NURS FPX 4900 Assessment 3 Assessing the Problem Technology Care Coordination and Community Resources Considerations

NURS-FPX 4900 Capstone project for Nursing

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Assessing the Problem: Technology, Care Coordination, and Community Resources Considerations

Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) is a chronic matter, for it has detrimental impacts on an individual’s life. A survey shows 17.4 million males in the United States aged 12 or above have AUD in 2022 (NIAAA, 2023). This paper aims to address the problem of AUD for a patient named Paul from a technological perspective. He is a 36-year-old male with emotional, physical, and social concerns due to AUD. The utilization of a care coordination approach and several community resources are entailed for Mr. Paul to improve his health outcomes, mainly using technology.

Impact of Healthcare Technology

AUD in the United States affects millions of people (15) and costs billions of dollars (250) every year (NIAAA, 2023). For an effective outcome, AUD treatment requires a combination of inpatient (detoxification) and outpatient services (therapies and intensive programs). With novel technology and the emerging trend of digital health, several methods utilizing wearable or biosensor devices allow us to monitor latent physiological occurrences and help manage AUD for patients like Mr. Paul.  

Advantages and Disadvantages of Specific Technology 

Technology in the healthcare system has evolved care services, and it contains its fair share of advantages and disadvantages in managing health conditions like AUD. For instance, telehealth and telemedicine allow remote consultations, therapy sessions, and monitoring (Kruse et al., 2022). It benefits patients like Mr. Paul by improving accessibility due to travel time and cost. Studies have shown that telemedicine can reduce alcohol consumption and improve standard of life (Leibowitz et al., 2020). There are also several Apps explicitly designed to manage AUD, offering assistance in self-help tools, tracking alcohol intake, and providing coping mechanisms. It also provides an opportunity to connect users with support communities.

Studies have shown that digital devices can track gait and sweat to identify abstinence and also geographical locations to identify nearby alcohol stations or dangers, allowing for warnings or reminders (Kruse et al., 2022). There are also evidence-based therapeutic interventions delivered through digital platforms, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) programs tailored to AUD management. They benefit patients (like Mr. Paul) because of their accessibility anywhere and anytime, enhancing convenience. Devices like smart watches and EHR can track and document physiological data such as heart rate, sleep cycle, and stress, giving information about triggers and patterns related to alcohol use (Kruse et al., 2022).