https://padlet.com/routhiej/ybe5my52udmvotsq Spring 2023 en-us 2023-01-21 18:54:44 UTC 2023-04-18 16:44:07 UTC hello@padlet.com https://dtkp6g0samjql.cloudfront.net/uploads/photo/file/12583756/il_fullxfull.1096934390_d2aa.jpg routhiej https://padlet.com/routhiej/ybe5my52udmvotsq/wish/2452026746 The Good: This introduction to informatics this highlighted some of the amazing comprehensive care that could be achieved when applied properly. Comprehensive and universal applied informatics can provide more efficient, cost effective, and patient centered  care. We've also seen how technology has affected the boom in medical data collection. So much that we now struggle to keep up with efficient application and use of this data.

The Bad: We also see that there is extreme disconnect between what the patient expects as their idea of patient care and what the larger governments and insurance companies see as "proficient". The irony is that there is such an emphasis on the best way to cut spending and health care costs and unfortunately the solution falls to the detriment of the patient or compromise of their care. When in reality if there were more centralized, universal, and standardized distributions of health care and health records a significant amount of money would be saved.

The Thoughts: No matter how, if we shift to a centralized open communication EHR, and focus more on preventative patient centered models of health care it would not only improve patient health outcomes (which we would think would be the most important goal) but also save money. Money that may have been spent on unnecessary testing or frequent readmissions. This can be extrapolated down to the amount of money an office would save on paper with the removal of excessive faxing. Ideally with this money saved it can be reinvested into programs to focus on health promotion and preventative patient care to boost the health of the patient population as a whole.

The Link: The link attached provides some ideas for thought on approaching EHR with "Plan-Centric EHR".]]> 2023-01-21 19:42:11 UTC https://padlet.com/routhiej/ybe5my52udmvotsq/wish/2452026746 routhiej https://padlet.com/routhiej/ybe5my52udmvotsq/wish/2459931523 2023-01-28 18:45:06 UTC https://padlet.com/routhiej/ybe5my52udmvotsq/wish/2459931523 routhiej https://padlet.com/routhiej/ybe5my52udmvotsq/wish/2459956355 After this weeks asynchronous materials and reading a bit more about the TIGER Initiative it made me realize the paradigm shift nurses naturally progress through. We start generally in clinical roles, direct patient care, and bedside nursing for a few years growing a wealth of knowledge, assessing the flaws in systems, and seeing direct effects of informatics application on patient care. Naturally nurses experience evolution and are able to take all this experience and knowledge and begin application on a broader scale to improve nursing as a whole and in turn patient care. Now moving towards practitioner roles we can begin even greater contribution and application to informatics to continue pushing towards bettering our healthcare system and promoting health. ]]> 2023-01-28 19:44:47 UTC https://padlet.com/routhiej/ybe5my52udmvotsq/wish/2459956355 routhiej https://padlet.com/routhiej/ybe5my52udmvotsq/wish/2459957895 Summation of Stage 4 is taking active role in incorporating, researching, and designing tools that can be integrated easily and serve the nursing, other interdisciplinary medical professions. At the CHF Disease Management clinic I currently work at we use a relatively new evidence-based fluid management monitoring device called a CardioMEMS (Abbott). We follow patient's PA Pressure's via remote transmissions from the minimally invasive implanted device. We also work very closely with all aspects of their cardiology care in relation to monitoring (primary cardiologist, EP, CHF, and other specialists). Initially it was used for monitoring only and done on a separate unintegrated system, over the years with more information, research, and collaboration with cardiologist's and CardioMEMS specialists we were able to give pertinent nursing feedback from use in practice. Having now used the CardioMEMS device in clinical practice for 3 years I've been able to see its evolution of use. Now the device is used proactively, coverage of implant increased greatly for even CHF Class IV patients, and has become integrated into the EMR for all specialists to see and use.]]> 2023-01-28 19:48:49 UTC https://padlet.com/routhiej/ybe5my52udmvotsq/wish/2459957895 routhiej https://padlet.com/routhiej/ybe5my52udmvotsq/wish/2459958754 This is a 2020 study of the application of CardioMEMS to use as supportive evidence and resource for those interested in the study. ]]> 2023-01-28 19:50:40 UTC https://padlet.com/routhiej/ybe5my52udmvotsq/wish/2459958754 routhiej https://padlet.com/routhiej/ybe5my52udmvotsq/wish/2465251913 For true medical interoperability to the greatest, most beneficial and efficient extent to patients, practitioners, and health care systems there is one key problem I keep coming back to. Willingness. This presented ideal interoperable medical world requires willingness amongst patients, practitioners, healthcare systems, security companies, and countless other integral parties. Willingness of patients to share their personal information in a globally available but highly protected and secure manner and adapt and participate with new medical technologies as we progress. Willingness for sharing of information, willingness to collaborate, adapt, and learn interdisciplinary but possibly internationally amongst medical providers. Willingness for large healthcare systems and EMR service providers to work together and evolve using universal language and share information to expedite care, prevent redundancies, and create even greater shifts to preventative medicines. This can be extrapolated to a huge degree if you consider all of the parties that would need to be involved to create the idealistic world of total healthcare interoperability. Technology companies will have to share the patient's health information with the central databases for use by physicians, researchers, and patient's alike.]]> 2023-02-01 21:19:20 UTC https://padlet.com/routhiej/ybe5my52udmvotsq/wish/2465251913 routhiej https://padlet.com/routhiej/ybe5my52udmvotsq/wish/2465253275 2023-02-01 21:21:06 UTC https://padlet.com/routhiej/ybe5my52udmvotsq/wish/2465253275 routhiej https://padlet.com/routhiej/ybe5my52udmvotsq/wish/2465261635 Commentary research article discussing the benefits economically and individually that HIT currently and can provide. Additionally it highlights various barriers and responsibilities patients, providers, health systems, and data companies face in widespread implementation of HIT to push forward into a new generation of health care. ]]> 2023-02-01 21:32:10 UTC https://padlet.com/routhiej/ybe5my52udmvotsq/wish/2465261635 routhiej https://padlet.com/routhiej/ybe5my52udmvotsq/wish/2476651337 Each week we are introduced to various pieces of our healthcare puzzle that pull the main concept of health informatics into the forefront of importance. A central idea or theme that I've noted from week to week is the complete, appropriate, and up-to-date integration of healthcare and the ever evolving world of technology. We have been provided an untenable amount of technology and information in regards to healthcare on a personal scope and in the broadest sense. The internet has provided us endless connectivity to reputable medical sources of information and research that is being updated by the minute, accessible at the click of a mouse. Where we continue to fail is the seamless integration and application of this wealth of data, information, knowledge, and technology. We are at a point in society where every day the technology we use provides us with contextualized information and knowledge about our health and well-being that is underutilized or ignored. Smartwatches, Point-of-Care testing, personal EMR and medical histories available on our cell phones; we are at the peak of knowledge collection. At this point we require the next step of taking all this knowledge and contextualized information and applying it to guide treatments and interventions and achieve wisdom. Acknowledging patient's independent understanding and knowledge of their personal health data is the first small step. Next patients will have to utilize this technology and health knowledge an apply it in real time to seek quick treatment, preventative care, or optimization of current therapies. Knowledge is great and we have achieved an excess of it, we now need to add the final puzzle piece and transform and empower patients and providers alike to autonomously process and apply this wealth of knowledge to achieve wisdom. ]]> 2023-02-10 16:26:35 UTC https://padlet.com/routhiej/ybe5my52udmvotsq/wish/2476651337 routhiej https://padlet.com/routhiej/ybe5my52udmvotsq/wish/2476667646 Discussion of DIKW and review of asynchronous material it became clear the connection that application of the DIWK framework had on the development of Internet of Things (IoT) and integration of technology tools using IoT. DIWK involves taking raw data and contextualizing and applying it into useable wisdom. Cloud-based data and storage integrates multiple devices and information sources that can be used from anywhere in the world. Taking that and applying it to medicine brings the concept of interoperability into a more important role. Discussion surrounding use of healthcare IoT raises many concerns and barriers but one that personally is apparent is the need for better interoperability devices gathering and saving health care data and distribution of that data. Having healthcare-centric IoT is a huge step forward but without equal and secure access by providers, researchers, hospitals through seamless interoperability the potential wisdom remains useless or applicable only to those with access. ]]> 2023-02-10 16:40:16 UTC https://padlet.com/routhiej/ybe5my52udmvotsq/wish/2476667646 routhiej https://padlet.com/routhiej/ybe5my52udmvotsq/wish/2476675552 This systematic review details the underutilization, application, evolution, barriers, and concerns associated with the introduction of IoT and growth currently and in the future in the context of healthcare.]]> 2023-02-10 16:46:28 UTC https://padlet.com/routhiej/ybe5my52udmvotsq/wish/2476675552 routhiej https://padlet.com/routhiej/ybe5my52udmvotsq/wish/2480265112 Meaningful Use (currently Version 1) application has produced helpful, powerful, and positive changes within healthcare. It has allowed the initiation and movement of healthcare toward more comprehensive patient medical profiles, reduced redundancy of testing, and improved patient through transition and use of EHR's. Unfortunately, as the second asynchronous YouTube video highlights that the "all or nothing" aspects of Meaningful Use have create a disciplinary system rather than incentive based system for adoption and progression of EHR use. Being limited by things such as cost, universal total application to a practice, and meeting the requirements of 100% compliance makes Meaningful Use a double edged sword. It can become impossible to logistically achieve for some practices and punishes those unable to meet 100% of the 10 requirements (each with various subsets or requirements) despite making efforts to move toward Meaningful Use application within their practice. Even for those practices doing everything right to push for this evolution and change they are still penalized and consequently can disincentive certain providers and practices. The positive effects create huge strides in interoperability of healthcare, sharing of health data information, and improving communication between patient and providers alike. The positive health outcomes after application support continued application of Meaningful Use but negative impacts go underappreciated contributing to reduction in amount of available providers for public health, critically impacting the accessibility of healthcare for some. Revision, collaboration, and individualized practice support from those trying to revise and universally implement and apply Meaningful Use could help ease some of these issues. Returning to Step 1 for root-cause analysis and data collection regarding Meaningful Use (especially now having data from current implementation) can help to create an even more sustainable revised version of Meaningful Use before moving directly to revision of Step 2.

The link attached is a research article identifying key points in assessing a practice's ready and preparedness for adoption and implementation of Meaningful Use within community clinics. This is particularly interesting as the general community clinics are the more underfunded and difficult practice settings to try to prepare for and implement Meaningful Use. More to that these clinics are the ones who could most benefit from receiving incentives seeing a vast portion of the population who use Medicare and Medicaid as their primary insurance providers.]]> 2023-02-13 20:56:47 UTC https://padlet.com/routhiej/ybe5my52udmvotsq/wish/2480265112 routhiej https://padlet.com/routhiej/ybe5my52udmvotsq/wish/2480274677 Attached is a PowerPoint presentation done in a previous semester but provides a great insight as to the backlash and somewhat cyclical impact incentivized medical reimbursement has created for some. The presentation focuses on the ACA section regarding Hospital Readmission Reduction and how incentivized programs can so diversely affect providers. The variation in application is greatly impacted by location, funds, and feasibility, disproportionately impacting providers. ]]> 2023-02-13 21:07:59 UTC https://padlet.com/routhiej/ybe5my52udmvotsq/wish/2480274677 routhiej https://padlet.com/routhiej/ybe5my52udmvotsq/wish/2488797725 EHR:
As is apparent from the asynchronous material patient access to their EHR can be a critically important tool for continuity of care, safe treatment, and patient advocacy. There are many facets to the positive impact this access can have for patient care and safety. It can allow for patients to have a greater understanding of their health and diseases as well as up to date access of treatments (medications/procedures) and plans of care. This wealth of knowledge for the patient allows them to take a more informed role in their care and treatment decisions. On the other side patients access to all this data without the knowledge or medical context/application to fully interpret or understand results, data, and evidence based care. Patients can take their results, medications, and treatment plans and perform a quick internet search and be overwhelmed by information that may or may not directly apply to them without having the full medical background and education. This unbridled access can cause a lot of misinformation and fear for the patient and may cause them to be reluctant with evidence-based treatments. For some this can delay treatment or cause patient's to even refuse indicated treatments. What this issue does highlight is the need for good patient education of diseases and treatments to ensure the patient is getting correct evidence-based information regarding their specific care plan rather than what a cursory internet search reports.

EMR:
The second aspect of this weeks content touches on system-specific EMR's and how they can hinder physicians and care of patients. System specific EMR's that do not communicate with outside groups/hospitals creates large gaps in patient's medical history (especially for patients who are poor historians) that can be critical to timely and effective treatments. Lack of centralized patient EMR that can be universally accessed by all providers involved in patient care is one of the most apparent issues. Beyond that having multiple EMR profiles for patient's who seek care from multiple health systems increases the amount of patient medical data out causing a greater security and privacy concern. Lastly EMR implementation can be underutilized or reduce efficiency of clinicians who are unfamiliar with it or how to find pertinent clinical information. This is especially true for specialty medicine who may be looking through years of charting to find specific tests/encounters. Implementation of tools such as the "Sphere" for specialties can help providers more efficiently and effectively adapt to use of EMR's while providing more time for face-to-face patient interaction ideally improving patient satisfaction with care.

Link:
The attached YouTube video discusses how with development and adoption of EHR's within healthcare issues have presented themselves. This includes ease of usability for providers and concerns of safety and protection of patient data. ]]> 2023-02-20 18:55:04 UTC https://padlet.com/routhiej/ybe5my52udmvotsq/wish/2488797725 routhiej https://padlet.com/routhiej/ybe5my52udmvotsq/wish/2488799164 This short 2 minute video provides a simplified and clear understanding of the differences between EHR and EMR's as well as how they evolved and developed over the years. ]]> 2023-02-20 18:57:02 UTC https://padlet.com/routhiej/ybe5my52udmvotsq/wish/2488799164 routhiej https://padlet.com/routhiej/ybe5my52udmvotsq/wish/2488807000 This is the link to the HealthIT Clinical Decision Support (CDS) page, providing further information about current CDS used and strategies for implementation of CDS.]]> 2023-02-20 19:10:04 UTC https://padlet.com/routhiej/ybe5my52udmvotsq/wish/2488807000 routhiej https://padlet.com/routhiej/ybe5my52udmvotsq/wish/2496723176 Health Information Exchange (HIE) is a vital and increasingly growing aspect of healthcare that is helping to bridge information gaps between providers, hospitals, and specialists alike. HIE provides healthcare providers succinct, universal, and important patient information including history, test results, imaging, office visits or hospitalizations, and provider plan of care updates. This provides the link needed to connect EHR and EMR's information to a secure central database for all care providers to access increasing speed and quality of care, health outcomes, and reducing costs and redundancy in testing. The key aspect of HIE that makes it the missing link is its seamless and easy integration with already existing and verified EMR's reducing the "learning curve" for providers ease of use and immediate HIE integration. This provides comprehensive patient histories accessible for all providers in real time (so long as they participate and integrate HIE) easing and improving care quality and timing. The hope is that eventually these securely collected and protected datasets may be used for medical research purposes or applied in other fields of research. Ideally this leads to reduced costs and spending for medical research and increases data collection to better reallocate medical funding and improve healthcare as a whole. As of now HIE is strictly state specific without interstate communication abilities. Though, with improved outcomes and continued work towards nationally implemented HIE we may one day have a nationally accessible HIE database. 

Link:
The attached YouTube video provides a brief overview of HIE and how it is used within healthcare. It additionally touches on some of the patient options for sharing of health information and requirements needed for organizations to adopt and implement HIE. ]]> 2023-02-27 17:12:46 UTC https://padlet.com/routhiej/ybe5my52udmvotsq/wish/2496723176 routhiej https://padlet.com/routhiej/ybe5my52udmvotsq/wish/2496732111 Above is the link to a short and easily digestible PowerPoint presentation by the state of Connecticut's Office of Health Strategy regarding CT state specific HIE called "Connie". Included are data shared, participating organizations within the state, patient's rights and protection of data, and mandated requirements regarding use for healthcare providers and systems. ]]> 2023-02-27 17:18:50 UTC https://padlet.com/routhiej/ybe5my52udmvotsq/wish/2496732111 routhiej https://padlet.com/routhiej/ybe5my52udmvotsq/wish/2496748066 The state of Connecticut's official Health Information Exchange called Connie, was established May 3, 2021 by an independent, non-profit, neutral, trusted and secure company. Level of information exchange includes: point of care results, blood and lab results, radiographic/imaging exchanges (MRI, CT, US), as well as updates and notifications about patient clinical encounters. According to the "Connie Statute" within a year of Connie implementation commencement (5/3/21) all CT state licensed institutions (hospitals and labs) should begin the HIE application and integration process. Within 2 years of Connie commencement all CT state licensed institutions shall apply and participate in HIE (PCP, specialists, pharmacies, behavior health institutions and SNFs). At our CHF clinic we use the EMR integrated HIE connection portal to access HIE for patients reducing the need for repetitive and redundant echo testing. This also helps patient's PCP's and specialists to stay up to date with all aspects of patient care. Unfortunately not all this information is updated in real time and requires uploading of files which can take time and hinder timely care or communication. In theory the application and use of HIE would streamline, improve efficiency, and increase safety/quality of care within healthcare. As it stand now though there are obvious adoption "growing pains" and evolutions that must be worked out to achieve the most effective evolution towards this new model of healthcare information exchange. ]]> 2023-02-27 17:29:04 UTC https://padlet.com/routhiej/ybe5my52udmvotsq/wish/2496748066 routhiej https://padlet.com/routhiej/ybe5my52udmvotsq/wish/2507411652 Technology continues to progress advancing at rapid and unprecedented rates for industries and consumers alike. It would only make sense for the healthcare industry to adapt to this dynamic change incorporating new technology tools and bringing telehealth into the forefronts of healthcare. COVID, its restrictions, and need to cut healthcare costs (for consumers and providers) forced providers and care networks into the world of telehealth incorporation. This large jump into a relatively new healthcare delivery system provided a great deal of pro's and con's which made the concept and technology a polarizing point. For those unfamiliar or uncomfortable with the technology or working with digital mediums it created much frustration and seemed to be more a hinderance from providing care. For those providers able to adapt and especially patients, telehealth allowed much more flexibility and immediacy of care, reducing unnecessary trips to doctors offices or ER's which could be handled via telehealth. The seemingly largest issues is not the concept of telehealth its self but how it was implemented. Technology's constant progression makes it impossible for medicine to maintain stagnancy in traditional healthcare visit and forces the need to adopt telehealth, which also aides in creating ideal healthcare interoperability foundations. Reflecting, the central issues with telehealth implementation was its immediacy in implementation. There was lack of preparation, communication, education, and training for use for providers and patients that created barriers for both groups and created resistance towards the paradigm shift. Naturally this was related to the urgency of need from COVID so the shift to telehealth use was swift and unorganized. With proper education, training, and implementation telehealth starts to emerge as the future of primary and even specialty healthcare. 

Link: 
The link attached is the U.S. Government website for telehealth information. Providing information for patients on how and where to access telehealth for care based on insurance and type of care required. Additionally emergency/hotline numbers are provided for patients. ]]> 2023-03-07 19:02:45 UTC https://padlet.com/routhiej/ybe5my52udmvotsq/wish/2507411652 routhiej https://padlet.com/routhiej/ybe5my52udmvotsq/wish/2507418551 Attached is an article outlining the various barriers and benefits that come with telehealth implementation. These could be used to support furthering the integration of telehealth and highlight the areas of telehealth that could be improved upon. The goal of telehealth is providing efficient, timely, and high quality care and by continuously critiquing and improving telehealth technology we can reach this goal. ]]> 2023-03-07 19:08:02 UTC https://padlet.com/routhiej/ybe5my52udmvotsq/wish/2507418551 routhiej https://padlet.com/routhiej/ybe5my52udmvotsq/wish/2507423551 This video provides a brief overview of how the CardioMEMS remote PA Pressure monitoring system works in patients with heart failure. CardioMEMS remote transmission device technology is a relatively new advancement in remote monitoring in CHF patients to reduce and proactively prevent heart failure exacerbations and ideally lower CHF hospital readmission rates. ]]> 2023-03-07 19:11:46 UTC https://padlet.com/routhiej/ybe5my52udmvotsq/wish/2507423551 routhiej https://padlet.com/routhiej/ybe5my52udmvotsq/wish/2507429752 This short video provides a description of the relationship between telehealth and interoperability. It touches on how these concepts integrate with each other and the importance of that relationship to better patient access and outcomes of care. ]]> 2023-03-07 19:16:46 UTC https://padlet.com/routhiej/ybe5my52udmvotsq/wish/2507429752 routhiej https://padlet.com/routhiej/ybe5my52udmvotsq/wish/2515009562 In todays day most every person has a smartphone with the ability to download applications and games. This technology tool has helped to create a more interconnected society and the medical and research world would be remiss to not capitalize on this wide distribution and utilization of technology. Games on smartphones and tablets range in difficulty, genre, an are always advancing creating more real world interaction between players and their environment. Incorporation and application of gamification can help usher in a new era of health care. Application of gamification can be incorporated in ways as discussed in the asynchronous material such as "Jerry the Bear" child Type 1 Diabetes teaching tool providing hands on learning in fun and understandable ways for children. Other gamification application includes applications requiring the player to perform physical activity to progress in virtual game world. This encourages promotion and creation of positive health habits while also providing patients with the virtual in-game rewards. Gamification can also be used to collect research data as phone applications are accessible around the world and in most languages, casting a wide net for researches to gather large data quickly. Further development and incorporation of gamification in the scope of health care and personal practices provide another key tool in the healthcare arsenal. 

Link:
This site provides background of gamification within healthcare and some pertinent history on its development. The link also provides 15 examples of how gamification can be utilized in healthcare. ]]> 2023-03-13 20:18:33 UTC https://padlet.com/routhiej/ybe5my52udmvotsq/wish/2515009562 routhiej https://padlet.com/routhiej/ybe5my52udmvotsq/wish/2515018959 Application of gamification are essentially boundless and can be used for almost any aspect to improve health. The popular Pokemon videogame franchise aimed to work its way further into gamification and improving players health. Previously the company incorporated health related gamification with PokemonGO, a phone application that has players catch Pokemon by walking around and provides in game improvements and incentives for those who are more active during gameplay. Pokemon Sleep is the next installment of the companies health gamification. This new game will encourage good sleep habits by tracking sleep and providing rewards for improved sleep and can help players identify changes needed to improve sleep habits to perform better in game. ]]> 2023-03-13 20:28:18 UTC https://padlet.com/routhiej/ybe5my52udmvotsq/wish/2515018959 routhiej https://padlet.com/routhiej/ybe5my52udmvotsq/wish/2525815797 In our current healthcare setting, where national interoperability and EHR's are still years away from universal use, there becomes room for patient quality and safety issues. As the asynchronous material touched on, there have been increasing fail safes added to EMR's to ensure safe medication administration as well as avoid medication errors. Multiple warning notifications will pop up requiring physical reviews of medicine administration and overrides yet still, serious mistakes are made from human error and alarm fatigue contributing to these protocol overrides. It may be prudent for these software designers working on the fail safes and alerts in EMR's to consult healthcare workers and providers to understand alarm fatigue. They can take this information as well as data from studies regarding alarm fatigue to possible redesign the EMR alarms so that providers and healthcare workers will be more adherent to following protocols. Another possible solution could be to add algorithms that are applied when an medication administration alarm is override. This can ensure that even if a medication needs to be given outside of normal dosage parameters it can still be electronically verified to avoid possibly harming the patient from a mistake of human error. 

Link: This study looked to further understand the root cause of alarm fatigue. It is believed for many that alarm fatigue is highly related to medication administration override rates. Two hypotheses were tested to find possible alert fatigue mechanisms: cognitive overload related to work and alarm desensitization related to repeated alarm exposure. ]]> 2023-03-21 17:35:22 UTC https://padlet.com/routhiej/ybe5my52udmvotsq/wish/2525815797 routhiej https://padlet.com/routhiej/ybe5my52udmvotsq/wish/2525825682 This video describes an example of a patient who would especially benefit from creation and use of a PHR. As the asynchronous material touched on PHR provided by patients can be extremely helpful in continuity and quality of care. The example in this video focuses on a patient in the military required to move frequently and transfer care between multiple providers and health systems.]]> 2023-03-21 17:41:07 UTC https://padlet.com/routhiej/ybe5my52udmvotsq/wish/2525825682 routhiej https://padlet.com/routhiej/ybe5my52udmvotsq/wish/2525835451 In this 14 minute podcast by the APSF, alarm fatigue and its affect on patient safety (with focus on patient anesthesia safety) are discussed. Provided are key terms within the realm of alarm fatigue, causes of alarm fatigue, and what we can do to avoid alarm fatigue and ensure patient safety. ]]> 2023-03-21 17:47:49 UTC https://padlet.com/routhiej/ybe5my52udmvotsq/wish/2525835451 routhiej https://padlet.com/routhiej/ybe5my52udmvotsq/wish/2533677804 This week emphasized and discussed the importance and steps taken to secure personal patient health information. Beyond leaking of personal data this health information can be sold and be used for fraud, directly impacting the care of the patient. An interesting portion of the asynchronous material was the movement towards universal use of patient portals and patient electronic access to copies of their health records. Programs like "MyChart" give patient's access to their EMR within the health system including results, procedures, current medication lists, and past medical history. As a personal user of MyChart in the role of a patient as well as a user of MyChart from the perspective of a provider it is apparent the communication barriers this technology breaks down. The user interface is fairly simple for those who are used to interfacing with smartphone applications and provides notifications of appointments, immunizations, and a direct line of up to date communication with providers via the provider messaging services. Using MyChart from the provider side is very helpful in securely communicating not just with patients but often family members heavily involved in their care. It allows us to get up to date information about the patient, triage, and make plan of care adjustments virtually immediately and all done securely. Of recent OpenNote access was granted too all patient's making provider notes accessible to all patients. This provided patients with a wealth of knowledge about their disease and as the asynchronous material touched on creates great discussion and talking points between practitioner's and patients. The downside is that unfettered access to these notes can scare patient's if they do not fully understand the information they access. 

Link: The link provided is for the OpenNotes website, campaigning and advocating to introduce patient access to notes increasing transparency in healthcare. ]]> 2023-03-27 19:56:21 UTC https://padlet.com/routhiej/ybe5my52udmvotsq/wish/2533677804 routhiej https://padlet.com/routhiej/ybe5my52udmvotsq/wish/2533692851 This study looked to explore the benefits of introducing direct securing messaging between patients and providers. The study was conducted at the VA and looked into how secure messaging can improve patient-centered care and efficiency in health care. ]]> 2023-03-27 20:11:37 UTC https://padlet.com/routhiej/ybe5my52udmvotsq/wish/2533692851 routhiej https://padlet.com/routhiej/ybe5my52udmvotsq/wish/2546412616 This week's topic was particularly interesting as statistics are universally a very dry topic though provides a lot of important data that medical professionals, researches, and business alike use every day. Initially the ideas of statistics and storytelling seemingly have no over lap, raw data and information compared to creative and processed mediums. Though, after the asynchronous material the power of statistical storytelling truly shined and displayed the power and influence "statistical storytelling" holds. Using the conclusions drawn from the data to build a story that people can relate to or highlighting a crucial need with the data story helps the information become digestible and impactful and can motivate people to act on the information. The first video does a great job of this in relation to creating a compelling story and asking thought provoking humanitarian and business questions with the conclusions. Both videos take aspects of data to wisdom evolution theory and give the data knowledge and contextual purpose that can move stakeholders to make favorable decisions. Creating stories and personalities for the data or even conclusions that can be drawn from the data sparks a human connection to the hard numbers and facts, where people can almost put themselves in the world of the data story. Personal connection and application are driving factors for many interested groups. These groups tend to be reactive and "selfish" for lack of a better term, finding if proposals, changes or investments do not affect themselves, their company/business, finances, or otherwise people will not be drawn to even hearing out groundbreaking research, proposals, or ideas. 

Link: The provided link is to the Harvard Business Blog. This particular blog posts gives background and further information regarding what data storytelling is, how it is done, and what it can be applied to. More over the post goes on to describe the advantages and positive business outcomes that can be achieved via data storytelling. ]]> 2023-04-06 15:53:02 UTC https://padlet.com/routhiej/ybe5my52udmvotsq/wish/2546412616 routhiej https://padlet.com/routhiej/ybe5my52udmvotsq/wish/2546418800 For those further interested in learning more about data storytelling or become a certified data storyteller this online course offers a certification program via Purdue College Online. Provided are details of the courses offered (4 in total), general content covered, who may benefit from taking the course and more. As an additional note those who sign up for the paid courses will receive the initial "Data Storytelling 101" for free. ]]> 2023-04-06 15:59:45 UTC https://padlet.com/routhiej/ybe5my52udmvotsq/wish/2546418800 routhiej https://padlet.com/routhiej/ybe5my52udmvotsq/wish/2553306175 Transitioning seamlessly from last week's topic of data use to build stories from data results to help bring the data to life, this week touches on similar ideas of taking the data and presenting it in a visual medium to better understand, apply, and draw conclusions from. Reformatting presentation of data can help to make it more digestible, understand the impact and applications of use for data, and can influence decisions people may make based on the data and its presentation. Applying data visualization concepts to statistics within the healthcare spectrum companies, researches, as well as providers can improve health outcomes, expedite research, and narrow focus for quality improvement initiatives. Data visualization can provide interactive applications presenting data that could allow visual representation of largest quality improvement issues, initiatives and success rates based on previous data/research, and can also incorporate patient perspective on largest quality improvement issues. The comprehensiveness of data visualizations like this, would streamline understanding of the data, its importance in quality improvement application, identify greatest areas of need or impact, and can provide patient perspective on the issues simply with visually digestible representations of data information. The broad scope of data input and that can be represented provides a more complete view of actual importance and efficacy of quality improvement issues, and allows researchers to take into account the patient's perspectives, allowing their voices to be heard.

Link: The attached link is to the website for the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. The site offers programs to create data visualization tools as well as infographics to be used for medical data research. ]]> 2023-04-13 14:47:33 UTC https://padlet.com/routhiej/ybe5my52udmvotsq/wish/2553306175 routhiej https://padlet.com/routhiej/ybe5my52udmvotsq/wish/2553342289 This website provides easy templates and guides to start using data visualization in the context of healthcare. The free templates are available through Google applications. Descriptions and education regarding how and what data visualization tools should be appropriately used are also given. This is a good tool to use as a launching point to get into the world of data visualization in healthcare. ]]> 2023-04-13 15:13:46 UTC https://padlet.com/routhiej/ybe5my52udmvotsq/wish/2553342289 routhiej https://padlet.com/routhiej/ybe5my52udmvotsq/wish/2558892135 In all aspects of healthcare, even in schooling, the importance of abiding by the law and pillared principles of ethics is stressed. There are many reasons as to why operating within these tenants are so important within any organization but especially so within healthcare. This job requires providers at all levels of care to take to heart the Basic Ethical Principles and apply them ever day within their work with patients. By doing so they are able to ensure they are completing their positions to their fullest duties, avoiding potentially lethal mistakes, and help improve patient quality care and outcomes. Healthcare intrinsically involves application of these principles in day-to-day practice. With the rise in use of healthcare informatics and the rapid growth of technology it is important for ethical principles to be translated and appropriate applied to this highly nuanced world of informatics. It is within the informatics realm that communication, information exchange, privacy, access to information, and security all intersect and prompted the need for General Principles of  Informatics Ethics. Patient data so readily available and accessible must abide by high security standards and restrictions to ensure data is protected. Additionally this access to health data has extensive implications for medical research though must be protected and information provided while abiding by ethical informatic principles. Finding the balance to maximize the informatics data while adhering to ethical principles will help drive forward the age of healthcare technology adaptation and hopefully patient outcomes. 

Link:
Attached is an article from the National Library of Medicine describing the evolution of informatics in healthcare and how ethics have adapted and been applied to the growing field. ]]> 2023-04-18 16:34:52 UTC https://padlet.com/routhiej/ybe5my52udmvotsq/wish/2558892135 routhiej https://padlet.com/routhiej/ybe5my52udmvotsq/wish/2558904760 This webpage provides a list of 5 different podcasts all surrounding the topic of health informatics and touch on various aspects of the growing field including legal issues, security, and ethics. The list provides choices from different aspects of the healthcare industry and how informatics has changed and affected their areas of work. Beyond that the webpage provides some tips to identify differences between good and bad health informatics podcasts for those who choose to explore podcasts outside of this list.]]> 2023-04-18 16:44:07 UTC https://padlet.com/routhiej/ybe5my52udmvotsq/wish/2558904760