Question

What are barriers that impact the quality of the interaction of an individual (patient or nurse with technology?

Answer 1

The rapid growth of technology in the healthcare space has identified potential obstacles that hospital systems may face.

The barriers are related to (lack of) access to information, inadequate information, limited usefulness and usability of the technologies, challenges associated with using multiple health IT, and technical problems.

A Threat to the Human Element

Improved technology can threaten to replace person-to-person interaction between nurse and patient. Nurses have the role of establishing a relationship with their patients and their families; they are responsible for explaining medications, taking vitals and helping patients with daily needs. In some hospitals, nurses are required to wheel in their workstation (a computer on wheels) to record information about the patient. While typing information on a computer is perceived to be more trustworthy by patients and healthcare professionals alike, it will inevitably create less face-to-face interaction.

As a response to the aging population, robotics has become an emerging field in healthcare. In Japan, nurse robots are being manufactured and tested as a way to lessen the burden of nurses; however, these robots lack empathy and a “human touch.” More research is required before understanding if these machines will improve patient care.

Generational Divide

Nurse leaders understand that workplace technology integration can be largely influenced by generational differences among staff. In the nursing field, baby boomers make up roughly 50 percent of the entire RN staff. Baby boomers are perceived to be lacking in tech-savvy skills and may be slower to adapt to new devices. According to a journal published in 2015, rapid technological advances are a factor that cause older nurses to retire.

Data and Security Threats

As with most any computerized information, EHRs kept in the cloud or in the form of big data are more susceptible to being hacked. Cybercrimes for hospitals are not uncommon as patient profile data can be sold on the black market ranging from $20 to $50. If an inexperienced employee accidentally clicks on malware, a whole EHR system may be at risk of being compromised. Hospitals that have a breach in data or EHR can pay hefty fines depending on the severity. Security threats to a patient’s data can ultimately make a facility think twice before storing important patient records in the cloud.

The Bottom Line

The evolving technological advances in nursing are the wave of the future in healthcare. Emerging new technologies in EHRs, AI, apps and software development are becoming increasingly popular as more hospitals and facilities integrate them into their health system. While there are drawbacks that come with telecommunication, it’s clear that information technology has the potential to improve the quality of life for nurses and RNs alike.