Patient-based digital innovation refers to the Improvements in patient care via the use of newly developed digital technology and solutions. These advancements prioritize the patient, catering to their desires and need while motivating them to participate in treatment. Patient-focused digital innovations include Telemedicine, mobile health, E-prescribing, Electronic medical records(EMR), and virtual care (Konstantinidis et al., 2021). The primary goal of patient-centered technology development is to offer patients greater control over their health by making healthcare services and information more accessible. Patient-provider interactions, remote health monitoring, and tailored treatment recommendations are all made feasible using digital technology in patient-based digital innovation. Patient-centered digital innovation has the potential to significantly improve the quality, cost, and efficiency of healthcare delivery (Cannavacciuolo et al., 2023). Digital technologies, such as telehealth systems, may enable patients to get care from anywhere, anytime, by reducing the need for in-person visits and shortening wait times. Through simplified filing processes and easier access to this information by healthcare practitioners, electronic medical records (EMRs) may improve the precision and thoroughness of patient data. The tremendous impact of technology on providing healthcare has resulted in numerous modifications to the field of nursing (Sheikh et al., 2021). Technological advancements in assessment, consultation, monitoring, and surveillance of patient record keeping, patient education and involvement, drug and treatment administration, psychological therapy and care delivery, healthy lifestyle promotion, and maintenance have all improved patient care. This research aims to identify and analyze a technical solution that assists in patient care and nursing.
Telemedicine
This refers to using electronic means to provide medical treatment to patients at a distance. Patients in outlying and rural locations, who would not otherwise have access to healthcare, might benefit from this. Consultations, treatment and diagnosis, education and monitoring of patients, and other applications are all possible with Telemedicine (Przybilla et al., 2018). Video chats, phone conversations, and text messaging are all viable options for this. There are several benefits to using Telemedicine rather than seeing a doctor in person. For starters, it saves the medical staff and patients time. Both the patient and the doctor benefit from the convenience of in-home care. Second, compared to conventional medical treatment, Telemedicine is less expensive(Nazari, 2022). Third, artificial intelligence and machine learning may be used by Telemedicine to improve treatment. Telemedicine may be used to monitor a patient’s vitals and notify physicians of any change. As was previously said, Telemedicine can improve patient outcomes, lower healthcare costs, and expand access to medical treatment. However, several obstacles to Telemedicine must be overcome (Sheikh et al., 2021). Lack of direct patient-provider contact is a major barrier to quality healthcare. This may impede the capacity to effectively diagnose and treat patients and establish rapport and trust with them. In addition, qualified employees and a solid network of communication providers are necessities for successful telemedicine programs. These items are scarce or nonexistent in certain areas of the globe.
Mobile health
Mobile health, often known as mHealth, provides medical treatment and information through mobile devices. Apps for patients to keep tabs on their health records are only one example of mobile health technology available today. Appointment reminders, medication refills, and programs for disease management are just some of the health services that may be delivered through mobile devices like smartphones and tablets(Wang, 2022). There are several potential advantages of using mobile health technology. For instance, people in remote or underserved areas may have better access to medical care thanks to mobile health technologies. Giving people constant updates on how they’re doing may also encourage healthy habits.
Furthermore, mobile health technologies can facilitate the collection and sharing of patient data, ultimately leading to better care coordination(Tanniru and Sandhu, 2019). The use of mobile health technology can improve healthcare by making it more accessible and individual, but it also raises certain concerns. In the case of mobile health applications, for instance, not all devices may be compatible, and data protection is always a problem. Mobile health technologies also tend to be used by individuals in relatively good health, which means they may not reach the people who may benefit the most from them (Almarzougi et al., 2022). Care uniquely suited to each patient becomes more challenging as individuals turn to digital health management tools. Mobile health devices have much room for improvement, and more study is required to determine how well they work.
E-prescribing
Also known as electronic prescribing, it is the practice of writing prescriptions for drugs utilizing electronic systems. It’s a kind of EHR that can boost safe and effective prescription practices. In particular, it may aid in the reduction of prescribing mistakes while simultaneously improving the precision and timeliness of prescriptions. E-prescribing also facilitates better two-way communication between doctors and patients and between doctors and pharmacists (Aakhus and Lennmyr, 2018). Computerized prescription, electronic prescribing, and electronic health record prescribing are all names for e-prescribing. Integrating patient data with e-prescribing systems increases the potential for safe and effective medication administration. In the long run, e-prescribing might lead to better medical treatment. Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) solutions are being designed to enhance e-prescribing (Tanniru and Sandhu, 2019) further. These programs may help doctors spot prescription mistakes, suggest similar drugs, and flag dangerous drug interactions. E-prescribing can revolutionize how healthcare prescriptions are handled by tapping into the processing capabilities of artificial intelligence. While there are certainly advantages to electronic prescribing, there are also obstacles that must be overcome before it can become widely adopted. Lack of interoperability across healthcare systems is one of the main obstacles (Cannavacciuolo et al., 2023). since this, doctors may need help making educated judgments regarding their patients’ treatment since they lack all the relevant medical history. Patients who aren’t used to utilizing modern technologies may also find e-prescribing to be a daunting task. For patients to have a favorable experience with e-prescribing systems and be more willing to utilize this technology in the future, healthcare practitioners must be able to give clear and simple instructions on how to use the system.
Electronic medical records
These are computerized equivalents of paper records. EMR has replaced traditional paper medical records in recent decades. The many advantages of electronic records have prompted their widespread use. Information such as allergies, prescriptions, vaccines, test results, and X-rays may all be kept track of with their help. Electronic medical records have the ability to enhance dialogue between doctors and patients and cut down on medication mistakes(Sheikh et al., 2021). Electronic medical records (EMRs) can improve healthcare quality in several ways. By having a patient’s whole medical record available electronically, physicians and other medical staff may make more informed judgments on the best course of treatment. In addition, electronic medical records may aid in cost reduction by reducing the need for unnecessary testing and treatments. They also provide easy and rapid information sharing across healthcare professionals, which may enhance care coordination (Lindroth and Grisot, 2020).In order to better manage and anticipate mental health care requirements, artificial intelligence/machine learning technologies are starting to be applied in electronic mental records.
In mental health, for instance, machine learning may be used to analyze patient data in search of indicators of potential future needs. Furthermore, AI can be implemented to make care recommendations unique to each patient. Healthcare institutions also face difficulties because of EMR. For instance, electronic health records may need specific hardware and software, challenging integration with other systems (Wang, 2022). Concerns about confidentiality and security are another downside of using EHRs. When deciding whether or not to implement EMRs, healthcare providers should think carefully about these potential complications. Even if there have been some difficulties in the transition to EMRs, the potential advantages make it evident that EMRs are here for good.
Virtual care
Often known as telecare, it is the provision of health services via electronic means. Some examples of this include remote medical consultations and the use of health monitoring wearables. The field of digital healthcare has a lot to gain from the widespread use of wearable devices. These gadgets can monitor a patient’s heart rate and blood pressure and even send reminders and notifications when it’s time to take their medication (Cannavacciuolo et al., 2023). There are several potential advantages to virtual treatment for both patients and doctors. Better health results and increased patient convenience are all possible benefits. It has the potential to improve efficiency and save costs for healthcare providers. Telecare, or virtual health care, includes remote patient monitoring. Patients are growing interested in virtual treatment, or healthcare services via digital technology, to reduce healthcare costs and improve accessibility (Almarzougi et al., 2022). But there are difficulties associated with providing healthcare online. Patient participation is a major obstacle. When patients are accustomed to face-to-face interactions with their healthcare providers, it can be challenging to encourage them to try out Virtual care services(Konstantinidis et al., 2021). Provider burnout is an additional difficulty. It’s easy for virtual care providers to feel stressed out by the high volume of requests they receive. Finally, technical problems, such as a lack of internet connection or broken equipment, can hinder virtual care.
In conclusion, patient-centered technological advancement will likely play a growing role in healthcare as digital technologies progress. To better meet patients’ needs and expectations, as well as to enhance overall treatment quality, healthcare practitioners, as well as organizations, must keep a focus on patient-centered technological solutions.
References
Konstantinidis, S.T., Bamidis, P.D. and Zary, N., 2021. Introduction to digital innovation in healthcare education and training. In Digital Innovations in Healthcare Education and Training (pp. 3-15). Academic Press.
Cannavacciuolo, L., Capaldo, G. and Ponsiglione, C., 2023. Digital innovation and organizational changes in the healthcare sector: Multiple case studies of telemedicine project implementation. Technovation, 120, p.102550.
Lindroth, T. and Grisot, M., 2020. How Lightweight Technologies Support Digital Innovation in the Context of Patient-Centered Care.
Sheikh, A., Anderson, M., Albala, S., Casadei, B., Franklin, B.D., Richards, M., Taylor, D., Tibble, H. and Mossialos, E., 2021. Health information technology and digital innovation for national learning health and care systems. The Lancet Digital Health, 3(6), pp.e383-e396.
Tanniru, M. and Sandhu, K., 2019. Engagement leading to empowerment—Digital innovation strategies for patient care continuity. J. Hosp. Manag. Health Policy, 3, p.28.
Aakhus, M., Ågerfalk, P. and Lennmyr, F., 2018. Digital innovation as the design of digital practice: Doctors as designers in healthcare.
Almarzouqi, A., Aburayya, A. and Salloum, S.A., 2022. Determinants predicting the electronic medical record adoption in healthcare: A SEM-Artificial Neural Network approach. PloS one, 17(8), p.e0272735.
Wang, Y., 2022. Competition and multilevel technology adoption: A dynamic analysis of electronic medical records adoption in US hospitals. International Economic Review, 63(3), pp.1357-1395.
Nazari, E., 2022. Digital innovation for healthcare in the COVID-19 pandemic. In Digital Innovation for Healthcare in COVID-19 Pandemic (pp. 11-37). Academic Press.
Przybilla, L., Klinker, K., Wiesche, M. and Krcmar, H., 2018. A human-centric approach to digital innovation projects in health care: Learnings from applying design thinking.
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