Module One Blog

1. Introduce yourself to the group. Include your graduate area:

I am currently in my third semester of the FNP program. My program thus far has incorporated science, diagnostics, statistics, and evaluation of evidenced based practice. Additionally, the FNP program has focused on exploring aspects of the healthcare system that will impact providers and patients in the near future. Considerations for underserved groups, special populations, and how to deal with those situations have been made during the delivery of our education. As the healthcare system in the United States evolves and grows, primary care providers will rely heavily on information technology to communicate patient and practice information. I have an interest in moving to a rural area following graduation. It will be of the utmost importance that I have the ability and knowledge to communicate with colleagues and patients despite the mileage. I will also rely on computer based patient information systems for lab results and history. I feel that this class is a good addition and supplement to the curriculum and will serve us well in the future.

2. Why do you as a graduate level nurse need to know about information management?

As a working nurse I see the importance of information management in the areas of the hospital that I have worked. After reviewing the information from our first module, I have also come to realize the wide-spread ways in which a primary care provider might rely on information management. Facilitation of instantaneous and dependable information storage and retrieval is essential to ensuring a continuum of care that will improve patient outcomes. Currently, I work in a healthcare system that is linked to a number of different hospitals across the Wasatch front. Frequently providers are able to pull records of patients during emergency situations that would be unavailable without database systems. Furthermore, I have in the past worked in emergency departments in which paper charting was still being used. That seemed to be labor intensive and prone to many problems, ie; losing the chart, illegible writing, and errors. The computer charting system that I currently use is windows based and makes my charting much easier and fast. I feel as though it is essential for me to continue to learn and utilize the resources that I have for information management. As a graduate student it will make my studies easier if I can navigate these systems with at least a basic understanding.

3. Describe what is happening related to IT in your clinical area.

The most impressive and interesting advancement that I have noticed in the Emergency Department is the use of data driven protocol. We have computer charting systems that drive our processes in the ER depending upon diagnostic criteria that providers and nurses input. For example, our hospital is a stroke center, and we use the NIHS stroke score for interventions. The computer charting system that we use forces the providers and nurses to input patient information and then recommends or suggests interventions based upon national criteria. This has lead to improved patient outcomes which are evident and traceable by statistical information that we are able to obtain and compute from additional information technology. I envision a continuing trend in process driven emergency care. I have seen a huge advantage with the utilization of information technology. It seems to take out the human component of error, while maintaining the invaluable provider discretion.