Health Information Technology

The development of information technology certainly has changed the way we practice as nurses. Health communication and health Information technology has had a positive impact on health, healthcare, and health equity in the following ways. It has assisted in the building of social support networks, increased health literacy skills and designed programs whereas the interventions result in healthier behaviors. It allows the delivery of accurate health information to support shared decision making between patients and their providers. It also facilitates quick and informed action in the event there are health risks or public health emergencies. In the world of healthcare more and more people are using the internet to research medical issues.

Barcoding technology, used primarily for medication administration has reduced the number of medication errors occurring in healthcare (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2014). In the Veterans Administration we provide home telehealth services that cater to Veterans who have co-morbidities such as CHF, Diabetes, Depression and COPD. This program affords the Veteran the ease of connecting to the VA from home using phones and cellular modem. These messaging devices can collect information about symptoms and vital signs and with the help of assigned care coordinators link those to their providers. The provider can guide the Veteran to self-manage their care, arrange treatment changes, set up clinic appointments or arrange hospital admissions if required (U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, 2014). With these technological advancements we have improved health care quality and patient safety, increased the efficiency of healthcare, and made improvements in the public health infrastructure to improve the efficiency of public health service delivery. Technology has also impacted our personal lives. Some say it has made life easier yet others say it has not. Computers, one of the major breakthroughs of the last thirty years, exist in many