NR 512 Week 7 Narrated Power Point Presentation

NR 512 Week 7 Narrated Power Point Presentation

Student Name

Chamberlain University

NR-512: Fundamentals of Nursing Informatics

Prof. Name:

Date

Telemedicine and Telehealth in Healthcare

NR 512 Week 7 Narrated PowerPoint Presentation

October 20, 2019

Introduction

Telemedicine is derived from the Greek word “Tele” (distance) and the Latin word “mederi” (to heal), signifying the remote delivery of healthcare services using telecommunications technology. It includes various services such as the internet, wireless communication, satellite, and telephone-based consultations. The American Telemedicine Association recognizes telemedicine as an essential aspect of modern healthcare. Its origins trace back to 1905 with the first transmission of electrocardiograms. However, telemedicine gained widespread recognition in the 1990s with the introduction of teleradiology, significantly impacting radiology as a specialty.

Telehealth, as defined by the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), extends beyond telemedicine to include long-distance healthcare services, health education, and public health administration. This approach employs tools such as videoconferencing, store-and-forward imaging, streaming media, and wireless communication to enhance healthcare delivery.

Why I Chose This Topic

The increasing complexity of healthcare presents multiple challenges, including difficulty for physicians in obtaining call coverage, rising healthcare costs, and a growing elderly population coupled with a nursing shortage. These barriers limit access to quality healthcare services. Telemedicine serves as an innovative solution by offering convenient healthcare access anytime and anywhere, improving communication between patients and healthcare professionals.

By providing remote healthcare services, telemedicine benefits rural and underserved areas where medical resources are scarce. Its application in follow-up care and chronic disease management reduces unnecessary hospital readmissions and emergency room visits. Consequently, telemedicine lowers healthcare costs while enhancing patient satisfaction by ensuring timely and convenient care.

Impact on Practice

Telemedicine enhances healthcare delivery through faster diagnoses, reduced hospital readmissions, and improved rehabilitation outcomes for patients at home. It expands access to healthcare, particularly in remote locations, and fosters interprofessional collaboration by linking general practitioners with specialists. Additionally, remote monitoring and virtual consultations lower healthcare expenditures while optimizing chronic disease management.

For instance, telehealth-based heart failure monitoring has successfully decreased hospital readmission rates from 20% to less than 4%. Similarly, telestroke programs have increased treatment effectiveness from 15% to 85% by enabling timely medical intervention. Telemedicine also contributes to environmental sustainability by reducing travel-related carbon footprints associated with healthcare visits.

Pros and Cons of Telemedicine

Despite these challenges, telemedicine enhances healthcare accessibility by enabling remote consultations, including after-hours appointments, reducing missed visits and delays in care.

Application and Relevance of Informatics to Telemedicine

Nursing informatics plays a pivotal role in telehealth implementation and management. Informatics nurses assist in setting up and troubleshooting telemedicine equipment in patients’ homes while educating healthcare professionals on its usage. Their expertise ensures the seamless integration of technology into patient care, allowing healthcare providers to monitor patient conditions remotely.

Nurse informaticists also optimize electronic health record (EHR) systems and collaborate with IT teams to ensure telehealth solutions function efficiently. Their contributions enhance patient and clinician experiences, streamlining healthcare delivery through digital innovation.

Nursing Informatics Skills Utilized

Informatics nurses require a combination of technical, analytical, and leadership skills to support telemedicine. These competencies include:

• Technical and computer skills to manage telemedicine systems effectively.
• Critical thinking and problem-solving abilities to address technological and clinical challenges.
• Leadership and collaboration skills to train healthcare teams in telehealth usage.
• Data security knowledge to protect patient privacy and maintain compliance with healthcare regulations.
• Communication skills to educate patients and families on telehealth technologies.

By integrating clinical expertise with technological proficiency, informatics nurses help ensure that telehealth improves patient outcomes while maintaining human-centered care.

Future Recommendations

To sustain and advance telemedicine, the following strategies should be considered:

• Personalizing telehealth services by matching patients with suitable technologies.
• Enhancing data security to ensure safe and efficient communication between patients and providers.
• Expanding patient education through telehealth platforms to improve digital literacy.
• Adapting care models to incorporate telemedicine into routine healthcare practices.
• Encouraging research and evidence-based approaches to support telehealth’s long-term development.

By implementing these recommendations, healthcare organizations can integrate telemedicine more effectively, ensuring improved access, efficiency, and quality of care.

Conclusion

Telemedicine and telehealth, supported by nursing informatics, play a crucial role in modern healthcare. Their benefits include reduced costs, enhanced patient outcomes, and improved accessibility to care. Through technological advancements, telemedicine addresses key healthcare challenges such as accessibility, patient satisfaction, and chronic disease management. As healthcare evolves, nurse informaticists will continue to be essential in optimizing telehealth initiatives, ensuring that digital tools enhance, rather than replace, patient-centered care.

References

Bose, E., & Radhakrishnan, K. (2018). Using unsupervised machine learning to identify subgroups among home health patients with heart failure using telehealth. CIN: Computers, Informatics, Nursing, 36(5), 242-248. https://doi.org/10.1097/cin.0000000000000423

Healthit.gov. (2019). Why is telehealth important for rural providers? HealthIT.gov. Retrieved October 19, 2019, from https://www.healthit.gov/faq/why-telehealth-important-rural-providers

Kalb, T. (2015). Increasing quality through telemedicine in the intensive care unit. Critical Care Clinics, 31(2), 257-273. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ccc.2014.12.005

Rincon, T., Manos, E., & Pierce, J. (2017). Telehealth intensive care unit nurse surveillance of sepsis. CIN: Computers, Informatics, Nursing, 35(9), 459-464. https://doi.org/10.1097/cin.0000000000000355

NR 512 Week 7 Narrated Power Point Presentation

Rutledge, C., Haney, T., Bordelon, M., Renaud, M., & Fowler, C. (2014). Telehealth: Preparing advanced practice nurses to address healthcare needs in rural and underserved populations. International Journal of Nursing Education Scholarship, 11(1). https://doi.org/10.1515/ijnes-2013-0061

Sanghavi, D., Guru, P., & Moreno Franco, P. (2019). Quality improvement and telemedicine intensive care unit. Critical Care Clinics, 35(3), 451-462. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ccc.2019.02.003

Telemedicine.arizona.edu. (2019). 8 reasons to adopt telehealth. Telemedicine.arizona.edu. Retrieved October 19, 2019, from https://telemedicine.arizona.edu/blog/8-reasons-adopt-telehealth

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