Brenda? What were your initial thoughts on reading the AACN Information Systems/Technology Essential

Brenda 

• What were your initial thoughts on reading the AACN Information Systems/Technology Essentials for the DNP graduate?

As a future DNP-prepared nurse, I believe it's essential for a more profound understanding of technology as technological advancements have drastically transformed the structure and organization of the healthcare sector. Today, nursing is not the same as it was 30 years ago. Technology is imperative for safe, competent, patient-centered care. Advances in technology assist healthcare personnel in performing their jobs and care for patients more efficiently and safely (Pepito & Locsin, 2018).

• Did you find any of the essentials surprising? Why or Why not?

I did not find any of the essentials surprising because DNP-prepared nurses are prepared to keep up with the most up-to-date medical knowledge and stay current on evolving best practices. A DNP-prepared nurse holds a terminal nursing degree, the highest level of education available in the field; therefore, the nurse must remain competent in all aspects of patient care.

• Describe the changes you have seen in your practice setting over the past five years that have been brought about by the use of technology and evidence-based practice.

My practice setting has implemented Telehealth  services and remote patient monitoring (RPM) for patients with chronic diseases to avoid unnecessary hospital visits. This allows providers to follow up with patients anytime, regardless of the care setting. In my current job, telemedicine was instituted due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak. This was an innovative way to fulfill patients’ healthcare needs and fill in the gaps in patient care (Liu et al., 2020). With telemedicine, patients with chronic conditions, such as obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and kidney disease, receive improved access to care by cutting down the barriers in transportation and mobility issues to immobile patients. Telemedicine has ultimately improved access and acceptability to patient care in populations with low socioeconomic.

RPM is the foremost of these advancements. RPM systems are established on collecting patient vital signs, then transmitting them in real-time to healthcare providers. RPM has improved the provider's ability to monitor and manage patients in their homes by using digital technologies to collect health data and electronically transmit it to providers for assessment (El-Rashidy et al., 2021). In my practice setting, we monitor patients' vital signs, and if we notice any abnormal change, the patient is contacted for further evaluation. Also, we have a monitoring center that monitors and tracks patients' vital signs, and if any critical vital signs are flagged, a provider contacts the patient to provide further treatment.

• Describe the changes you expect to see in your practice setting over the next five years based on technology.

In the next five years, I foresee the implementation of RPM to have decreased hospitalizations and hospital readmissions due to chronic diseases. According to El-Rashidy et al. (2021), the incidence of chronic disease has developed along with the aging population, and hospital capacity is lacking to accommodate all patients. Treatment noncompliance of these diseases ends in frequent hospital readmission, which increases the burdens of hospitals and healthcare staff. By providing providers the ability to monitor and manage a patient’s condition remotely, treatment can be given timely and effectively (Vegesna et al., 2017). Therefore, decreasing the health care burden, promoting better care coordination, and reducing the patient's stress level. 

• How have these changes affected nursing practice in your setting?

These changes have positively affected my nursing practice by avoiding interruption in patient care and improve care between visits appointments with patients with multiple comorbidities. These systems are used for continuous monitoring, diagnosis, assessment, and treatment. Consequently, they reduce healthcare costs and improve patient outcomes by providing shorter frequent services to manage chronic diseases and prevent future complications. Telemedicine shows a tremendous promise to increase access to health care services, promote disease management, and promote in-between visit monitoring. 

Brenda Ramirez-Pena

El-Rashidy, N., El-Sappagh, S., Islam, S., M El-Bakry, H., & Abdelrazek, S. (2021). Mobile health in remote patient monitoring for chronic diseases: Principles, trends, and challenges. Diagnostics, 11(4), 607. https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics11040607

Liu, N., Huang, R., Baldacchino, T., Sud, A., Sud, K., Khadra, M., & Kim, J. (2020). Telehealth for noncritical patients with chronic diseases during the COVID-19 pandemic. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 22(8), e19493. https://doi.org/10.2196/19493

Pepito, J. A., & Locsin, R. (2018). Can nurses remain relevant in a technologically advanced future?. International Journal of Nursing Sciences, 6(1), 106–110. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnss.2018.09.013

Vegesna, A., Tran, M., Angelaccio, M., & Arcona, S. (2017). Remote patient monitoring via non-invasive digital technologies: A systematic review. Telemedicine Journal and E-Health : The Official Journal of the American Telemedicine Association, 23(1), 3–17. https://doi.org/10.1089/tmj.2016.0051