Patient Engagement in HIT
Purpose statement
Healthcare institutions are using healthcare information technology in almost all departments and units. With the advancement of technology, healthcare information technology has also significantly advanced. The healthcare delivery approach has also changed to a patient-centered approach. Thus, patient engagement in healthcare information technology is crucial in nursing practice. Patient engagement in healthcare information technology improves the HIT care provision experience for care providers and patients.
Statement of the posters Application in my Practice Setting.
With the current popularity of health information technology, all care providers are expected to have the necessary skills and knowledge. The poster aims to create awareness, especially for newly recruited care providers, on the issue of healthcare information technology and patient engagement.
It will also emphasize the importance of patient engagement in HIT and the related ethical concerns. The information on the poster will help the care providers be more cautious when engaging patients in health information technology and help develop patient engagement strategies.
What is patient engagement in health information technology?
Patient engagement is active participation in care provision out of one’s capability and desire, in a manner that is unique to the patient, and cooperating with the healthcare institution and care providers, aiming to attract good health outcomes and improve the experience of care.
Patient engagement in HIT is the participation of patients in decisions and care activities that involve health information technology (Dendere et al., 2019). Patient engagement is facilitated by the relationship created between the patient and the care provider through patient education on health information technology. Patients are engaged in platforms such as patient portals, telehealth technologies, and electronic medical records.
Importance of patient engagement in health information technology
Patient engagement in health information technology is essential in facilitating care delivery using health information technology. According to Osei-Frimpong, Wilson, & Lemke (2018), patient engagement in HIT helps patients make better and more informed decisions based on the available care options since they can access health information easily.
It also enhances adherence to treatment and better health outcomes for the patient when the patient’s priorities and preferences are used in care provision. Patient engagement using telehealth platforms saves patients time and helps them access health services from the comfort of their homes. Additionally, patient engagement in HIT improves patients’ confidence in HIT platforms and enhances patient-provider communication, thus promoting HIT usage.
Ethical concerns/issues in patient engagement in health information technology
There are various ethical issues in patient engagement in HIT. Ethical issues include technical problems that the care provider cannot solve may compromise care provision, especially in essential activities such as remote patient monitoring, thus leading to poor health outcomes.
Another primary ethical concern in patient engagement in HIT is the equity of resources. Not all patients can access health through health information technology platforms like telehealth due to a lack of the required equipment, thus an ethical issue of concern (Shaban-Nejad, Michalowski, & Buckeridge, 2018). However, care providers should ensure that the principles of beneficence, non-maleficence, justice, and autonomy are used in patient engagement in HIT.
Safety and privacy considerations in Health Information Technology
Care providers are morally obligated to maintain confidentiality and maintain patient privacy when dealing with their patients on online platforms. Maintaining patient privacy and confidentiality prevents the patient from various safety issues. Therefore, all care providers need to consider privacy and confidentiality safeguards. For instance, direct care-provider patient communication should be protected from being accessed by a third party. In addition, electronic health records should be secured and monitored by an authorized person only.
Conclusion
Patient engagement in HIT is essential in ensuring adequate care delivery using healthcare technology. Although there are ethical and safety issues concerning HIT, the advantages of patient engagement in HIT outweigh them. Care providers should be aware of the issues and develop patient engagement strategies that promote patient safety and improve health outcomes.
References
Dendere, R., Slade, C., Burton-Jones, A., Sullivan, C., Staib, A., & Janda, M. (2019). Patient portals facilitating engagement with inpatient electronic medical records: a systematic review. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 21(4), e12779. https://doi.org/10.2196/12779
Osei-Frimpong, K., Wilson, A., & Lemke, F. (2018). Patient co-creation activities in healthcare service delivery at the micro level: The influence of online access to healthcare information. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 126, 14-27. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2016.04.009
Shaban-Nejad, A., Michalowski, M., & Buckeridge, D. L. (2018). Health intelligence: how artificial intelligence transforms population and personalized health. NPJ Digital Medicine, 1, 53. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41746-018-0058-9