Introduction
The healthcare domain has taken a massive turn with the introduction of Information and Communication Technology (ICTs). ICTs entail the changes technology makes in how nurses plan, deliver, document, and review healthcare services. Through the case study of Joanna, whose health condition continues to deteriorate, this paper takes a look into how ICTs can be used to address her needs and help improve her condition.
Care Needs and Solutions
Most older adults do not have the strength and energy to go to hospitals now and then for consultation and follow-up on how they are doing. With the increase in health demands, it may also be time-consuming for the Registered Nurses (RNs) to travel now and then to check up on the patients at their residences. Adopting patient-operated Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs), such as telehealth apps and monitoring devices, allows patients to engage in treatment procedures actively (Rendine et al., 2022). Joanna, for example, can adopt this and get involved in her treatment effortlessly.
With Information and Communication Technology, monitoring a patient’s health condition is easy without doing much. For instance, mobile phone and tablet health applications assist in observing diseases and engaging in direct conversations with medical professionals (Nordin et al., 2021). With this, the Registered Nurse for Joanna can act on time and help improve her condition. For example, through mobile communication, Joanna’s RN would have communicated the importance of oxygen supply to Joanna and provided the family with instructions on assembling the oxygen supply device.
Some older adults’ health worsens because they do not know how to improve it. ICTs like Smartphone Healthcare Systems can guide them on activities to boost their medical status. The applications assist an aging population with lifestyle guidance, physical routines, chronic illness control, and public health surveillance (Fares et al., 2021). For example, Joanna was complaining about not engaging in physical activities such as hiking, which made her sad, thus worsening her health condition. Joanna could use an online fitness routine to help her engage in health-improving physical activities without endangering her health status.
Application of Information and Communication Technology by RNs
The RNs can take the initiative to equip their patients with the necessary ICTs to enable easy treatment and documentation of their progress. With the feedback from these ICTs, the RNs can act on time and provide essential healthcare to the patients. RNs should ensure they are well versant with all the three standard tiers of ICT solution architecture which coordinate to collect and process the sensitive information of aging individuals. The tiers include sensors, a gateway, and a central control system (Fares et al., 2021). With proper knowledge in this sector, they can easily navigate them to get the best possible results.
The most significant barrier to fully applying ICT tools in the health sector is the need for more information and education regarding the application of the tools. Registered Nurses can take it upon themselves to educate their patients on using the ICTs. It will make it easier to coordinate with each other, hence better results When both parties are well trained in operating the ICTs, it becomes less time-consuming and improves the relationship between the patients and their care coordinators.
Conclusion
With all that said and done, continued improvement in Information and Communication Technology leads to continued improvement in health care. More patients and Registered Nurses need to adopt ICTs, and the quality of life will elevate.
References
Randine, P., Sharma, A., Hartvigsen, G., Johansen, H. D., & Årsand, E. (2022). Information and communication technology-based interventions for chronic diseases consultation: A scoping review. International journal of medical informatics, 163, 104784. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijmedinf.2022.104784
Fares, N., Sherratt, R. S., & Elhajj, I. H. (2021). Directing and Orienting ICT Healthcare Solutions to Address the Needs of the Aging Population. Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland), 9(2), 147. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare9020147l;163:104784. doi: 10.1016/j.ijmedinf.2022.104784. Epub 2022 Apr 29. PMID: 35525127
Nordin, S., Sturge, J., Ayoub, M., Jones, A., McKee, K., Dahlberg, L., Meijering, L., & Elf, M. (2021). The Role of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) for Older Adults’ Decision-Making Related to Health, and Health and Social Care Services in Daily Life-A Scoping Review. International journal of environmental research and public health, 19(1), 151. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19010151
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