Emerging technologies such as consumer, mobile, and telehealth technologies have significantly impacted patient care and the storage of health information. One of the most significant impacts has been the ability to provide patients with greater access to healthcare services through telehealth technologies, such as remote patient monitoring and virtual consultations. The above observation enables patients to receive medical care and advice from the comfort of their own homes, which can be especially beneficial for those who live in rural or remote areas or for those who have mobility issues.
Mobile technologies also play a significant role in patient care. Many healthcare providers now offer mobile apps that allow patients to access their health records, schedule appointments, and communicate with their healthcare providers (Vyas et al., 2022). This can improve patient engagement and help patients take a more active role in managing their health. Consumer technologies, such as wearable devices, also play a role in patient care by providing patients with real-time data about their health and activity levels. This can help patients identify patterns and trends that may indicate a need for medical attention, and it can also help healthcare providers monitor patients’ progress with chronic conditions.
Regarding health information storage, these technologies have made it easier for healthcare providers to collect and store patient data, but they also raise concerns about data security and privacy. Electronic health records (EHRs) have been widely adopted in healthcare organizations and allow for more efficient and accurate sharing of patient information among providers (Vyas et al., 2022). However, issues with data breaches, hacking and cyber security still need to be addressed. Overall, emerging technologies can improve patient care and the storage of health information, but it is also essential to consider the potential risks and challenges.
One ethical or legal issue related to EHRs that can impact a registered nursing practice is the issue of patient privacy and confidentiality. Electronic Health Records (EHRs) contain sensitive personal and medical information, and if not properly secured, this information can be accessed, shared, or stolen by unauthorized individuals. This can lead to patient privacy and confidentiality breaches, which can have serious legal and ethical consequences for the nursing practice. To address this issue, nursing practices must ensure that their EHR systems are adequately secured and that all staff is trained on the importance of maintaining patient privacy and confidentiality. They must also comply with federal and state laws and regulations governing the handling and security of personal health information.
One measure that can be implemented to protect patient privacy and confidentiality in accordance with HIPAA is implementing secure communication methods, such as using encryption when sending electronically protected health information (ePHI) and ensuring that any third-party service providers have appropriate safeguards in place to protect ePHI.
Reference
Vyas, S., Bhargava, D., Bhola, J., Ujjan, J. A., Eswaran, S., & Rahmani, A. W. (2022). Critical retrospection of performance of emerging mobile technologies in health data management. Journal of Healthcare Engineering, 2022. https://www.hindawi.com/journals/jhe/2022/8903604/
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