Patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) face physical and psychosocial problems that should be addressed in their entirety. This can be accomplished via interdisciplinary collaboration and the appropriate use of healthcare technology. This paper discusses the impact of healthcare technology, care coordination, and community resources on the management of AD.
Healthcare technology impacts the management of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). For instance, telehealth technology is used to optimize healthcare delivery to patients with AD. This is enabled via various telehealth technologies. Firstly, mobile health improves the delivery of healthcare services by increasing compliance with care plans and providing healthcare education (De Marchi et al., 2021). Compliance with the treatment plan is enhanced via reminder messages and alarms. Healthcare providers send periodic messages to patients and their caregivers to reinforce adherence to care plans. Alternatively, recorded audio messages are played back at predetermined intervals to remind patients and their caregivers to take medication (Sauer, 2019). Secondly, remote patient monitoring embraces wearables and sensors that allow periodic patient follow-ups (De Marchi et al., 2021). In this context, AD patients can upload and send their vitals to members of the interdisciplinary team for evaluation. Also, sensors allow caregivers and healthcare providers to monitor other activities, such as patients’ sleep or exercise (De Marchi et al., 2021). Thirdly, video conferencing facilitates real-time virtual sessions between patients and healthcare providers. This creates a flexible healthcare delivery model and eliminates geographical barriers to healthcare access (De Marchi et al., 2021). Also, it promotes the initiation of timely interventions.
The other healthcare technology is electronic health record (EHR) systems. Notably, EHR systems have clinical decision support systems (CDSS) that play a key role in patient diagnosis and the formulation of care plans (Sutton et al., 2020). Furthermore, EHR systems minimize the risk of medical errors by improving the legibility of prescriptions and allowing members of the interdisciplinary team to share information amongst themselves (Sutton et al., 2020). By so doing, the quality of healthcare services provided to patients is improved.
The evidence is harmonious with the technology that has been embraced at my workplace. We use videoconferencing and wearable devices to interact with and monitor patients. Additionally, healthcare facilities have embraced the EHR system. Recorded reminder messages have been a success in promoting medication adherence.
Various factors impact the use of EHR systems and telehealth technology. To begin with, adequate resources should be channeled toward software and hardware acquisition and training of healthcare providers and patients (Drees, 2020). Furthermore, inadequate digital literacy, limited access to broadband, and advocacy for in-person sessions impede the use of healthcare technology (Drees, 2020). Digital literacy can be improved by training and educating all stakeholders (patients, caregivers, and healthcare providers). Preference for in-person sessions can be addressed by educating patients and their caregivers on the relevance of remote patient monitoring and telehealth technology.
Care coordination in the management of AD is accomplished by nurses, physicians, pharmacists, dieticians, and laboratory technologists. Nurses should ensure that medications are administered safely (Schmutz et al., 2019). Also, they should develop patient-centered care plans and educate patients and their families about the disease process. Physicians should use their expert knowledge and information from CDSS to make timely diagnoses and formulate holistic treatment plans (Schmutz et al., 2019). Pharmacists should promote safe medication use via patient counseling and education. This addresses aspects such as appropriate dosages, anticipated adverse effects, and interventions to take in the case of missed medication or overdoses (Schmutz et al., 2019). Dieticians provide pertinent nutritional advice, whereas laboratory technologists monitor and report tests that physicians request.
The Alzheimer’s Association offers various programs that benefit the community. Its local resources comprise in-person support groups and educational sessions (ALZ.org, n.d.). Support groups allow AD patients and families to interact with each other (ALZ.org, n.d.). By so doing, their social lives are
Order this paper