Introduction
Technology in healthcare is defined as applying knowledge or skills in digital electronic tools to solve healthcare problems. In the healthcare community, technology has placed various potent tools on improving care, including the integration of electronic health records. In medicine, digital technologies help to transform unstable care systems into sustainable ones (Evans & Owolabi, 2018). On the other hand, health informatics utilizes information technology to improve outcomes of overall healthcare. Healthcare quality is connected to patient safety, and both aim to improve people’s health. Typically, healthcare quality broadly encompasses different aspects of patient care and concerns delivering timely, efficient, equitable, and effective services.
Appraising Healthcare Quality
People in need of patient care should access it and feel confident being in good hands. However, sometimes it can be challenging to predict the quality of care to receive, hence the reason for healthcare measures or metrics. Some care quality measures are designed to ensure there is consistency in healthcare. Healthcare quality consists of major ideal components that ought to be achieved in the service delivery process. They include safety, where care must be free from injuries or errors for all patients; quality care must be effective in that it is based on evidence-based practices (Evans & Owolabi, 2018). Moreover, quality care is patient-centered, meaning it encompasses people’s values, preferences, coordination, communication, and education level
Healthcare quality is linked to improved performance and helps providers to achieve goals of enhancing patient outcomes. Healthcare quality is a competitive edge as both patients and professionals are attracted by safe, reliable, and effective environments. Care providers want to get adopted in environments where quality is a priority (Li & Carayon, 2021). Practices that do not pay attention to availing quality care set themselves for failure. Patients look for high-quality services at favorable prices, and systems that provide better services get the business. Transparency in pricing and provision of good quality care goes a long way in guiding people to facilities.
Appraising Technology and Informatics
Digital tools such as wearable technology support data collection and help professionals such as doctors monitor and assess health remotely. Moreover, devices alert authorities about serious medical complications and allow users to take an active role in health. Technology supports remote monitoring of health, saving on costs from unnecessary visits to doctors’ offices. Telemedicine is an advanced healthcare tool in the telecommunication sector and is becoming popular for various reasons (Li & Carayon, 2021). For instance, in remote areas with inaccessibility to clinics, patients can use computers to interact with care providers. Technology systems such as electronic health records facilitate easy data sharing, storage, and retrieval.
Today healthcare systems are getting more specialized, implying that most patients receive care from dozens of professionals in one stay. Such a change requires coordination, and healthcare informatics makes it possible. Health care can be wasteful, especially where patients have to travel frequently from a distance for treatments. Health informatics reduces errors, increases communication, and drives efficiencies lowering the cost burden. Better outcomes are probably the most vital reason why health informatics is crucial in the healthcare industry (Evans & Owolabi, 2018). Since coordinated caregivers have access to the same patient information, they can efficiently make many diagnoses with minimal errors. Patients with electronic access to their health history become aware of what they need to do and prescriptions to follow.
Impacts of Concepts on Nurses’ Needs for Clinical Judgement
Clinical judgment refers to the way nurses can comprehend problems, concerns, or issues about patients. In various settings, nurses apply clinical judgments in complex situations to work with interprofessional teams, and this is facilitated by the need to ensure quality healthcare services. Making clinical decisions requires a nurse’s theoretical knowledge and ethical views. As such, in the world where technology and informatics are taking place, these professionals are impacted to make better decisions that do not lead to ethical or privacy breaches (Li & Carayon, 2021). Clinical judgment is vital for appropriate diagnoses, and nurses are impacted by new trends such as technology to upgrade skills for effective practices.
Impacts of Concepts on Nurses’ Need to Think Critically
In problem-solving, critical thinking skills help acquire knowledge as a nurse gets information explaining the nature of a problem and recommends solutions. For instance, healthcare quality impacts nurses to apply critical thinking in the research process and intuitions to understand concepts and thus help evaluate patients’ conditions fast. When confronted by multiple needs, critical thinking impacts nurses’ healthcare quality by setting priorities and excising the best order to help patients (Sfantou et al. 2017). For example, nurses examine the pros and cons of interventions and implement prioritization per Maslow’s needs. On the other hand, technology impact nurses’ processes of attending to patients’ care. For example, the digital tool makes professionals improve communication and reach decisions faster. Moreover, technology impact nurses’ practice by relieving pressure from manual practices and easing burnout.
Emerging Health Initiatives Surrounding Healthcare Quality
Currently and in the future, personalized medicine is tailored to the particular needs, lifestyle, and makeup of each patient. Such continues to be a vital trend in the healthcare system to move past the one-size-fits-all approach. For a broad healthcare quality practice, there is a need for proactive interventions and techniques to define population cohorts across the care continuum. The effort is to maintain or improve people’s wellness at the minimal cost possible. As the future unfolds, healthcare offices are creating a completely personalized experience for people (Sfantou et al., 2017). Clinics are using data to see the preference of providers by patients, including potential preference health issues. Augmented reality training spans all industries, but it is impactful in the healthcare sector. Augmented reality is strongest in medical training, and caregivers can see diagnoses or procedures in front of them, learning new skills to expand knowledge.
Emerging Health Initiatives Surrounding Technology and Informatics
The current and present time sees the healthcare industry continuing to pursue efficiency through technology that impacts performance and eliminates risks. Healthcare systems have recognized that they need integrated systems across the care continuum. Facilities prefer smart integration of data systems that distribute information across multiple units. AI systems are becoming instrumental in enhancing accuracy and security and reducing redundancy to ensure few errors (Li & Carayon, 2021). The power of AI in healthcare can cut the time spent by scientists analyzing data. Smart technology in healthcare is in various forms that decrease risks and increase comfort and efficiency. The trend of quality improvement is tied to technology such that there is the increased use of wearable tools for less healthy people who potentially need hospital services. The systems keep patients involved and invested in personal health.
How Initiatives Impact Patients’ Quality of Care
Emerging healthcare initiatives have significant impacts on the quality of care for patients. For example, innovative technology, including the use of wearable devices, enables close monitoring of people and improves safety. Digital tools such as cameras of alarms help to foresee risks of falls and prevent them. Personalized medicine increase impacts on treatments through a matching process between patient and interventions while understanding the risks of adverse side effects. With personalized medicines, the cost reduces, and patients have few re-admissions or visits. Population health management builds clinical outcomes through coordination and engaging patients using the right care models. In personalized health care, patients are engaged in decisions, informed about risks and lifestyle choices, and guided on goals for health, impacting wellness (Sfantou et al. 2017). Moreover, technology has brought approaches such as augmented reality, where patients’ education and literacy are improved.
How to Advance Workplace Communication
Clinical facilities are needed to enter patient data into digital systems, and staff must know how to use the tools for accuracy, privacy, and easy accessibility. Effective communication must start from the bottom, reinforced by leaders who act as key examples. Regular feedback from patients is vital to insights into how healthcare organizations or practices must be improved for better results. In informing workers, the value of communication might not be enough, but showing by examples make interaction part of the culture (Sfantou et al. 2017). During training sessions, professionals can be taught how to communicate effectively.
Communication Strategies Advance Healthcare Quality and Technology
Using technology to communicate helps advance communication-related healthcare quality by providing vital information in a timely fashion and saving patients’ lives. Applying technology as a communication strategy makes communication-related to technology faster, convenient, and reliable through data collection, storage, and retrieval. The approach of patient satisfaction surveys helps to point out areas where communication falls short concerning health care quality. For instance, patients may report whether clinical staff attends to them immediately when they need support to prevent risks such as falls or delays in medications. Moreover, surveys help to advance communication related to technology by pointing out areas that need improvements. Maintaining constant communication helps professionals share feedback and valuable information in care practices (Li & Carayon, 2021). A culture of constant interaction creates familiarity with available digital tools improving their usefulness. Similarly, mandatory training programs build skills for communication in healthcare sectors.
Conclusion
Today’s healthcare industry is shaped by significant changes, including technology and informatics. Such trends aim to support quality, safe, equitable, efficient, and affordable care. Healthcare technology and informatics come with significant roles, impacting nurses’ need to improve practices for better clinical judgment. With that, there is a great need to embrace changes positively through measures such as advanced communication.
References
Evans, N., & Owolabi, K. (2018). Clinical informatics tools for healthcare quality improvement: A literature review. Inkanyiso, 10(1), 74-89.
Li, J., & Carayon, P. (2021). Health Care 4.0: A vision for smart and connected health care. IISE Transactions on Healthcare Systems Engineering, 1-10. Web.
Sfantou, D. F., Laliotis, A., Patelarou, A. E., Sifaki-Pistolla, D., Matalliotakis, M., & Patelarou, E. (2017). Importance of leadership style towards quality-of-care measures in healthcare settings: A systematic review. Healthcare, 5(4). 1-17. Web.