Posted: March 31st, 2023

Telehealth Technology for Asthma Patient Education

NSG 3150 – Healthcare Informatics

Week 6 – Drop box Assignment – Tele-health Technology for Patient Education PowerPoint Presentation

Instructions:

Please consider the following scenario:

You have been assigned as one member of a 3-4-member nursing IT team at the local community hospital. The hospital is in a rural area with the closest Tier-1 hospital (trauma center) three hours away. In the past four years, there has been a noticeable increase in the incidence rate of young adults with asthma “attacks.” The nursing unit managers have performed research on the issue and have determined that asthma patients readmitted within 30 days with asthma exacerbations occurred most noticeably during the winter months and on the weekends. Further investigation showed that additional potential factors to the asthma exacerbations appear to be brought on by the use of e-cigarette’s and hookah smoking, and for patients with allergies.

The nursing managers have expressed a desire to incorporate Telehealth measures and phone applications as a means of educating the young adult populations on ways to control asthma outbreaks. The team has researched the literature and noted that Telehealth was introduced at other facilities with great success and helped to improve outcomes for patients with the signs and symptoms of asthma exacerbations. The nursing IT team will be required to create and present a PowerPoint presentation to nurse administration about the proposed plan.

Create a voiced-over PowerPoint presentation on using Telehealth technology and/or phone applications to educate patients and improve on the incidence and/or readmission rates of patients presenting with asthma exacerbations through the emergency room. The presentation should be approximately 15 minutes long.

The group presentation needs to include thorough answers to the following questions:
1. A summary of the key issues.
2. Discuss the implications the technology would have on health promotion (both positive and negative).
1. How will the use of the technology address the key issues?
3. Identify the proposed telehealth technology. Research real solutions or propose a solution for technology that may not yet exist.
4. Describe a minimum of 5 key tasks needed to implement the proposed technology based on the system life-cycle.
5. What concerns might patients express about using the described technology? What policies might the IT team propose to address these concerns?
6. Discuss the usefulness of the proposed Tele health technology to increase patient education and to monitor for patient readmissions.
7. How would training for the proposed solution be conducted for patients and nursing staff?
8. What are potential issues with developing and sustaining a tele-health program?
9. Conclusion

PowerPoint Guidelines:
• Application: Use Microsoft PowerPoint 2007 or versions after 2007 (no XP).
• Length: The PowerPoint slide show is expected to be no more than 15 slides in length (not including the title slide and reference list slide).
• Technical Writing: APA format (6th) is required.
• Late Submission: See the course policy on late submissions.
• Tutorial: If needed, Microsoft Office has many templates and tutorials to help you get started.

The following are best practices in preparing this project:
• Provide a professional presentation.
• Review directions thoroughly.
• Cite all sources within the slide show as well as in the reference page.
• Proofread prior to final submission.
• Spell check for spelling and grammar errors prior to final submission.
• Abide by the GCON academic integrity policy.

Important note to students: Pay close attention not only to the details of this assignment but also to the spelling, grammar, and syntax of your work. You are encouraged to use your Galen resources such as Grammarly, APA Style Central, etc to complete this assignment.

Telehealth Technology for Asthma Patient Education: Improving Outcomes and Reducing Readmissions

Introduction

In an effort to address the rising incidence of young adults with asthma exacerbations, the nursing IT team at a local community hospital is proposing the implementation of Telehealth technology and phone applications for patient education. This presentation outlines the key issues, implications, proposed technology, implementation tasks, patient concerns, training, usefulness, and potential challenges associated with this approach.

Key Issues

The hospital has witnessed a surge in asthma “attacks” among young adults, particularly during winter months and weekends. Additional factors contributing to exacerbations include e-cigarette and hookah smoking, as well as allergies. The goal is to reduce readmissions within 30 days of initial treatment through effective patient education.

Implications for Health Promotion

The introduction of Telehealth technology presents both positive and negative implications for health promotion. On the positive side, Telehealth enables remote education, personalized care, and continuous monitoring. However, negative implications may include privacy concerns, accessibility barriers, and potential dependency on technology.

Addressing Key Issues through Technology

Telehealth technology will address the key issues by providing remote access to asthma education resources. Patients will have the means to learn about triggers, symptom management, and preventive measures. This approach aims to empower patients to take proactive steps in managing their condition, thereby reducing the frequency of exacerbations.

Proposed Telehealth Technology

Research shows that various Telehealth solutions have succeeded in similar contexts. The proposed technology involves a smartphone application that provides educational modules, symptom tracking, and access to virtual consultations with healthcare professionals. This technology would empower patients to monitor their condition and seek timely guidance.

Implementation Tasks

Five key tasks are crucial for successful technology implementation:

Needs Assessment: Identify patient education needs and preferences.
Technology Selection: Choose a user-friendly, secure, and accessible application.
Content Development: Create informative modules and materials.
Training Plan: Develop training resources for patients and nursing staff.
Monitoring and Evaluation: Continuously assess the effectiveness of the technology in reducing exacerbations and readmissions.
Patient Concerns and Proposed Policies

Patients may express concerns about data security, privacy, and usability. To address these concerns, the IT team can propose strict data encryption, informed consent processes, and user-friendly interfaces. Clear policies should ensure patient data confidentiality and establish protocols for resolving technical issues.

Usefulness of Telehealth for Patient Education and Monitoring

Telehealth technology enhances patient education by providing accessible, personalized information. It also enables continuous monitoring, allowing healthcare providers to detect early signs of exacerbations and intervene promptly. This proactive approach contributes to improved patient outcomes.

Training for Patients and Nursing Staff

Patient and staff training is essential for successful adoption. Patients can receive user-friendly tutorials within the application, while nursing staff can participate in workshops and online training sessions. Regular updates and support channels will ensure ongoing proficiency.

Challenges in Developing and Sustaining Telehealth

Developing and sustaining a telehealth program comes with challenges such as technological glitches, resistance to change, and legal/regulatory compliance. Additionally, ensuring equitable access to technology for all patients, especially in rural areas, may pose a challenge.

Conclusion

The proposed Telehealth technology presents a promising solution to address the rising incidence of asthma exacerbations among young adults. By leveraging remote education, symptom tracking, and virtual consultations, this approach aims to empower patients, enhance education, and reduce readmissions. The nursing IT team’s careful planning, consideration of patient concerns, and training initiatives will contribute to the success of this innovative healthcare strategy.

References

Thomas, E., Snoswell, C. L., Haydon, H., Mehrotra, A., Clemensen, J., & Caffery, L. J. (2020). Telehealth for global emergencies: Implications for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare, 26(5), 309-313.
Huckvale, K., Adomaviciute, S., Prieto, J. T., Leow, M. K., & Car, J. (2019). Smartphone apps for calculating insulin dose: A systematic assessment. BMC Medicine, 17(1), 106.
Bashshur, R. L., Shannon, G. W., Krupinski, E. A., Grigsby, J., & Kvedar, J. C. (2011). National telemedicine initiatives: Essential to healthcare reform. Telemedicine and e-Health, 17(4), 272-278.
Venkatesh, V. G., Brown, S. A., & Bala, H. (2013). Bridging the qualitative-quantitative divide: Guidelines for conducting mixed methods research in information systems. MIS Quarterly, 37(1), 21-54.