Decision Support and Innovative Informatics Tools

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“Never before in history has innovation offered promise of so much to so many in so short a time.” – Bill Gates (as cited in Frazer, 2007)

Technological innovations are dramatically changing how the health care industry operates. One example of this change is the transformation of gaming systems and virtual worlds into effective health care devices. Today’s gaming systems are capable of strengthening motor skills during rehabilitation, while virtual worlds promote a form of nonjudgmental communication and self-confidence for those patients who suffer from physical and mental limitations. Innovations such as these have been well received as they promote health in a positive and entertaining way.

In this week’s Discussion, you appraise how these innovations can enhance health care practices. Focus on analyzing innovations with which you may be unfamiliar. For example, you may choose to look at the fields of decision support, robotics, telehealth, and nanotechnologies.

 References:

Olsen, S. (2008, May 29). Wii-habilitation, health games get $2 million study grant. CNET News.
Retrieved from http://news.cnet.com/8301-10784_3-9955083-7.html

Tanner, L. (2008, February 9). Hospital using Wii in combat injury rehab. Navy Times.
Retrieved from http://www.navytimes.com/news/2008/02/ap_wiihabilitation_080209/
 

Mollman, S. (2007, July 27). Wii + Second Life = New training simulator. Wired.
Retrieved from http://www.wired.com/gadgets/miscellaneous/news/2007/07/wiimote

Frazer, G. (2007, December 6). How to nurture innovation in your business. Computer Weekly.
Retrieved from http://www.computerweekly.com/Articles/2007/12/06/228478/How-to-nurture-innovation-in-your-business.htm
 

To prepare:

  • Review      the information and websites listed in the Learning Resources focusing on      decision support and technological innovations in the health care field.
  • Using      credible resources, investigate decisions support systems or other      innovations that are in them, in-today’s health care market.
  • Select      a specific technological innovation to share with your classmates.
  • Develop      a description of your selected decision support system or technology      innovation as if you were making a presentation to an interdisciplinary team      at your practice.
  • Include      the potential benefits and challenges that this new system could bring to      health care practices and the effect it could have on outcomes.

By tomorrow Wednesday 10/11/17, 12 pm, write a minimum of 350 – 550 words essay in APA format. Use at least 3 references from the list of required reading below.  Include the level one headings as numbered below

post a cohesive response that addresses the following:

1) Describe your selected technology, including when it was first introduced into the health care industry.

2) Assess the applications of the technology, noting the benefits and potential challenges of the innovation.

3) Appraise the potential of the innovation to improve health care practice and related outcomes.

 

Required Readings

Course Text: Ball, M. J., Douglas, J. V., Hinton Walker, P., DuLong, D., Gugerty, B., Hannah, K. J., . . . Troseth, M. R. (Eds.) (2011). Nursing informatics: Where technology and caring meet (4th ed.). London, England: Springer-Verlag.

Chapter 18, “Extending Care: Voice Technology”

Chapter 21, “Local Global Access: Virtual Learning Environments”

Chapter 18 provides an overview of the capability of voice assistive technologies to address the demands of health care environments. Chapter 21 features classroom technology trends that are equipping future nurses for practice.

Course Text: American Nurses Association. (2008). Nursing informatics: Scope and standards of practice. Silver Spring, MD: Author.

“The Future of Nursing Informatics” (pp. 52-62)

“Integrated Functional Areas: Telehealth and Informatics” (pp. 36-37)

The excerpts found here provide an overview of future advancements of informational technology systems’ hardware and design models.

Munih, M., & Bajd, T. (2010). VI.3. Rehabilitation robotics. Studies in Health Technology and Informatics, 152, 353–366.

In this article, the authors delve into the future of rehabilitation by examining the ways that virtual reality and robotics will transform exercise and management systems used by physical therapists.

Nolan, R. P., Upshur, R. E., Lynn, H., Crichton, T., Rukholm, E., Stewart, D. E., . . . Chen, M. H. (2011). Therapeutic benefit of preventive telehealth counseling in the Community Outreach Heart Health and Risk Reduction Trial. The American Journal of Cardiology, 107(5), 690–696.

The authors outline a clinical study that examined the benefits of telehealth counseling. They also analyze motivational interviewing as an agent to change daily behaviors and attitudes of those with cardiovascular disease.

Singh, R., Mathiassen, L., Stachura, M. E., & Astapova, E. V. (2010). Sustainable rural telehealth innovation: A public health case study. Health Services Research, 45(4), 985–1004.

This qualitative study examines previous telehealth implementations in efforts to improve future developments and sustainability in rural areas.

Stewart, S., Hansen, T. S., & Carey, T. A. (2010). Opportunities for people with disabilities in the virtual world of second life. Rehabilitation Nursing, 35(6), 254-259.

Use this article to examine the physical and emotional benefits that virtual realities can bring to people with disabilities.

Cisco. (n.d.). Industry solutions: Healthcare.

Retrieved October 14, 2011, from http://www.cisco.com/web/strategy/healthcare/index.html 

Investigate the ways that Cisco Industry Solutions is working to bridge the gap between communication and technology for health care environments.

Intuitive Surgical. (2010). da Vinci surgery.

Retrieved from http://www.intuitivesurgical.com/products/davinci_surgery.html

See this website to view video commentaries on the da Vinci Surgical System’s ability to revolutionize surgery experiences.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. (n.d.). MIT media lab.

Retrieved October 14, 2011, from http://www.media.mit.edu/ 

View various technology integration stories in the field of health care at this website

McKesson Corporation. (2011). ROBOT-Rx. Retrieved from http://www.mckesson.com/en_us/McKesson.com/For%2BPharmacies/Inpatient/Pharmacy%2BAutomation/ROBOT-Rx.html 

The McKesson Coporation illustrates how an automated, robotic system is revolutionizing the process of medication storage and dispensing.

Required Media

Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2011). Transforming nursing and healthcare through technology: Clinical decision support. Baltimore, MD: Author.

Note: The approximate length of this media piece is 12 minutes.

In “Clinical Decision Support” the presenters discuss how data management systems combine with practitioner knowledge to create the best medical and economical solutions for patient care.