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

Over the past few years, there has been a rise in the application of IT in healthcare settings. Both patients and medical professionals made far heavier use of health-related technologies after the 2020 pandemic. The Institute of Medicine has identified several important themes that all point to the necessity of developing and testing breakthrough technologies to aid in the reduction of medical errors and to speed up the accomplishment of safer and better treatment through the transformation of the healthcare environment (Jeong & Lee, 2019). The goal of this study is to compile evidence from multiple sources showing how telehealth affects patient outcomes in terms of risk. The findings of the evaluation have the potential to inform future research into the optimal use of technology in the management of type 2 diabetes.

The Impact of Healthcare Technology (Telehealth) on Diabetes

Telehealth describes the delivery of healthcare services via remote communication technologies. Included in this category are remote patient monitoring, in which clinicians collect patient data using mobile medical devices to monitor patients even when they are at home, and store and forward, in which doctors in different locations can share information about patients. In March 2020, the French Ministry of Health made a proclamation permitting patients showing symptoms of Covid-19 and those confirmed to have the infection to be reimbursed by the National Health Insurance (NHI) for video teleconsultations (Bingham et al., 2021). Patients were spared unnecessary trips to the doctor’s office, crowding in waiting areas was reduced, more people were screened and diagnosed with the virus, and less severe cases could be monitored from the comfort of their own homes. Diseases such as Diabetes type 2 may also be treated remotely in the future. It might make it less likely that people will hide their health issues until it is too late. This technique may help in the intervention and adjustment of risk factors for Arly Tepale, such as high blood pressure, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (Lee et al., 2018). As a bonus, a telemedicine app might assist doctors to ensure their patients take their medication as prescribed and order refills when necessary. This new technology could be especially helpful for Arly Tepale living in remote places or who have trouble getting around. Telemedicine has both advantages and disadvantages. In terms of advantages, it can improve access to healthcare in impoverished areas and for those with mobility difficulties which is helpful for professional use in contemporary times. When it comes to disadvantages and potential barriers to effectively implementing telehealth technology, it requires initial funding for personnel training and infrastructure development. Patient confidentiality and privacy in medical records are also a source of concern because internet contacts are too impersonal (Lee et al., 2018). Also, patient self-reported data might not be very valid, physical examinations require in-person interactions between patients and doctors.

Care Coordination and Community Resources 

Care coordination is the process of coordinating the activities of all those engaged in a patient’s care, including the patient, their healthcare professionals, and their family, to maximize the patient’s chance of experiencing positive outcomes in terms of their health. Because of its complexity and high cost, treating diabetes properly may be a lengthy and laborious process (Mclendon et al., 2019). Healthcare providers’ understanding of diabetes and its management is crucial for their capacity to coordinate care for patients. Successful diabetes treatment also requires a well-coordinated team of committed healthcare professionals working in an environment that prioritizes both high-quality and patient-centered care (Mohr et al., 2019).

In the area, there is a plethora of resources for diabetes treatment and intervention. Community health workers (CWHs), community-based organizations (CBOs), faith-based organizations (FBOs), and other community groups can actively support people with diabetes, their families, and those at risk of developing type 2 diabetes to adopt healthy lifestyles and minimize risks (Deputy et al., 2018). To better prepare the public to aid those at risk for developing type 2 diabetes and those already living with the condition, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) once again provides online learning and webinars (Deputy et al., 2018). Assistive care organizations like the National Diabetic Self-Management Education and others are effective in the treatment of diabetes problems.

The research supports how healthcare providers coordinate care and utilize community resources to help people with diabetes. Healthcare providers employ dynamic care models like the Patient-Centered Team Care Model to better coordinate patient care and achieve better results in areas including improved patient follow-up, glycemic control, higher patient satisfaction, and reduced risks of diabetic complications (Hong et al., 2020). When dealing with people who have diabetes, medical professionals similarly rely on a wide range of community services.

Negative aspects, such as technological difficulties, heavy workloads, lack of interprofessional team engagement, and counteract the good impacts of care coordination and community resource utilization on diabetes control. Another challenge in terms of a potential barrier to telehealth technology is the absence of essential features, the difficulty in locating relevant community resources, the resistance from both professionals and patients, and the disregard for self-care (Skinner et al., 2020). Removing these roadblocks can enhance patient care coordination and community resource utilization, leading to higher-quality treatment, and more effective management of diabetes. 

State Board Nursing practice standards and policies 

Nursing practice guidelines, as well as corporate and government constraints, and care coordination, govern the utilization of technology, and coordination of community services for diabetes patients. The standards and guidelines outlined in this study serve as a road map for providing high-quality care while also ensuring the safety of patients when medical professionals make use of the resources and technology available in their communities and collaborate to coordinate patient care. The American Diabetes Association’s Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes publication contains the most recent evidence-based recommendations for treating the medical needs of people with diabetes (ADA, 2021). The Diabetes Standards of Medical Care lays out the principles and treatment goals for diabetes care, as well as the methods for evaluating the quality of care provided. Those who practice telemedicine have a responsibility to ensure their patients’ well-being by adhering to established protocols and providing care that meets or exceeds accepted standards of practice (ADA, 2021). As a nurse, it is my responsibility to follow all applicable rules and regulations when carrying out my duties. They advise people on how to make the most of existing community resources while managing chronic health issues, including the most useful tools, the most efficient ways to coordinate therapy for patients, and the most successful strategies to improve the quality of life for those affected (Liu et al., 2018). Both practices and clinical judgments must be consistent with established nursing standards and norms.

Again, the federal, local, and state rules in place affect how I do my duties as a nurse when caring for patients who have diabetes. The extent to which I can utilize community resources, the degree to which I can utilize various forms of technology and the efficacy with which I can coordinate treatment for my patients are all affected by these rules. The 21st Century Cures Act and other federal initiatives promote the use of electronic health information technology in research, patient care, and data sharing (Ali et al., 2019). This includes employing technological means to fight off persistent illness. The 21st Century Cures Act also specifies guidelines for how easily accessible health records should be to medical professionals. Limits on the use of outdated or dangerous medical equipment are one way that federal, state, and local law is attempting to improve patient safety. One of the purposes of the laws is to encourage the adoption of technology and the latest research to provide patients with higher-quality care. Electronic health records (EHR) are becoming increasingly popular as a means of maintaining patients’ health information and coordinating their treatment, as they are supported by the majority of rules governing healthcare technology (Ratwani et al., 2019). In addition to reducing the fragmented nature of patient care, electronic health records considerably improve the efficiency of the sector as a whole by standardizing the maintenance of patient information and making record exchange more convenient.

The ethical concepts of autonomy, justice, non-maleficence, and beneficence, as well as the code of ethics developed by the American Nurses Association (ANA), serve as the bedrock upon which nursing practice is built. All of these moral considerations and the ANA code of ethics have had a profound effect on my professional nursing (Crawford et al., 2019). They are the basis of everything I do to coordinate care for people with diabetes, from allocating community resources to implementing technological solutions. As a result of these guidelines, I have been able to stay out of sticky situations in the clinic where I work. 

Conclusion 

Today’s medical professionals have a plethora of diagnostic, therapeutic, and monitoring options at their disposal because of technological advancements. This study analyzed telehealth on previously published articles and other materials for its methods, which detailed how diabetes patients might benefit from using technology, coordinating their care, and tapping into local resources. Relevance relates to how much the information gathered from the sources aids in making sense of the results of the current inquiry. It is appropriate to regard the sources as reliable because they were created by knowledgeable people in the fields being researched. Importantly for the study’s aims, the data gathered from the research sources were both trustworthy and accurate. In addition, this study concludes that care coordination is necessary for people with diabetes because the disease can endure for a very long time and its treatment can be very expensive, complicated, and frustrating if left unmanaged. An atmosphere that values high-quality care and care that is centered on the individual patient is essential for successful diabetes treatment, a methodical approach, as are thorough planning, and the direct engagement of a multidisciplinary team of dedicated medical experts. People with diabetes, those with a family history of diabetes, and those at risk for developing type 2 diabetes can benefit greatly from the guidance of community groups, such as community health professionals, community-based organizations, faith-based organizations, and others, that promote healthy lifestyle choices. Barriers to effective care coordination can be anything from a lack of basic functionality to a failure to recognize community resources to patient resistance, physician reluctance, or a failure to focus on self-care behaviors.

References

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