RESPOND TO PEERS WITH APA REFERRENCE    

 Tony    

  Healthcare technology trends are essential to healthcare and providing optimal care to patients. The use of technology will only become advanced for many years to come in healthcare. Technology is playing more of a role in patient care and experience to achieve the best possible outcomes for patients (PR Newswire, 2019). The healthcare technology seen in my facility is the most recent change over to electronic medical record (EMR), the implementation of a robot to transport medications for pharmacy, and the patient access portal. The EMR serves many purposes in daily patients care and it is utilized by almost every individual in the facility. As new nurses start in the field, it is important to have a basic understanding of EMR and informatics and for it to be part of nursing competencies (McGonigle & Mastrian, 2017). The EMR has also served as a gateway for my facility because it has introduced more technology since its implementation, such as the pharmacy robot and the patient access portal. The pharmacy robot is connected through the EMR and is triggered to send medication up to nurse when requested through the patient's medication chart in the EMR. The robot has been substantial in assisting the pharmacy in delivering medication at any specific time. The downside to the pharmacy robot has been that at times it gets stuck, and the nurse receives the medication late. The other important technological trend is the patient access portal. The portal is viewed by the patient and their medical information and physician providing care is available to view. The portal assists the patients in viewing medications, educational videos pertaining to their medical conditions, and communicating with providers. The negative to the portal is the medical information seen by the patient may be misconstrued if the patient lacks the education of their condition.

            Healthcare technology trends are vital for quality-of-care improvements and also managing cost of facilities (Fichman, Kohli, & Krishnan, 2011). Cybersecurity is going to be a more prominent part of healthcare and providing patients with privacy. Healthcare providers need to be mindful of cyber security to keep patient’s information safe (Kruse, Ffrederick, Jacobson, & Monticone, 2017). Patients will be more willing to participate in the use of the emerging technologies if they know their information is protected.

Florence A

In my experience as a nurse, I have witnessed various healthcare technology trends that have gained prominence in recent years. One of the most remarkable trends is the growing use of Electronic Health Records (EHRs) to manage patient data. EHRs allow healthcare providers to obtain patient data swiftly, encouraging effective and synchronized care. However, one potential obstacle associated with EHRs is the threat of data breaches, which can jeopardize patient privacy.

 Another notable trend is the use of telehealth services. Telehealth allows healthcare experts to provide care from a distance, improving the availability of healthcare for individuals in remote areas or those with restrictions on movement. However, a potential risk lies in the safety of telehealth platforms, as breaches could expose sensitive patient data (Benda et al., 2020). In terms of data safety and legislation, the benefit is that laws such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) guarantee the protection of client information. Nevertheless, the risk lies in the intricacy of conformity, which can result in administrative burdens for healthcare institutions.

In my perspective, the most promising trend in healthcare technology for nursing practice is the smooth incorporation of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) into clinical decision support systems. This advancement holds vast potential to change nursing care. Artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms can manage vast patient information rapidly, providing nurses with valuable understandings that help in making informed decisions promptly (Rubinger et al., 2023). This promise of AI and ML can significantly improve patient care outcomes by reducing errors and optimizing the overall effectiveness of healthcare delivery. By harnessing these technologies, nurses can offer more precise diagnoses, formulate customized treatment plans, and allocate resources efficiently, ultimately contributing to enhanced patient experiences and better healthcare outcomes.

These healthcare technology trends present the potential for significant enhancements in patient care outcomes, efficiencies, and data management. Nevertheless, healthcare organizations must manage the associated obstacles and risks, such as data security and regulatory compliance, to ensure these technologies' safe and efficient application in nursing practice.