Communication is made possible by electronic health records (EHRs), which save the time and energy of nurses and also lead to better outcomes for patients. The channels of communication can be either structured or unstructured. Computerized provider entry (CPOE) is used in structured pathways to provide information about medications and allergies, whereas clinical notes are used in unstructured pathways (Zhang et al., 2020). By incorporating an encryption algorithm into the conventional medical cloud model, EHRs also contribute to developing secure communication.
Electronic health records are just one example of medical technology that has greatly benefited from the commercialization and development of 5G. Patients are aware of the technology, which enables the nursing staff to communicate with them via messages, emails, or phone calls at any time and from any location. Additionally, most healthcare organizations are now establishing criteria by creating online portals or websites to engage with patients and help patients from rural areas who cannot visit hospitals frequently. After collecting data from the patients, it is evaluated and then it is sent to the other members of the medical team who need it (Zhang et al., 2020).
Modern technologies help healthcare organizations by making it possible for patients and the staff to communicate and interact with one another at any time and giving them access to updates on their intervention plans. The nursing staff can gain a deeper understanding of the patient’s condition using this information. For the safety of the data, the credentials of the portal of the patients with mental or visual impairment are given to the relatives or family members (Lee, 2017). Personal information of the patients may occasionally be disclosed, resulting in the use of data in a manner that was not intended. Additionally, most patients are concerned about their privacy and do not wish to disclose any information about their illness to anyone, including family members (Bani Issa et al., 2020). As a result, healthcare providers must meet with patients to learn about their concerns to avoid future mishaps. For instance, an employee of Holy Cross Medical Centre in Mission Hills, California, leaked a patient’s medical records in 2011 (Lee, 2017). The ethical optimization of the health information of the patients on EHR necessitates data security and this goal can be achieved if the staff is properly trained in data storage and data monitoring.
In 1996, the Department of Health and Human Services of the United States passed an act, known as HIPA Act. The Office for Civil Rights follows the HIPAA Privacy and Security Rules, which necessitated the development of national standards to safeguard the medical information of patients from unauthorized disclosure (Shachar, 2022). It allows the confirmation or consent of the patients before disclosing the information.
According to Moore & Frye (2019), HIPAA has significantly impacted operations of the healthcare organizations. The act restricts the disclosure of any personal information of patients without their consent by safeguarding the Patient’s health information (PHI). Patient care technologies (PCT) should be improved by increasing health insurance portability and following the safety rules oh HIPAA.
The healthcare department relies heavily on patient care technology. Healthcare administration and nursing staff have been introduced to various technologies that use the internet of things and artificial intelligence, such as blood pressure monitors, blood glucose monitors, and patient location trackers. These gadgets make it easier for healthcare workers to get in touch with patients quickly. However, these things have both benefits and disadvantages. There are many things to consider, like giving employees the proper training, keeping data safe, and protecting patients’ personal information.
Abul-Husn, N. S., & Kenny, E. E. (2019). Personalized medicine and the power of Electronic Health Records. Cell, 177(1), 58–69. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2019.02.039
Bani Issa, W., Al Akour, I., Ibrahim, A., Almarzouqi, A., Abbas, S., Hisham, F., & Griffiths, J. (2020). Privacy, confidentiality, security, and patient safety concerns about Elec