One thing is for sure. Technology in nursing care is here to stay. It’ll continue to advance. We, as Professional Legal Nurse Consultants (PLNC), MUST stay ahead of the curve. How?
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Stay on top of technology in nursing:
Electronic Health Record (EHR) is also called the Electronic Medical Record (EMR). Medical records require software programs and hardware to make them work. Each facility or health care provider may use a different software and hardware. Get familiar with them. It’ll unlock a world of information.
Robotics are used in nursing care more and more. Whether the case you’re reviewing occurred in a long term care facility or medical-surgical unit, you could see medications being administered by robots, or not.
Telehealth has blossomed since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic. Without the benefit of live interaction, many conditions or issues may go undetected. Know this whenever you’re reviewing telehealth medical records.
Mobile phones are used to “look up” diagnoses and treatments. Where did the nurse, or the health care provider, find the information? What exactly was conveyed to the patient or caregiver? It’s imperative that you find out.
Use of apps. There’re all kinds of apps out there. You need to know which ones were used by the health care provider in question. Ask your attorney to find out this critical information.
Monitoring patients. Portable monitors can be used to let the nurse know of significant events. Even vital signs can be monitored this way.
Potential reduction in errors. This requires the correct input of information, but usually thereafter the information is correct. Watch for computer “glitches”, as this happens more often than one would think.
Communication among health care providers. Ear-inserted devices or headsets are often used to transmit information, such as lab test results, quickly. Check to see if these audible transmissions have a recorded backup.
Use of barcodes for scanning. Just like those used on groceries, the use of barcodes is widespread in health care delivery. Once scanned, the nurse can access all kinds of patient information right at the bedside. This is especially useful with medications.
Nursing is still a human profession requiring interactive skills. The incorporation of technology into nursing practice will continue to advance and iterate. It’s essential to be on top of how it’s changing the delivery of nursing care.
The most significant impact will be felt in effective communication and tactile interactions. These are generally ones that require some degree of human to human contact.
As a Professional Legal Nurse Consultant, continuing to be on top of technology used in the delivery of nursing care will help hone your merit review skills. Read, watch, and listen so you can understand technology. It changes and evolves, just like you do.
Nursing as a profession will continue to change. Technology will advance nursing care. And you will advance the nursing profession.
P.S. What technology do you use in your nursing practice? Let’s hear from you.
