology (IT), the Internet is being used to integrate healthcare organizations and their systems to share patient records, a tool for staff education as well as a resource for patient education on disease processes, and a tool for research (Simpson, 2003). According to Simpson (2003), the Internet is the most empowering technology for patients. Even though technology is expensive, the benefits of improved efficiency, productivity, and the creation of a professional environment maximize the benefits over the cost (Simpson, 2003). With up-to-the-minute computerized patient data, this allows the healthcare professional to make the right decisions at the right time to ensure the right patient outcomes and safety (Simpson, 2003).

References:
Cowen, P. S., & Moorhead, S. (2006). Current Issues in Nursing (7th ed.). St Louis, Missouri: Mosby, Inc.
Health IT (2007). Overview: Health IT. Retrieved June 28, 2007, from www.healthitnow.org
Simpson, R. L. (2003, April). Back to Basics with IT and Patient-Centered Care. Nursing Management, 14-16.

Informatics In Improving the Outcome of Joint Replacement Surgery

Admin — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 15:20:07 +0000

Osteoarthritis, or degenerative joint disease, effects many people worldwide. It is characterized by degeneration of the articular cartilage, which no longer functions as a shock absorber in the joint. Generally, obesity, aging and wear and tear on the joint are the chief factors in developing this potentially crippling disease, which usually involves weight-bearing joints first. Arthroscopy and MRI are diagnostic, highly technological procedures often used for diagnosis of joint deterioration. What used to be classified as a crippling joint disease, osteoarthritis of a joint can often be relieved by joint replacement surgery, the hip and knee being the most frequently replaced. Prior to surgery, the nurse has the responsibility of educating the patient on both the procedure and recovery, including maintenance of the prosthetic joint. A vast array of information is available through in-hospital computer based programs and websites. Some hospitals have joint replacement “schools,” which provide up-to-date information to perspective patients. Labs will be drawn prior to surgery and nurses may have computerized access to them before the surgeon; the nurse must alert the physician to concerning values such as decreased hgb/hct or increased bleeding times. After surgery, the nurse is again concerned with the informatics available in the immediate post-op period and during the entire recovery process; which would again involve timely reporting to the physician abnormal lab values in CBC, CMP and bleeding times. Because information is readily available through computer access following most lab draws, the physician is able to act rapidly to correct potential or actual problems (i.e. blood transfusion, antibiotics, hold or increase anticoagulants, etc), therefore, improving patient outcome. As technology develops, surgical techniques improve in that many joint replacements are able to be performed with much smaller incisions than in the past. The desired patient outcome in joint replacement surgery is restoration of function without surgical complication. Through the use of technology in the pre-op, intra-op and post-op periods, including the many patient education materials available, nurses most definitely play a critical role in this process.

Advanded Physiological Nursing Course via Internet Learning, comment

Admin — Thu, 20 May 2010 14:42:36 +0000

I have to agree with the two previous posts regarding this the ability to take this course on line, at my own pace, in my own home and around my schedule. I have put off going back for my BSN because I work full time and have a family that needs my attention. There is no way I could concentrate in the classroom if I was worried about my family at home. By taking this course on line, I am able to work the quizzes in at times that are convenient for both me and my family. I can go through the units at my own pace, spending additional time on the concepts that are more difficult or require extra attention. It has been a long time since I sat in a class room. This course is very impressive. I love the website and the interactive learning. It is also wonderful to get quizzes graded immediately with feedback regarding areas to concentrate on for incorrectly answered questions. There is no grading on a curve or extra credit assignments to pull your grade up. On line learning puts accountability on the student – you get out of it what you put into it.

Original Post
March 8, 2010
Title: Advanced Physiological Nursing Course Via Internet Learning
I couldn’t agree more with the writer of this discussion forum. I have learned much more from this course than if I was sitting in a traditional classroom. I am able to proceed at my own speed. I can concentrate more on the systems of the body where my knowledge is lacking and less on the systems I know better. It is less stressful also to be able to take quizzes and tests when I actually have time as opposed to on a schedule set by someone else. I can do my readings when I am at my best instead staying up half the night trying to complete them in time for the next class. It has forced me to really utilize my time management skills.

Original Post
March 4, 2010
Title: Advanced Physiological Nursing Course Via Internet Learning
This was a great course, I feel as though I learned more than I would have sitting in a classroom because I not only had to do the reading but also had to research the Internet to find answers and explanations to questions I didn’t know, was unsure about, or didn’t understand. In many ways this course was harder than the past physiology course I took sitting in a classroom. I think in the classroom it is all too easy for instructors to teach to their test (either subtly or overtly) because their success is on the line. With an Internet course the ability to pass the class and do well rests with me. My goal was to come into this class and learn as much as I can, give more than 100% and achieve the highest possible grade I can earn. I feel as though I have accomplished the first goals and will await taking the final to see if I have achieved my last goal of an A in this course.

Online Advanced Physiological Nursing Course

Tags: Healthcare Informatics, Healthcare Informatics Resources, Online Advanced Physiological Nursing Course, Health Care Informatics Nursing Education, Health Care Informatics Education

Assignments and Point of Care Testing, comment

Admin — Wed, 19 May 2010 17:57:59 +0000

I believe that point of care charting will end many of the current problems with the hand written medical record. Especially, difficulty in deciphering handwriting. Handwritten notes have historically been difficult to interpret and dependent on the writer’s penmanship, spelling, use of unaccepted or unknown abbreviations, or general use of the English language – all make for poor flow of care and communication. Inability to read/understand the notes written by staff that cared for the patient before I did leads to errors and exposes patients to risk for poor outcomes. As noted by others, point of care charting will end the longstanding problem of nurses writing on their hands, scribbling notes on scraps of paper hoping not to lose them before they find a minute to sit down and transcribe them onto a paper chart or mentally trying to remember minute details only to be overwhelmed while multi-taksing and totally forget to chart important information into the chart. We will be "going live" with computerized documentation in our unit in a few weeks. We have the luxury not being the first unit in the hospital to go live. So we have the benefits of learning from our peers and have been able to avoid, or so we think, some problems. We have had input in to the devices that will be installed into each cubicle as well as a voice into which COW (or WOW) is chosen for use in our busy area. We know it will not be the solution to all of our problems but it is, we think, a move in the right direction.

Original Post
May 3, 2010
Title: Assignments and Point of Care Testing
Assessments and point of care charting Assessing the patients and directly inputting the information electronically can help with many things. Obtaining correct information, location, description, improving and worsening data can improve if we are able to input all the information at the patients bedside. I agree with the other writer about the COWS. I have never used one in a patients room. Working in Emergency, we often write things down on a piece of paper and use our memory for what is not jotted down. The only time it is fitting for us in Emergency to use a COW is during a Code where inputting the medications and procedures as they are being done saves a lot of time. If you simply write down each step on a piece of paper, then sit down to chart on the computer after it can take up to 20-30 minutes. Another idea instead of COWS or small hand held devices is to give each nurse her own laptop to use for the day and give it to the next shift as they come in. Lap tops are not too small or too big. Charting at the bedside for assessments and having the MAR on hand to check at bedside is helpful.

Original Post
March 1, 2010
Title: Assessments and point of care charting
I absolutely agree with all the comments presented in the below link. Being that computerized documentation is less than 6 months old in our main facility, bedside point of care charting is a relatively new concept. It used to be that the only documentation performed at the bedside was the patient database and even then, most of that information was gathered on initial assessment and we would then go out to the desk to complete the paperwork. I think as more organizations embrace technology, more thought needs to go into the purchasing of equipment. At our facility, the managers for each unit were given a budget to purchase the style of computer they thought would be best suited for that particular unit. Pods were designed with central computers, handheld devices were purchased as well as COWs (computer on wheels). Many units after the fact discovered that the COWS were too big to get to the second bed in the room. This caused non-compliance with The Joint Commission standard stating that the e-mar must be at the bedside when administering medications. Other units found the hand held devices to small to use – the type to difficult to read. Pods are great for the primary nursing concept but takes the nurse away from the bedside. Many areas discovered just how few available outlets they had how short a battery life really is. We even had to become politically correct when a patient complained to administration that she overheard a nurse in the ER referring to "that stupid COW that had died in the hallway" – not realizing the nurse was frustrated that no one had bothered to plug the computer in to charge. We now refer to COWS as WOWS – work stations on wheels. With all that aside, we are finding that wall based point of care computers work best allowing optimal contact with the patient while gathering crucial information to be utilized in their treatment of care – as long as the computer is not on a wall that forces your back to the patient the entire time you are typing!

Original Post
December 14, 2009
Title: Assessments and Point of Care Charting
Charting patient assessments is often a time consuming task, but vital to the care of the patient and record keeping. Nursing often jot notes down on a piece of paper, to only later record them into the computer system. Much may be lost in the translation. In addition, actions may be taken on the charting that in currently in the computer, though it may not always be the most current reflection of the patent’s status. Point of care systems have become paramount for charting in acute care settings, especially on critical care units. They often interface with medical devices to collect data automatically. These systems are often flowsheet orientated and provide graphing and trending capabilities. Optimally these systems create less redundancy, offer quick responses and interface with other clinical operations such as the laboratory and pharmacy departments. The computer availability is also an important consideration. Central computers have not always enhanced charting as they may take nurse from the bedside. Point of care charting should be convenient points of access to the system. Computers on Wheels (COWS) are found in many organizations. The portable, efficient system allows the nurse to chart in the patients room when appropriate. Bedside systems at the point of care focus on quickly capturing information that a nurse may otherwise jot down on their notes. Computer location should be given thoughtful consideration before investments are made in addition to the device’s speed and ease of use.

Tags: Healthcare Informatics, Healthcare Informatics Resources, Health Care Informatics Point of Care Charting, Health Care Informatics Computers on Wheels Charting, Health Care Informatics Assessments Charting, Health Care Informatics Work Station on Wheels, Health Care Informatics Assessment Computer

Patient Education Matters

Admin — Wed, 05 May 2010 14:35:56 +0000

In researching a request by our hospital staff for a new Coumadin video to be used for patient education, I came across and wonderful website. It is Patient Education Matters and is found at http://patienteducationmatters.blogspot.com/ . This blog spot was developed to assist healthcare professionals in the development, sharing and use of patient education materials. The format is a biweekly newsletter, to which I will now subscribe, is totally dedicated to matters of patient education. Patient education topics and resources are featured with each publication with links to education materials. In this week’s edition Warfarin or Coumadin is featured as a resource.

In the case of Coumadin education, Patient Education Matters have linked to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) where I found many Coumadin resources for patients and families. “Your Guide to Coumadin/Warfarin Therapy” is a video available in both English and Spanish. There were other education resources for patients available including a comprehensive patient handout. These resources can be downloaded at no cost or in the case of the handout ordered as single copies free of cost.

In addition to Coumadin education, Patient Education Matters has a topic index for a host of patient education topics. Links are provided to the actual education source. If the education topic needed is not listed they also have a Google search engine that searches across multiple patient education websites at once.

Our organization is fortunate to have a video on demand education system for our patients. However patient education such as is available from Patient Education Matters could be utilized in some of the outlying clinic areas or by patients once discharged to refresh knowledge.

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Patient Education & Counseling Online Class

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Tags: Healthcare Informatics, Healthcare Informatics Resources, Health Care Informatics Communication, Health Care Informatics References, Health Care Informatics Internet, Health Promotion/Disease Prevention Online Class, Patient Education & Counseling Online Class, Health Care Informatics Online Certificate Program, Healthcare Informatics Internet, Computer-based Patient-education program, Patient Education Counseling Coumadin Healthcare Informatics, Patient Education Matters

Asthma Patient Education

Admin — Wed, 05 May 2010 14:16:47 +0000

In researching the Internet for asthma education, I came across an excellent patient education website located at http://www.asthmacure.com that I wish to review. I feel that it serves as a good example of what patient education can be. A patient would need to have the ability to read and basic computer skills to utilize this education site independently. Alternately portions of the material such as the movie could be used for children and non reading adults.

The education begins with an overview of asthma; discussing what it is and the fundamental information one would need to understand the disease. The next section contains a movie. The graphics are colorful and the language easy to understand. The movie would be suitable for children age 8 or older as well as adults. The movie is a wonderful option for those patients who learn best visually or have limited reading skills.

The third section deals with understanding asthma’s warning signals. To teach the concepts they use a colorful picture and concepts of a traffic light.

The green light is described as Congrats! Stable Asthma zone; symptom free with PEFR > 80% of personal best. There is a link explaining what PEFR is and how to measure it using a peak flow meter if the patient needs this information.

The yellow light called the “caution zone”, discusses the signals and symptoms of asthma that indicate varying degrees of airway obstruction with a PEFR of 50-80. The advice is to avoid triggers and to add medicines in effort to come back again in the green zone.

The red light is the “crisis zone”. Patients are encouraged not to delay medications and to seek medical care. They discuss emergency signals that indicate urgent care needs.

The colorful pictures and analogy using a traffic signal, something most can relate to, as well easy to read language catch the learner’s attention while providing very valuable information. This is an excellent example of patient education, useful to many.

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Assessments and point of care charting, comment

Admin — Mon, 03 May 2010 18:07:34 +0000

Assessments and point of care charting Assessing the patients and directly inputting the information electronically can help with many things. Obtaining correct information, location, description, improving and worsening data can improve if we are able to input all the information at the patients bedside. I agree with the other writer about the COWS. I have never used one in a patients room. Working in Emergency, we often write things down on a piece of paper and use our memory for what is not jotted down. The only time it is fitting for us in Emergency to use a COW is during a Code where inputting the medications and procedures as they are being done saves a lot of time. If you simply write down each step on a piece of paper, then sit down to chart on the computer after it can take up to 20-30 minutes. Another idea instead of COWS or small hand held devices is to give each nurse her own laptop to use for the day and give it to the next shift as they come in. Lap tops are not too small or too big. Charting at the bedside for assessments and having the MAR on hand to check at bedside is helpful.

Dehumanized provider relationships

Admin — Mon, 03 May 2010 17:43:18 +0000

Taking a full head to toe assessment is vital in the care and treatment of patients. Sometimes having someone listen to your problems, make eye contact, touch your hand during conversation, smile, or even make a joke can make patients feel better. I use all of the above when it comes to assessing patients. When providers or nurses are harsh and have poor interpersonal skills, patients sense this. Even if you resolve the patients problems and give them the best medication, the patient will forever remember that healthcare worker as "not nice". When an interaction is formed between the provider and patient that is positive, it may make the patient feel better instantly. Countless times I have cared for an anxious, worried, or even angry patient and was able to turn the situation into a positive one by listening and providing care tailored to each individual patient. What if that interaction is taken away? When a provider enters a patients room and only makes eye contact at the start then directly looks at a laptop for the whole assessment, the interpersonal connection with the patient significantly changes. I would even say there is no connection at all. I have seen this take place at the hospital I currently work at. The younger, more savvy doctor walks in with his cool laptop and begins his interview. Business transactions are sometimes warmer than this technique in the hospital. Then I have seen the older providers grab a seat, cross their legs, lean in and listen to the patients. What a difference it makes! The patients feel special, listened to, and this may even help the provider obtain more information from the patients. Although there are many reasons electronic charting is beneficial, the way of going about obtaining the information is crucial. Maintaining eye contact, smiling, therapeutic touch are all vital during an interview, even when the laptop is the focus of attention.

Tags: Healthcare Informatics, Healthcare Informatics Resources, Healthcare Informatics Patient Communication, Healthcare Informatics Computer Use

Computer based education programs

Admin — Mon, 03 May 2010 17:35:49 +0000

Computer based education for patients is a unique way to try and bridge the gap on health disparities. Many patients are seen in a diverse population that are not understanding their medical care. For example, the doctor enters the room quickly bolts out the diagnosis and a prescription for a new medication and leaves the room. Often I have seen this happen and the patients are left confused. I have even had a patient say, “I didn’t understand one word the doctor said”. I inquired why he didn’t ask the doctor to repeat himself or explain in a different manner, but he didn’t have an answer. Often times, nurses are incorporated in the education of a patient and discharge instructions.

When a patient comes from a different cultural background than the doctor or nurse, it may be more challenging to teach them. Some cultures have a tremendous amount of respect towards doctors: to not interrupt, argue, say no, or challenge them. Others simply nod and say yes to everything, come to learn they speak not one word of English. There are many more challenges when it comes to varying cultures, but to be able to provide education in a language that suits the patient, with a representative from their country on the computer, taking into account their cultural needs would be an excellent tool. If the patients are not ready to learn in the hospital setting, providing access to the information online when they are home and feeling better would be another benefit to computer based education.

Tags: Healthcare Informatics, Healthcare Informatics Resources, Healthcare Informatics Computer based Education

Computer-based Patient-education Program

Admin — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 18:42:19 +0000

Given the enormous financial strains on the health care system, and the time constraints of health care providers institutions are seeking to find innovative and cost effective ways of reducing tasks like patient education. Leading health care centers, many dealing with cancer patients such as Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, have taken the first steps by using computer-based learning tools. They have documented initial success in implementing an extensive computer-based education program. Their program consists of a CD-ROM education program, an internal interactive intranet site that contains education about cancer, has library resources, and Internet links, etc. for patients to access.

The advantages are significant and health institutions everywhere are becoming involved with alternate methods of providing and reinforcing patient education. Obvious advantages include the quality and consistency of the information provided to the patient, the ability to access education and information independently; provide training in the language of the patient, as well cost savings to the institution. Disadvantages are the readiness and literacy of the learner, and the inability to interact with the patient at the time questions arise. Some would argue that the disadvantages are fewer than we currently experience, given the lack of caregiver time and consistency and quality of information imparted.

There is no doubt that we will continue to move forward with computer assisted patient education in much the same way as we have with our staff development and training. Our institution is small compared to the major centers utilizing this resource for patient education. However, we too, have embraced the practice of CD-ROM and computer based education at our Cancer Center. Though manned by staff trained to educate patients, we have a resource center with CD’s, interactive patient education videos and an entire resource library for the patients to access. The union of technology and patient education is upon us and, for the most part, appears to be a win-win situation. Our challenge, moving forward, will be to find ways to reach and capture all patients, regardless of their status.

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Evaluation in Patient Education

Admin — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 18:29:35 +0000

Chapter 3 of the text, The Practice of Patient Education, A Case Study Approach discusses evaluation in patient education. The text provides many excellent concepts and tools for the health educator to draw upon when evaluating the effectiveness of the education for the learner. The importance of evaluating patient education programs cannot be underestimated. The goals of improving patient outcomes must be evident for education programs to continue exist.

Certified programs that provide patient education for management of diseases such as diabetes and COPD must collect and document extensive data on an ongoing basis. The data is used to demonstrate the effectiveness of the program based on the outcomes of the patient over time. Quality patient data is required for maintaining programs and recertification’s. If the objectives of the program are not met and demonstrated by improved outcomes, the program may not be re-certified. Certified patient education programs, such as Outpatient Diabetes Education, are often required by Medicare and Insurances in order to be paid for the education. The incentive for effective teaching is patient outcomes oriented, in part, so that the program can financially sustain itself.

The use of data collection tools and electronic tracking of outcomes is now the standard of practice. There are many tools available to assist with data collection. While browsing the intranet I came across the Stanford Patient Education Website, http://patienteducation.stanford.edu/research/. It contains several patient evaluation tools that, due to a grant, are available for use by interested persons. Tools for evaluating education regarding diabetes and COPD programs are available in English and in Spanish. This resource could be very valuable to patient educators who are interested in either validating the tools they currently use or developing others to assess the effectiveness of their patient education.

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Autism Today, comment

Admin — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 15:51:42 +0000

Autism has become one of the biggest issues facing our schools and our insurance companies today. Many people do not understand that there can be differing degrees of autism. Some children diagnosed with autism are considered to be high functioning and will join society as they age if they are given proper diagnosis and therapy throughout. Others with the diagnosis of autism will not function on their own regardless of assistance from schools and doctors. While I was a school nurse, I cared for a family of six children where five of them had differing degrees of autism diagnosis. Two of the children were incapable of performing any care for themselves at the ages of ten and twelve as they were developmentally approximately 18 months. This was a terrible hardship on the family. The children were sent to school as respite for the parents but were incapable of learning and took time away from the other special needs children in their classrooms. Three of the children functioned at the developmental age of four year olds and had some ability to perform their ADL’s and to participate in the classroom. The last child had no autism diagnosis and functioned at the appropriate developmental age. I cannot imagine the difficulties that this family faces on a daily basis.

Original Post
March 10, 2010
Title: Autism Today
Information regarding the disorder of Autism is certainly prevalent in our world today. The “Autism Speaks” organization advertises on television that one in one hundred fifty children are afflicted with the disorder. If correct, these are alarming statistics. It is well documented that all socioeconomic groups and boys more than girls are impacted. The diagnostic process often begins when toddlers do not meet speech and other developmental milestones. The current impact to our schools and other systems as attempts to assimilate the children into society are overwhelming at best. The long-term impact to society and public health resources related to the special needs of this group are yet to be fully realized. The impact on a family is more than those of us not experiencing it can understand. I know well a family in which two out of three children are diagnosed as Autistic. One child is profoundly challenged while the other is able to attend schools, but is clearly socially challenged. The family dynamics were not uncommon. The father enmeshed himself in work. The mother blamed herself for being unable to manage her children. It was a very unhappy home. Health care visits did not readily detect the issues for some time, which allowed denial, frustration and blame to continue. It was interesting to observe the relief when finally having a diagnosis and access to the treatment that would ultimately begin to improve the situation. The state of Arizona recently passed legislation requiring insurance companies to fund advanced therapy for Autistic children. Proponents of the bill contended that the early intervention costs would be offset by costs later in life once the children are able to contribute to society. Those arguing against the bill stated that costs will be passed on to all and that it is unlikely that profoundly Autistic children will ever be emancipated from the health care system. Also of note is the fact that our textbook, Health Promotion Throughout the Lifespan, 6th Edition, by Edelman and Mandle does not directly address Autism, probably because it was last updated in 2006. Certainly upcoming editions will address the disorder along with the role of the nurse in working with the child and family members. This is a good example of how the Internet and other sources can provide real time information.

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De-humanized client-provider relationship

Admin — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 15:47:34 +0000

Health Assessment is now frequently being done by electronic medical records. The large medical practices in my town have spent many thousands of dollars to upgrade the old dictation methods in their office to electronic entry. This will be wonderful for the patient records end, however it comes with a problem. Many of my patients say the doctor used to sit and talk with them and give them eye contact. Now they are so busy doing data entry that they don’t even look at the patient. Their eyes are focused on the computer. This gives the patient a feeling of not being cared about. Computer medical data entry of our assessments have de-humanized the client / provider relationship. This is sad.

Tags: Healthcare Informatics, Healthcare Informatics Resources, Health Care Informatics Electronic Medical Record, Health Care Informatics Assessment, Health Care Informatics De-Humanize

Autism Today

Admin — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 22:53:40 +0000

Information regarding the disorder of Autism is certainly prevalent in our world today. The “Autism Speaks” organization advertises on television that one in one hundred fifty children are afflicted with the disorder. If correct, these are alarming statistics. It is well documented that all socioeconomic groups and boys more than girls are impacted. The diagnostic process often begins when toddlers do not meet speech and other developmental milestones. The current impact to our schools and other systems as attempts to assimilate the children into society are overwhelming at best. The long-term impact to society and public health resources related to the special needs of this group are yet to be fully realized. The impact on a family is more than those of us not experiencing it can understand. I know well a family in which two out of three children are diagnosed as Autistic. One child is profoundly challenged while the other is able to attend schools, but is clearly socially challenged. The family dynamics were not uncommon. The father enmeshed himself in work. The mother blamed herself for being unable to manage her children. It was a very unhappy home. Health care visits did not readily detect the issues for some time, which allowed denial, frustration and blame to continue. It was interesting to observe the relief when finally having a diagnosis and access to the treatment that would ultimately begin to improve the situation. The state of Arizona recently passed legislation requiring insurance companies to fund advanced therapy for Autistic children. Proponents of the bill contended that the early intervention costs would be offset by costs later in life once the children are able to contribute to society. Those arguing against the bill stated that costs will be passed on to all and that it is unlikely that profoundly Autistic children will ever be emancipated from the health care system. Also of note is the fact that our textbook, Health Promotion Throughout the Lifespan, 6th Edition, by Edelman and Mandle does not directly address Autism, probably because it was last updated in 2006. Certainly upcoming editions will address the disorder along with the role of the nurse in working with the child and family members. This is a good example of how the Internet and other sources can provide real time information.

Health Promotion/Disease Prevention Online Class

Patient Education & Counseling Online Class

Health Care Informatics Online Certificate Program

Advanced Physiological Nursing Course via Internet Learning

Admin — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 15:25:26 +0000

I couldn’t agree more with the writer of this discussion forum. I have learned much more from this course than if I was sitting in a traditional classroom. I am able to proceed at my own speed. I can concentrate more on the systems of the body where my knowledge is lacking and less on the systems I know better. It is less stressful also to be able to take quizzes and tests when I actually have time as opposed to on a schedule set by someone else. I can do my readings when I am at my best instead staying up half the night trying to complete them in time for the next class. It has forced me to really utilize my time management skills.

Online Advanced Physiological Nursing Course

Tags: Healthcare Informatics, Healthcare Informatics Resources, Online Advanced Physiological Nursing Course, Health Care Informatics Nursing Education, Health Care Informatics Education

Medication Safety

Admin — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 15:18:54 +0000

I have been touched by the many recent news headlines of medication errors, especially those involving newborns. In yesterday’s news covering a Las Vegas malpractice case, a sobbing pharmacist was apologizing to the parents of a deceased infant who was the recipient of a drug overdose prepared during her watch. The pharmacist was so distraught that the mother of the deceased infant left her seat in the court room to comfort her. Our text discusses the potentially harmful effects of medications during pregnancy, during labor, and to newborns. In watching the coverage and reading the text, I was reminded of the many times during my career that I have witnessed errors and myself experienced serious near misses with medication administration. It is devastating when such events occur to both the patient and the health care practitioner. Safe administration of medications has always been the goal of healthcare providers, but it seems that despite all of the resources available, errors continue at alarming rates. This is so much the case that The Joint Commission has charged hospitals to improve the safety of medication administration in their National Patient Safety Goals. Information regarding dosing, drug interactions, etc. is readily available in many formats to those preparing and administering medications. We have medications provided in unit dose increments and dispensed by machines. As a standard of nursing care, we perform a minimum of five checks before administering medications. Some medications require two nurses to verify the dose. We have changed our practices with patient identification to reduce the likelihood that medication is given to the wrong person. Yet, with all of the available information and redundancies built into the system, life threatening errors occur. There is a federal movement underfoot for all healthcare organizations to have electronic medical records in place. A medication administration record that does not require manual transcription would be an adjunct in reducing transcription errors. However, the data base is only as good as the information that it is provided with, leaving the potential entry for errors. Electronic data bases provide very useful information for tracking, measuring and determining clinical quality. This would help us evaluate process errors and to revises processes based on the knowledge gained. At the end of the day, with all the tools and information at hand, it is the end user who is the last and most important stopgap in safe medication administration. The available tools are like a hammer. A great hammer still needs a skilled carpenter to achieve a great outcome. It is my belief that our focus should be in development of the “carpenter” and the processes used by the “carpenter” with regard to medications. This would involve more training with medications; time to recalculate what is prepared in pharmacies, and an evaluation of the environment, including patient assignments and ratios. The costs incurred would be minimal compared to the cost of a human life or a lawsuit related to negligent practice.

Medication Drug Error Attorney Lawyer

Tags: Healthcare Informatics, Healthcare Informatics Resources, Health Care Informatics Medication Administration Record, Health Care Informatics Electronic Medical Record, Health Care Informatics Medication Safety, Medication Drug Error Attorney Lawyer

Advanced Physiological Nursing Course via Internet Learning

Admin — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 20:01:20 +0000

This was a great course, I feel as though I learned more than I would have sitting in a classroom because I not only had to do the reading but also had to research the Internet to find answers and explanations to questions I didn’t know, was unsure about, or didn’t understand. In many ways this course was harder than the past physiology course I took sitting in a classroom. I think in the classroom it is all too easy for instructors to teach to their test (either subtly or overtly) because their success is on the line. With an Internet course the ability to pass the class and do well rests with me. My goal was to come into this class and learn as much as I can, give more than 100% and achieve the highest possible grade I can earn. I feel as though I have accomplished the first goals and will await taking the final to see if I have achieved my last goal of an A in this course.

Online Advanced Physiological Nursing Course

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Lessons Learned: The Completion of a New Installation

Admin — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 20:02:01 +0000

In August our hospital implemented the e-mar – electronic medication administration record – documentation system. It was decided by the powers to be that a "Big Bang" roll-out would work much more efficiently than trialing the system on one unit first. This decision was made despite the months of "team" meetings where numerous members of lower Leadership expressed their concern and apprehension. Part of the package purchased with the software contract included on-site program developers and support. It was with this promise of guidance and support, that we were urged forward – pressured into meeting our initial launch date. It was said that we were facing a change in "thought process" among the older staff members – we were told that once the product was on the units that "buy in" would be quick – that the system was here to stay and the staff would have no choice but to adapt and accept. It has been and absolute nightmare to say the least. We have literally two nurses assigned to our computerized programming department. Neither one has had actual computer training other than what the emar company has provided. The provided program developers are nonclinical based professionals trying to create in a clinical field. Input from participating departments is often dismissed. Instruction to the staff has been inconsistent with unit based nurse clinicians being forced to teach computer classes with minimal orientation and little to zero resources. Feedback to staff over system errors, challenges and restrictions is inconsistent and varies depending on who is delivering the message. The list could go on for pages and has created dismay and distrust, a sense of failure within the Nursing department. Pharmacy has had an even more difficult struggle – expressing their concern over the timing and method of implementation during a period that their department had several vacant positions, including that of a department director – but we had a deadline to meet after all. In addition we have since discovered that there are several different software systems being utilized throughout the organization, L&D, ASU, Endo, OR, IRU, Dialysis, offsite, Dental and ER – to name a few. Not only do these systems not communicate with each other but they are for the most part not able to effectively incorporate the e-mar system. This has created an environment of half paper half electronic documentation, inconsistent between departments. Errors are being made, system failures and limitations are not being addressed within a timely fashion – if at all. With that said, the e-mar system may be more time efficient, cost effective, and allow for increased patient safety…but without expertly trained program developers, consistent clinical based instructors, adequate and around the clock implementation support staff, consistent and accurate communication between all departments of the organization – including frontline staff, realistic goals and time lines and the ability to make corrective and adaptive changes – the transition for the staff can become difficult, frustrating and unsafe for both patients and healthcare professionals alike.

Tags: Healthcare Informatics, Healthcare Informatics Resources, Health Care Informatics electronic medication administration record e-mar, Health Care Informatics Electronic Medical Record

Assessments and point of care charting, comment

Admin — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 19:41:20 +0000

I absolutely agree with all the comments presented in the below link. Being that computerized documentation is less than 6 months old in our main facility, bedside point of care charting is a relatively new concept. It used to be that the only documentation performed at the bedside was the patient database and even then, most of that information was gathered on initial assessment and we would then go out to the desk to complete the paperwork. I think as more organizations embrace technology, more thought needs to go into the purchasing of equipment. At our facility, the managers for each unit were given a budget to purchase the style of computer they thought would be best suited for that particular unit. Pods were designed with central computers, handheld devices were purchased as well as COWs (computer on wheels). Many units after the fact discovered that the COWS were too big to get to the second bed in the room. This caused non-compliance with The Joint Commission standard stating that the e-mar must be at the bedside when administering medications. Other units found the hand held devices to small to use – the type to difficult to read. Pods are great for the primary nursing concept but takes the nurse away from the bedside. Many areas discovered just how few available outlets they had how short a battery life really is. We even had to become politically correct when a patient complained to administration that she overheard a nurse in the ER referring to "that stupid COW that had died in the hallway" – not realizing the nurse was frustrated that no one had bothered to plug the computer in to charge. We now refer to COWS as WOWS – work stations on wheels. With all that aside, we are finding that wall based point of care computers work best allowing optimal contact with the patient while gathering crucial information to be utilized in their treatment of care – as long as the computer is not on a wall that forces your back to the patient the entire time you are typing!

Charting in the Era of e-mar, comment

Admin — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 19:28:03 +0000

Part of my role as a nurse clinician is that of ensuring that a newly hired RN is able to independently pass medications. Our facility policy is to have the initial med pass performed with a clinician and once deemed competent the new hire can continue medication administration under the supervision of a nurse preceptor (another RN assigned to that nurse). Like most hospitals, the demand to push these new nurses through the orientation process and into independent practice is tremendous. We often short come the orientation and nurses today are learning on the fly. A proper preceptorship should consist of a seasoned and experienced RN with a smaller patient load, working with the new hire and delegating tasks until they feel the new nurse can perform and handle a patient load on their own. In the real world – the new hires are often treated as additional staff and the preceptor is ending up with double the patient assignment because they have an "extra" pair of hands. The preceptor is so busy trying to complete and care for the additional patients the new hire is often left unattended. During an observed medication pass this morning I was dismayed to watch the nurse flip to the drug information screen on her e-mar instead of actually taking the time to look up the medication in a drug guide. Was it more time effective? Yes, but she just glanced at the first sentence or two grabbed a keyword and assumed that was the drug’s intention. A few times I had to encourage her to go back and read the entire screen – point out that she was glossing over key information such as adverse reactions or drug interactions. With all the tremendous technological advancements we are making in healthcare today, I hope it is not as the cost of patient safety and nursing accountability.

Original Post
January 4, 2010
Title: Charting in the Era of EMR
I am still of the era of nurses that entered a patients room with my rounds sheet tucked into my uniform pocket. The secret was to not let the patient see this sheet, and be able to remember their name, main diagnosis, and what you needed to check in them. You would go through your complete assessment including vital signs, and when you left the room you would pull out your little sheet of paper and write down all of the information you just collected. This procedure was repeated for all eight of your patients. When you were done, you then sat at the nurses’ station and pulled the individual charts so you could transfer the information onto the required forms.

It is not hard to see how the electronic medical record has benefited the role of nursing. The first improvement is in time management. You can actually take the information and enter it once. This is the only time you write the information. The second advantage is in correct data entry. You can enter the data as you gather it. There is less chance of forgetting the information before you write it in the patient record. The third benefit is in gathering the correct information on each patient. Electronic medical records prompt you to gather the required information.

I speak purely from a hypothetical standpoint because I personally have not had the chance to utilize an electronic medical records system. Our hospital is still struggling to come up with the money required to purchase and implement a system. I can, however, dream about how easy it will make my life once we get one!!!

Online Healthcare Informatics Educational Certificate Program

Tags: Healthcare Informatics, Healthcare Informatics Resources, Health Care Informatics Electronic Medical Record, Healthcare Informatics Electronic Health Record, Healthcare Informatics electronic medication administration record e-mar

Choices that prepared me for my online nursing classes, comment

Admin — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 18:52:00 +0000

I think the biggest hurdle I’ve encountered with the decision to obtain an online degree, is the time management. I have never been a master of my time to begin with and trying to juggle the children, a full time job and school – amongst the hundreds of other commitments we all have, has been quite a struggle for me. I envisioned putting the children to bed with plenty of free time at night to study on line. I now realize that 1000 at night is not necessarily the optimal time to read and retain learning material. I also wished I had taken in account how stressful it can become when your taking a timed exam and the kids are running in and out of the room while the incoming calls are knocking offline! (yes I live in one of the few areas in New York that still uses dial-up service) If any, an important lesson I have learned throughout this experience is to impart time management unto my children – that it is an essential skill needed not just in healthcare but in life in general.

Original Post
February 1, 2010
Title: Choices that prepared me for my online nursing classes
We all made choices about the types of courses we wanted to take when we were in junior high school and high school. I went to high school long before the age of computers but know one course choice I made in 8th grade prepared me well for this class. No, it wasn’t a science class or a health class but instead it was a typing class. I cannot imagine doing the homework assignments if I couldn’t type fast. Thank you to my parents for encouraging me to take typing, I remember telling them, it was a waste of time and I wouldn’t need it as a nurse. I apologize to them both and thank them for guiding me well.

Online Education Health Care Informatics Certificate Program

Tags: Healthcare Informatics, Healthcare Informatics Resources, Health Care Informatics Education, Health Care Informatics Preparation, Health Care Informatics Online Certificate Program Education, Health Care Informatics Nursing Education

Lessons learned:The completion of a new installation, comment

Admin — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 15:31:14 +0000

The small community hospital where I work is currently coordinating the install of our second electronic charting system. The initial install with the first company was a complete disaster as communication between project managers and management was lacking. It is vital for all departments to communicate in order to best meet the needs of all involved. After training our entire staff, it was discovered that the different departments of the hospital had different goals and needs for their EC and the departments were unable to communicate with each other via the charting system chosen. The entire project was scrapped and a new company chosen that could meet everyone’s needs. It was unfortunate that the time and money was wasted due to each Department manager having separate discussions with the IS department and the IS department not coordinating their discussions amongst everyone. We are two years later, no electronic charting as of yet, still need to train the staff again on the new system, and a lot of money wasted that healthcare just doesn’t have to absorb right now.

Original Post
March 9, 2009
Title: Lessons learned: The completion of a new installation
It is said that life imitates art. I have found that for me recently life has paralleled my studies. I have recently completed a project that I followed from inception to completion. It has been an interesting journey.

I began this journey in October of 2006. I was new to healthcare informatics and project management having just taken a new position a month earlier. I was asked by the CNO who I report to directly, to coordinate the demos of three companies who were to show us their vital sign solutions for a system that would integrate with our Meditech EMR. This was a bit of a challenge at first as I had not done anything like this in my nursing career; however my family owned several retail stores so I was familiar with salesmen and felt confident in my ability to deal with them.

After having arranged the demonstrations and gone through the process of narrowing it down to 2 vendors we had many discussions between IS and nursing about which vendor we would choose. The CIO moved ahead and approved purchase from a vendor who would also supply us carts on wheels. After receiving the carts it was found that the vital signs equipment they had shown us in the demo was not what was on the carts. The equipment did not work and there was not a previous interface with Meditech as they had told us.

First lesson, communication is of utmost importance in selecting a vendor and implementing a new system. The CIO had made this decision without the approval of the CNO and had not talked with me about this also. Therefore the system did not meet the needs of the clinical staff though the IS staff felt it was the best choice. This was the second lesson which has been discussed in these chapters of Health Care Informatics, An Interdisciplinary Approach, the need for the healthcare informatics professional to understand the needs of the clinicians.

After more discussion and deliberation another vendor was chosen and we began the task of assessing and deciding how much equipment to buy, getting board approval and going through with the purchasing process. At this time the CNO officially appointed me as the project manager.

I began setting up the acceptance of the products and working with the implementation team to coordinate not only training of the end users but working with the IS staff on the integration with Meditech. This provides the 3rd lesson which is also discussed in this module of my educational program. Never underestimate how many different entities are involved in a project. Not only were IS and the nursing staff effected but so were the bioengineering, purchasing, physicians, of course patients as well as safety and quality assurance departments.

One of the issues that are discussed in this module is the need to meet standards set by many agencies that the hospital answers to from JCAHO and OSHA to IEEE and AHRQ. It was interesting to see how this project required attention to many of these standards.

We came across many “bumps in the road” on this project. There was a previously unplanned upgrade to Meditech which delayed implementation. There then was a problem with Meditech not accepting messages from the PDA’s used to download vitals into the Meditech module which required a “special build” from Meditech. There were wireless assessments, training to both the IS and the bioengineering staff for support and maintenance of the system. There were builds needed both in Meditech and in the software on the PDA’s for the integration and then there was the issue of a lost shipment of PDA’s.
At times I doubted the project would ever come to fruition. However, with much communication, organization and attention to detail we were able to complete implementation of the project with the final go live on March 4th. We are live on 5 inpatient units and are now looking to expand this to the outpatient arena. The staff loves the new processes and feels it has improved safety with positive patient ID and real time documentation of the vital signs. The team worked together, IS, bioengineering, and nursing as well as the other involved entities as well as the implementation team from our vendor, making the actual go live was a very smooth and positive process for all involved.

The final lessons learned, timing is everything, expect the unexpected, communication is essential and there are no small projects!

Online Education Health Care Informatics Certificate Program

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Choices that prepared me for my online nursing classes

Admin — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 20:39:39 +0000

We all made choices about the types of courses we wanted to take when we were in junior high school and high school. I went to high school long before the age of computers but know one course choice I made in 8th grade prepared me well for this class. No, it wasn’t a science class or a health class but instead it was a typing class. I cannot imagine doing the homework assignments if I couldn’t type fast. Thank you to my parents for encouraging me to take typing, I remember telling them, it was a waste of time and I wouldn’t need it as a nurse. I apologize to them both and thank them for guiding me well.

Online Education Health Care Informatics Certificate Program

Tags: Healthcare Informatics, Healthcare Informatics Resources, Health Care Informatics Education, Health Care Informatics Preparation, Health Care Informatics Online Certificate Program Education

Health care Informatics: data, information, knowledge, and wisdom

Admin — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 15:12:01 +0000

Health care informatics, as defined by Englebardt and Nelson, 2002, is the study of how health care data, information, knowledge, and wisdom are collected, stored, processed, communicated, and used to support the process of health care delivery to clients, providers, administrators, and organizations involved in health care delivery. There are many variations of this definition, all with ultimately the same meaning. The statement that effectively explains the importance of this field is by Hannah, Ball, and Edwards, 1999, that stated, health care informatics, is truly interdisciplinary. In its truest form it focuses on the care of the patient, not a specific discipline. Therefore, even though there are specific bodies of knowledge for each health care profession, they all interface at the patient. The increasing awareness health care organizations are developing towards the informatics discipline is proving its value. I realize it is an evolving discipline and will continue to progress and grow in correlation with technology and the electronic medical record. Information systems, information technology, information literacy, information management-information is all around us every day. Understanding how to evaluate the information available is critical to deciphering the true unbiased detail of the data. Although there is no control of the validity of data available on the Internet and the fact that there is an abundance of information, doesn’t necessarily mean the information on the subject is valid. Following criteria designed to evaluate information, will help an individual find and use quality information. Some criteria to use: is the source or authority reliable; is the data current; is it organized logically and easy to navigate; is it objective and free of bias; and is the data accurate and error-free. Developing a checklist and a form to assist with data collecting and decision making will serve as tools to enhance the evaluation of on-line material. In this age, information is plentiful. Understanding how to collect and process information is vitally important. One simply must be information literate.

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Information Technology: A Mandatory Part of Nursing Curriculum

Admin — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 15:02:13 +0000

I feel that most nursing programs do focus on the bedside care of the patients. As a clinical nursing instructor teaching disease process, nursing assessment, medications, clinical skills and patient education are a priority in our program. Our program has integrated technology however. The students that we have are very techno savvy. They have the ability to text page, while taking notes during lecture and respond to IM. These students will have no problem with the new computer charting that many of us “mature” nurses have. Our program gives the students PDA’s with dictionaries, drug books, and lab manuals loaded on them to use as references. Lectures are placed on Blackboard for students to download and study from. We have the ability to interact with our students online for preclinical assignments. This allows the students and instructors to be at home with family and friends rather than back out in the classroom. Nursing schools don’t necessarily have to teach computer skills as part of the curriculum, but can have the students take a class as a prerequisite. Each hospital has their own system and the types of equipment changes as newer and better one arrive. The new nurses will get the training on the equipment and system that is used by that hospital as part of the orientation process. I believe that we are doing a good job of using some of this technology in my program to help better prepare our students.

Online Education Health Care Informatics Certificate Program

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Information Literacy and Information Systems

Admin — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 14:45:16 +0000

Information Literacy There is a phenomenal amount of information available to us every day, which is generally not difficult to acquire: although time-consuming in some instances. We now live in an era where information is all around us, available in various forms and from various sources and relatively inexpensive, and, often at no cost. When an issue requires researching one can gain the knowledge from resources such as: text books, journals, local and national newspapers, television, radio, and the never-ending World Wide Web. To be most effective in utilizing these areas of information gathering, it is important to know how to locate, search, obtain, access, and evaluate the information. This allows for an efficient use of resources. I am pleased to learn of the Information Literacy Competency Standards for Higher Education, which provides a framework for assessing the information by a literate individual. Developing information literacy within an individual is critical to their journey throughout their life. I find it extremely beneficial these standards extend the opportunity to articulate its information literacy competencies within K-12 grades, in order for a continuum of expectations to develop for students at all levels. How fabulous it is to see that information literacy is becoming more of a requirement than a nice-to-know subject in many areas. Additionally, I applaud the regulatory agencies for identifying the need for information literacy to be part of their criteria, this proves how valuable information literacy truly is in the world we live in today. Information Systems is yet another fascinating topic to understand the depths of its function. Basically, this is the “heart beat” of many organizations today. Information systems provide information to the users, which will facilitate the work of the organization. Many times it seems as though Information Systems departments drive an organization and until they say “yes,” to a particular project affecting the company’s infrastructure, it doesn’t happen. This tends to be frustrating for most individuals within an organization. However, understanding the needs, analysis, infrastructure, and resources involved is a critical factor in determining the necessity of implementation of a project request. Unfortunately, moving an organization to another level of automation can be very time-consuming and expensive; however, many times the outcomes can improve workflow processes, increase productivity, and improve data integrity. As I learned, the basic information system consists of 4 elements: people, procedures, communication, and data. As I reflected on these elements, I realized it is an awesome way to identify any “information system” whether manual or automated. For an organization to be successful each element plays a vital role in handling information.

Tags: Healthcare Informatics, Healthcare Informatics Resources, Health Care Information Systems, Health Care Information Literacy

The Impact of On-line Education in The Rural Setting

Admin — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 15:51:22 +0000

Education of nursing staff in the rural setting has long been a challenge. The cost of bringing educators out into the rural environment to present to a small handful of staff severely limit’s the amount of actual classes a facility can offer. This, coupled with the current economic times, has practically stopped on site education for the rural hospitals. The advent of easy to access and cost effective on line education has been a life saver to the educational component of nursing. It is now possible for the nurses to keep current on trends and standards of practice without having to travel long distances to do so. The hospital doesn’t have to spend as great a portion of it’s to few resources on the education needed by the staff. Those few dollars can now be used for the certifications that need to be done on site, such as trauma nursing core courses. The other benefit to on line courses is that nurses can take these classes while at work, during the times that the unit is patient free. This happens more often than we would like to see, but at least now the staff can use that time for something constructive.

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Online Nursing Courses

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