Technology to improve outcomes

Rural clinics and health care settings have unique challenges that result in serious disparities. Physical isolation along with economic, cultural, and social differences can greatly affect rural Americans’ ability to lead healthy lives. Residents in rural communities have greater transportation problems, often having to drive great distances to reach medical care. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures (2011), “Only about 10 percent of physicians practice in rural America, despite the fact that nearly one-fifth of the population lives in these areas” (para. 1).

ReferenceThe Affordable Care Act (ACA) contains provisions aimed at addressing provider shortages in rural areas, but progress is slow. In an effort to improve access to care for rural Americans, telehealth networks are being increasingly used to connect patients. Health care providers in remote locations are seeking models for practice that use new technologies to help close the gap between caregiver and patient (National Conference of State Legislature, 2011).

National Conference of State Legislatures. (2011). Telehealth and rural health care delivery. Retrieved from: http://www.ncsl.org/research/health/telehealth-and…

To deepen your understanding, you are encouraged to consider the questions below and discuss them with a fellow learner, a work associate, an interested friend, or a member of your professional community.

• What unique challenges do health care providers face in rural areas?
• What chronic health conditions require monitoring and reporting?
• How can technology increase access to specialists? What are the benefits and limitations?
• Besides funding, what other barriers prevent providers from adopting new technologies that increase access to care?
• What time and budget allowances should be considered for in-service and competency testing to implement new technologies?

Preparation

Search the Capella library and the Internet for scholarly and professional peer-reviewed articles on medical technology used to manage patients post-hospitalization. You will need at least three articles to use as support for your work on this assessment.

Directions

Assume you work in a rural health care center. The facility just received a generous grant from a health care foundation. The funds from this grant must be used to acquire new technologies to foster better health outcomes for residents who live in remote areas. The Director of Nursing has formed a committee to research types of patient care technologies that are available to manage and monitor patients upon their release from care. You have been asked to look into the different types of technologies available for patients who are discharged from the hospital and cannot travel hundreds of miles for frequent follow-up appointments. You were also asked to provide evidence-based research to support your selections.

Write a 3–4 page report for the committee that provides your findings:

• Summarize the issues facing rural health care providers’ efforts to deliver quality care.
• Explain the use of information management tools and technologies to monitor and improve outcomes.
• Recommend three new technologies that improve patient outcomes post-hospitalization, in rural settings.
• Support your recommendations for new technologies with evidence-based research.

Format this report following current APA style, paying close attention to headings and subheadings, paragraph structure, and proper grammar, spelling, and punctuation.

Additional Requirements

Your report should meet the following criteria:

• Contain between 750–1000 words (3–4 pages).
• Include a minimum of 3 references. (These must be recent, from within the past five years.)
• Be double-spaced in Times New Roman font, 12 point.

Internet Resources

Access the following resources by clicking the links provided. Please note that URLs change frequently. Permissions for the following links have been either granted or deemed appropriate for educational use at the time of course publication.

• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. (n.d.). Electronic medical record systems. Retrieved from http://healthit.ahrq.gov/key-topics/electronic-med…
• Electronic Healthcare Network Accreditation Commission (EHNAC). (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.ehnac.org/
• International Council of Nurses. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.icn.ch/
  • The ICN site includes information on the International Classification for Nursing Practice (ICNP), the unified nursing language system. Its numerous links provide background information, news, guidelines, and fact sheets.
• The Markel Foundation. (n.d.). Health. Retrieved from http://www.markle.org/health
  • You may use the search function to find relevant articles related to electronic health records and personal health records.
• National Academies: Health and Medicine Division. http://www.nationalacademies.org/hmd/
• Rural Health Information Hub. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.raconline.org

Prepare a 3–4-page report on new technologies available to rural health care providers for post-hospitalization follow-up care and monitoring. In your report, summarize the issues, identify and explain technologies, and recommend evidence-based strategies to improve outcomes.

By successfully completing this assessment, you will demonstrate your proficiency in the following course competencies and assessment criteria:

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• Competency 1: Evaluate scholarly nursing literature that supports evidence-based nursing practice.
  • Support the recommendations for new technologies with evidence-based research.
• Competency 2: Explain ways to promote safe, quality, evidence-based care to populations and communities in health care environments.
  • Summarize the issue(s) facing rural health care providers’ efforts to deliver quality care.
• Competency 3: Identify information management tools and technologies to monitor and improve outcomes.
  • Explain the use of information management tools and technologies to monitor and improve outcomes.
  • Recommend three new technologies that improve patient outcomes for patients in rural settings.
• Competency 4: Communicate in a manner that is consistent with expectations of nursing professionals.
  • Write content clearly and logically, with correct use of grammar, punctuation, and mechanics.
  • Correctly format citations and references using APA style.