Response to Leadership Prof.
As a leader in your industry, how do you integrate new technologies (lab testing, online patient access to medical records, etc.) with the face-to-face connection between patient and provider? Do you think there are some activities in health-care that should be completed by human beings? If so, how can those experiences be deepened or strengthened through technology?
— Leadership Prof
From what I understand, and reference to my blog,
Collaborative care model approach through an interactive system that connects the patient to their doctors, pharmacist, dietitians, exercise professional, lab results, etc. However, one of the idea that I was thinking about considering, if the patient needs to have medication, doctors can place the order for the patient through an integrated system that connects to nearest pharmacy or any available pharmacy or any reference to the patient. I believe this type of integrated system will help to reduce therapeutic turn around time through waiting or finding another pharmacy; which in regard, provides patient with manageable turnaround time.
Another application of the integrated system is a mobile phlebotomist, to enable patients to have their blood work done when they are at home without the need to go to the nearest lab or clinic. They can place their order through the system and someone will attend the order. I think this will facilitate healthcare service and empower the patient care system. In addition to, the POCT devices that are available in doctors ‘offices or pharmacies, helps diabetic patients and enable them to manage their treatments and health based on the results.
I believe any integration in the healthcare system will assist in effective patient management integration as a whole. Considering professional experience and patient experience with the feedback provided by patient or both on the service will help the clinician in their decision-making and have benchmark quality of service. Therefore, considering identifying the care gap, risks, engage patients, manage care, measure the outcome in a defined population, and data integration; hence, communicating them in two ways will have an insight of sustained multi functional-integrated system. Learning and having insight from the best practice will participate in the integration.
Other applications that provide patient care are;
- The patient portal, which available for patient 24/7 anywhere through the internet connection; however, in British Colombia my ehealth is an alternative approach which provides secure access to any confidential information related to patient’s results.
- Considering other forms of communication that we have here in BC like HealthLink BC which connected to nurses, dietitians, exercise professionals, Pharmacist.
- Implementation of the TELUS Health Wolf EMR (Continuum, 2013), in which they provide secure access to vital information to their patients. The continuity of care that enhances and empowers patients in managing their health. Integrated primary care team, which assist in accelerating the speed of transferring the information and patient management quality when met the needs of the patient.