THE IMPACT OF NURSING INFORMATICS 2

The Impact of Nursing Informatics on Patient Outcomes and Patient Care Efficiencies
Introduction
Telehealth is increasingly being used to solve some of the challenges that patients
experiencing chronic conditions face. Patients with chronic conditions require constant care and
medical attention. Teleconsultations, telecare, and telemedicine has been integrated into the
healthcare system to ensure that patients ailing from chronic conditions have extended care even
after being discharged from hospital. These are yet to be integrated in all healthcare
organizations as the process of adoption is taking time. This paper presents a proposal to have
teleconsultations, telecare, and telemedicine adopted in to the organization.
Description of the Project Proposed
I am proposing a project to have the organization adopt telecare, teleconsultation, and
telemedicine specifically for patients with chronic ailments. Telemedicine is the adoption of
information communication technology systems (ICTs) to transmit medical information for
purposes of diagnosis, therapy, and for learning (Lyons et al., 2019). It allows for health care
services to be delivered where distance is a critical factor. In the case of this organization,
telemedicine will allow for delivery of health care services to patients who have chronic
ailments, but have to be discharged to cut on hospital stay costs. Even after going home, these
patients need medical care and attention and the adoption of telemedicine will allow this to
happen. The adoption of telemedicine services will help improve the quality of care and facilitate
decision making for professionals who will respond to the needs of patients who will be offered
services remotely (Lyons et al., 2019). The main aim of this project is to have the organization
provide remote assistance by providing teleconsultations for conducting remote follow up

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diagnostic and treatment services to patients. it will also include telemonitoring services for
chronic patients. professionals will communicate electronically with their counterparts at the
hospital for consultations and when they need to make informed decisions. Patients will also be
able to send their blood sugar levels, dosages, and progress records to nurses at the organization.
The nurse will then respond immediately. Telecare and telemonitoring services, will allow
patients to receive extended care at home. Hospital stays and visits will be reduced and limited to
only when it is necessary.
Stakeholders Impacted by this Project
Doctors will be directly impacted by the adoption of this proposal. First, they will have
direct access to their patients, even those that have been discharged from hospital. Other than
that, doctors will also have direct contact with other doctors from other organizations that have
already implemented telehealth in their facilities. By making use of virtual consultation, doctors
will get input from specialists whenever they have questions or uncertainties about a certain
diagnosis, treatment, or progress on a patient. The technology will allow them to send test
results, exam notes, and medical history to a specialist for review and second opinion (Novillo-
Ortiz, 2016). Consequently, the quality of health services provided is improved as doctors will be
well informed.
Also, patients will be impacted by the implementation of telehealth into the organization.
Patients, specifically those with chronic conditions will have direct contact with nurses and
doctors. They will also have electronic personal health records (PHR) system which they will
access using their smartphones, laptops, or tablets (Guise & Wiig, 2017). The PHR will provide
information about a patient and this is necessary in case of emergencies and a patient is not in a

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position to share their medical history. Further, nurses will be able to extend their care to patients
both in hospital and at home through the telecare and telemonitoring services.
Patient-care Efficiencies
Telehealth will provide more opportunities to take health care closer home and patients
will have access to efficient and well-coordinated care. Research in 2016 shows that the use of
telemonitoring services ad telephone-based health care support helped reduce the risk of death
and hospitalization for heart patients. vital signs were observed, monitored and necessary care
provided (Woo & Dowding, 2020). Patient are guaranteed unlimited contact hours with their
physicians and nurses, and this makes it very efficient for them to access care.
Technologies required for the Implementation of the Project
Patients will require internet connection because they will have to communicate
electronically with nurses. They will also require smart phones, which they will use to upload
medications, blood sugar level, and data on dosing for reviewing by a nurse. Also, smart phone
will be necessary to download applications that will help patient count their intake (Sweeney,
2017). They will for instance calculate the amount of carbohydrates that they consume in one
meal. Such information will help the patient make healthy lifestyle decisions. Also, patients will
have access to the online patient portal, from where they will be able to schedule a doctor’s
appointment, see their test results, request refills for their prescriptions and even communicate
with their doctors directly via email. The organization will provide every nurse and physician
with a laptop or tablet from where they will be keeping in touch with the patients. Also, fast
internet will be a requirement for immediate responses. Patients will also have the option of
having virtual appointments through videoconferencing, hence the need for fast and reliable

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internet (Gagnon et al., 2016). Additionally, devices to monitor older people or patients with
dementia will be necessary so that it is easy to detect changes in regular activities.
Project Team
The team will comprise of nurse informaticist, whose main role will be to help nurses
navigate through the new systems. Telehealth is a new concept within the organization. Nurses
will require to be trained on how to use them in the provision of care. Nurses will then guide
patients on how to use smart phones to download applications, send or receive emails, access
their test results, log into PHR, and contact their doctors and physicians. Also, the team will
include physicians and doctors as they will be using the new system to improve their delivery of
services. Software experts will be incorporated and will provide their expertise in setting up the
systems.
Conclusion
Overall, the project proposes the implementation of telehealth applications for purposes
of supporting medical care for all patients even those at home but who ail from chronic
conditions. If the telehealth is integrated into the organizations, patients will receive improved
and well-coordinated care from their homes. Telehealth allows for equitable access to health care
services regardless of a patient’s geographical location. It allows for provision of patient-
centered care. If telehealth applications are implemented in his organization, the cost incurred to
receive medical care will be reduced, hospital visits will also be reduced, and nurses and doctors
will be able to telemonitor patients from their homes. It is a brilliant idea, which if implemented,
will revolutionize health care in this organization.

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References

Gagnon, M. P., Duplantie, J., Fortin, J. P., & Landry, R. (2016). Implementing telehealth to
support medical practice in rural/remote regions: what are the conditions for
success?. Implementation science, 1(1), 18.
Guise, V., & Wiig, S. (2017). Perceptions of telecare training needs in home healthcare services:
a focus group study. BMC health services research, 17(1), 164.
Lyons, J. P., Watson, K., & Massacci, A. (2019). The Evolution of Elderly Telehealth and Health
Informatics. In Health Technology and Informatics-Technology in Primary and Advanced
Healthcare. IntechOpen.
Novillo-Ortiz, D. (2016). Framework for the implementation of a telemedicine service. Pan
American Health Organ.
Sweeney, J. (Feb, 2017). Healthcare Informatics. Online Journal of Nursing Informatics (OJNI),
21(1).
Woo, K., & Dowding, D. W. (2020). Decision-making Factors Associated With Telehealth
Adoption by Patients With Heart Failure at Home: A Qualitative Study. CIN: Computers,
Informatics, Nursing.