Last updated on May 27th, 2025 at 12:55 pm
Post a brief description of general healthcare technology trends, particularly related to data/information you have observed in use in your healthcare
Throughout history, technological advancements have appeared for one purpose before finding applications elsewhere that lead to spikes in its usage and development. The internet, for example, was originally developed to share research before becoming a staple of work and entertainment.
But technology—new and repurposed—will undoubtedly continue to be a driver of healthcare information. Informaticists often stay tuned to trends to monitor what the next new technology will be or how the next new idea for applying existing technology can benefit outcomes.
In this Discussion, you will reflect on your healthcare organization’s use of technology and offer a technology trend you observe in your environment.
To Prepare:
- Reflect on the Resources related to digital information tools and technologies.
- Consider your healthcare organization’s use of healthcare technologies to manage and distribute information.
- Reflect on current and potential future trends, such as use of social media and mobile applications/telehealth, Internet of Things (IoT)-enabled asset tracking, or expert systems/artificial intelligence, and how they may impact nursing practice and healthcare delivery.
By Day 3 of Week 6
Post a brief description of general healthcare technology trends, particularly related to data/information you have observed in use in your healthcare organization or nursing practice. Describe any potential challenges or risks that may be inherent in the technologies associated with these trends you described.
Then, describe at least one potential benefit and one potential risk associated with data safety, legislation, and patient care for the technologies you described. Next, explain which healthcare technology trends you believe are most promising for impacting healthcare technology in nursing practice and explain why. Describe whether this promise will contribute to improvements in patient care outcomes, efficiencies, or data management. Be specific and provide examples.
Expert Answer and Explanation
Trends in Informatics Technology
The healthcare technology is revolutionizing the delivery of health services by providing providers with the necessary tools that support the delivery of care. With the emerging trends in use of informatics technology, patients are benefitting from access to optimal care.
General Healthcare Technology Trends
The evolution of the healthcare technology is seen in various trends including the use of the mobile health apps, and telhealth technology to optimize care access and delivery. The technologies powered by the Internet of Things (IoTs) like wearable devices are easing and enhancing the delivery of preventive care by providing real-time data that inform clinical intervention decisions. Providers are equally leveraging the Electronic Health Records (EHRs) to capture and access patients’ data, and share this data with other members of the interprofessional team (Zhang & Saltman, 2022).
Out of the trends I have observed, telhealth and EHRs are the predominant technologies in my healthcare organization. As a tool, the EHR system allows providers to store and retrieve patients’ data, and share it with colleagues. Conversely, the telhealth system, which may involve the use of virtual communication platform, facilitates provider-patient interaction, allowing patients to remotely access health services.
The Concerns or Challenges tied to the Technologies Associated with the Trends
While the use of the identified technological trends translates to the improvement in decision-making outcomes in clinical settings, they present serious concerns. The adoption and usability of the EHRs and telhealth is particularly a challenge in organizations because some users resist their use based on factors like lack of usage skills, and challenging interfaces. If users experience difficulty when attempting to use the technologies, they may resist its adoption and use in the healthcare setting.
Some organizations grapple with cumbersome legislative compliance requirements which require that they adhere to the existing policies related to access control. For instance, the HIPAA policy requires organizations to adopt stringent security measures to safeguard patients’ health data (Wiley et al., 2022). Even with the implementation of the data safety policies, the risk of data breach is still high considering that hackers can take advantage of security vulnerabilities to hack into the organization’s IT infrastructure.
Benefit and Risk Associated with Data Safety, Legislation and Patient Care
Data safety and legislation in the context of patient care translate to the improvement in patient care outcomes. The use of the telehealth and EHRs in particular, improves coordination of care through real-time access to data, optimizing the clinical intervention outcomes. Telhealth supports the implementation of the post-discharge interventions, allowing providers to monitor patients, and to educate patients during their healing journey. A data breach incident in which data is altered can jeopardize the patient’s safety by causing poor health outcomes (Lim & Adler-Milstein, 2022).
The Most Promising Healthcare Technology Trends
The use of the telhealth is the most promising trend in terms of the utilization of the healthcare technologies to optimize health outcomes (Apathy et al., 2024). This trend will be instrumental in helping providers to reach an extended number of individuals in underserved communities. It will particularly reduce the burden associated with travelling to the healthcare facility.
The Possibility of the Promise Contributing to Improvement in Patient Care Outcomes
With the adoption of the telhealth, providers will be able to identify potential health issues and avert these issues before they turn into major complications. As providers turn to providing health services virtually, they will have more time to care for patents, resulting to better utilization of resources. Telhealth combined with EHR system will automate data collection, ensuring that providers have access to records of each patient.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the EHRs and telhealth are some of the technologies that providers are utilizing to provide patients with high-end care. Despite the privacy and safety concerns, these technologies are contributing to enhancing decision-making.
References
Apathy, N. C., Zabala, G., Gomes, K., Spaar, P., Krevat, S. A., & Ratwani, R. M. (2024). Telemedicine and In-Person Visit Modality Mix and Electronic Health Record Use in Primary Care. JAMA network open, 7(4), e248060. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.8060.
Lim, J., & Adler-Milstein, J. (2022). 531 Telehealth, associated changes in EHR use patterns, and implications for physician burnout in the ambulatory care setting. Journal of Clinical and Translational Science, 6(Suppl 1), 110. https://doi.org/10.1017/cts.2022.321.
Wiley, K. K., Mendonca, E., Blackburn, J., Menachemi, N., Groot, M., & Vest, J. R. (2022). Quantifying Electronic Health Record Data Quality in Telehealth and Office-Based Diabetes Care. Applied clinical informatics, 13(5), 1172–1180. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0042-1758737.
Zhang, X., & Saltman, R. (2022). Impact of Electronic Health Record Interoperability on Telehealth Service Outcomes. JMIR medical informatics, 10(1), e31837. https://doi.org/10.2196/31837.
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FAQs
What are general healthcare technology trends particularly related to data information?
General healthcare technology trends related to data and information include the rise of electronic health records (EHRs), telehealth platforms, and wearable health devices that collect real-time data. Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning are being used to analyze large datasets for diagnostics and personalized treatment. Interoperability—the ability of systems to share and access patient data across providers—is improving care coordination. Additionally, there is a growing focus on data privacy, cybersecurity, and using predictive analytics to enhance public health outcomes.
What digital information technologies or trends are you observing in your healthcare practice or setting?
In many healthcare settings today, common digital information technologies and trends include the use of electronic health records (EHRs) for efficient patient data management, telehealth for remote consultations, and mobile health apps for patient engagement and monitoring. Wearable devices are increasingly used to track vital signs and activity levels. Artificial intelligence is being applied for diagnostics and predictive analytics, while secure patient portals support communication and access to personal health information. These technologies improve care delivery, patient outcomes, and data-driven decision-making.
How can health information technology help your organization to achieve your healthcare data quality objectives?
Health information technology can help an organization achieve healthcare data quality objectives by improving accuracy, consistency, and completeness of patient records. Electronic Health Records (EHRs) reduce manual errors and standardize data entry. Real-time data collection from digital tools enhances timeliness, while data analytics platforms help identify gaps, trends, and inconsistencies. Interoperable systems support seamless data sharing across departments, improving coordination and informed decision-making. Overall, technology enhances data integrity, compliance, and patient care quality.
What health information technology is most used in patient care?
The most commonly used health information technologies in patient care include:
Electronic Health Records (EHRs) – for storing and managing patient information.
Telehealth Platforms – for virtual consultations and remote monitoring.
Clinical Decision Support Systems (CDSS) – to assist providers with evidence-based decisions.
Computerized Provider Order Entry (CPOE) – for electronically entering medical orders.
Patient Portals – for secure access to personal health records and communication with providers.
Mobile Health Apps – for monitoring health and managing chronic conditions.
Wearable Devices – for tracking vital signs and activity.
Health Information Exchange (HIE) Systems – for sharing patient data across organizations.
Barcode Medication Administration (BCMA) – for improving medication safety.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Tools – for diagnostics, risk prediction, and personalized care.
