Human-Technology Interface and How it Affects Nursing Practice, Patient Care and Nursing Leadership

 

 

The term interface, means an interaction between two objects or an object and a human, therefore human-technology interface, is the connection between humans and technology. In healthcare, new technologies are created and implemented on a daily basis, such as the EHR, mobile health apps, robotic surgical devices such as the DaVinci robotic device for surgical procedures and telemedicine that helps connect a specialist from a tertiary center to other rural organizations. Not only is the interface relevant to the nursing practice it is also important to patient care and nursing leadership. With barcode medication verification, smart pumps for IV infusions and documentation programs everything can be readily available for the nurses and right at their fingertips. Goals and outcomes can be integrated into the systems so that patient outcomes can be improved and certain core measures can be met. Nurse leaders can use the technology in today's practice and pull data that can help determine if certain measures are being met and to help determine where changes may need to be made to help improve not only the experience with the nurses using technology but also help improve the patient's experience as well.

When looking at safety measures that the technology has implemented it is important to look at our younger patients and see how even just the use of BMV to administer medications has helped decrease medication errors in pediatrics.  Medication errors are an important problem in the pediatric population and with the usage of information technology interventions the magnitude of benefits will be greater than even seen in the adult patient population.

 



One question that remains is with the usage of technology does the caring leave the nursing profession?  The main goal is through technology being implemented is to help improve patient outcomes, caring is part of that equation. As nurses use the documentation system and become more comfortable with it the technology will take a second seat to the patient. It is important to not focus on technology while in the presence of the patient and do the assessment and data mining after leaving the patient's room. It is important to build that trusting relationship with the patient. Technology and caring can coexist as long as we, in the nursing profession do not lose sight of where our commitment and dedication need to be directed. Doing an assessment while looking at a computer screen instead of at the patient is not the way to start that commitment.

 

 

 Patient portals have helped improve the human-technology interface in healthcare. With these portals information is shared in the cloud and can be accessed by patients and other healthcare facilities. This helps improve nursing care due to having information at their fingertips as well as keeping the patients involved in their care. This is very important so if a patient forgets what may have been discussed at an appointment or when they are discharged from then hospital they can log on to a secure site to access their information.

 

 

A scenario that can help affirm that the human-technology interface can help improve a patient outcome while the nurse still remains connected in a committed and caring relationship with a patient, is one of using the technology around us to help with patient education.  Patient education is an important aspect of the patient's hospital stay and with proper educational tools can help reduce readmission rates, help decrease the time for healing, improve any mental discomfort they may be feeling and produce better results and outcomes for the patient. With the usage of televisions, I-pads, and other sophisticated devices patients can learn more in regards to their illness and disease process. As a nurse we can use the technology available to help with the educational process of a patient that was having a difficult time with a new colostomy. By using video on the care of a colostomy and an interactive program to help stimulate the learning process the patient can feel more comfortable with their new medical device. After watching the video and going over the materials available a hands on educational session can take place between the patient and the nurse to assure that the patient understands and can demonstrate what they have learned. With these interventions in proper patient education it can help improve patient self-care, satisfaction, moral support, coping skills and mental

stability.

 

 

There are several different areas where the organization I work at uses the human-technology interface and it has improved patient care all the way around. We use RHIO for our patients being transferred to Rochester Health systems through the University of Rochester Medical Centers which helps improve their care through the availability of their medical records at the touch of a button so the providers have access before even setting eyes on the patient. Also with the usage of the Cloud networks our holter monitors can be viewed by a cardiologist 2 hours away as well as our EEGs.

Through technology the healthcare arena has come full circle with the abilities to help diagnose patients to helping improve the treatments they are receiving. Technology is the connection!

 

 

References:

Nelson, R. & Staggers, N. (2014). Health Informatics: An Interprofessional Approach. Elsevier Mosby: St. Louis, Missouri.