Patient education is still at the center of modern healthcare, as seen by its prevalence in a variety of disease treatment fields. Providing the best education and knowledge is likely to provide people the most control over their health and disease treatment. Because of the newest kinds of learning that have been found, the evolution of patient education has grown tremendously over the last 40 years. Nursing is one of the areas that has been impacted by this shift, and it is still looking for better ways to improve patient care. Because of the result that emanates from the research performed by the use of these technologies, nurses have come up with the best methods of channeling information to the patients as well as their kin.
The pattern of empirical knowledge is a base that is founded on the objective experience and evidence based research and has been recognized quite predominant in the nursing profession. Educating patients remains to be an essential part of healthcare industry because the educated and knowledgeable patients can participate in their treatment, identify any error that might emerge, reduce the length of stay, and increase the level of patient satisfaction. The purpose of educating patients is likely to increase participation and comprehension in the quality of life and the self-management of the healthcare (Stoop, van’t Riet & Berg, 2004). Because of the increasing cases of the chronic diseases in the world today, the education of patients through the interactive technology has become an essential instrument of the quality of care and safety of patients.
Innovation
The patient’s education has significantly transformed in the last forty years; over that period the greatest change is the shift from the healthcare professional making critical decisions that pertain the health of patients, to a practice where patients have been empowered, and the decisions are made after a discussion. The traditional education of patients relied on the written material pertaining disease processes, self-care instructions, medical management and the generic medication. The introduction of technology has revolutionized how patients are educated; it has also eliminated the traditional methods leaving the patients more informed. In the present, environment patients do benefit from the available forms of education that include utilizing the electronic devices for more information, watching videos and television (HICT, 2012). The interactive technology that emphasizes on providing entertainment and education resources is based on the premise that if patients are entirely involved positive results are achieved. The interactive technology utilized at present is designed by the interactive services for instance medication teaching or pain management that are intended to meet a particular patient’s needs.
The embracing of tablets and IPad as a communicating tool offers a basis for the implemented healthcare education many healthcare organization. These apps facilitate the demonstration of facts in a manner that is customized for the particular patient a fact that could significantly improve patients care as well as their experience as they stay in the hospitals. Because of the present technology, nurses have the potential of performing rounds and later on show patient their diagnosis including the images on the computer system or the tablet. The patients have the potential the chance of seeing images together with information and these are crucial because it will enable them to visualize on what is likely to happen with the illness. For instance, when the doctor has diagnosed a particular disease that a patient has and the nurse is assessing the patient concerning the conditions, pictures and information about the illness can be presented to the patient on a tablet. After some time the nurse can ask the patient what they exactly learned from the displayed information.
The uses of computer and tablets have made the patient's education simpler, mobile and accessible because of the power of diagrams, animations, and videos that enable them to understand the illness better than just little explanation. Tablets can be utilized by the patients to view images before and after the cosmetic procedures. The picture can be quite significant in helping the patient to envision what was exactly it would look like after the procedure is successful and also see other patients who have recovered after undergoing the surgeries. These hand held devices directly promote a faster, safer, and better care by allowing the healthcare professionals to educate patients and themselves. The use of the IPad has also had an impact on improving the conversation between clinicians and patients through easy access to illustrations and videos. The primary purpose of utilizing IPad is simply to provide patients with snapshots of the clinical care information that makes the hospital stay more entertaining and less stressful. Other areas where the IPad is used besides just education for instance education of clinicians to heal, to impart history, too, and to make money.
The Future
The current trends that have had an impact on healthcare include globalization and personalization. Besides centralized computers for patients education and personal tablets network for patients, patients portal are increasingly becoming critical components in hospitals all over the world (Stoop, van’t Riet & Berg, 2004). In the past patient's portals were utilized by patients for messaging between clinicians and patients, viewing medical results and for scheduling, new features such as video chats and medical records that are combined into one section (HICT, 2012). Although technology remains to be an important component of in patient’s education, proper timing and use are as important as the information that outlined. Patients at times are not always in their best mental condition when they are lying on the hospital bed, and it is thus important to offer this education at either discharge or admission. The information can be made available on the patient’s portal giving them a chance to gain insight on the anticipated treatment as well as prepare for the treatment. The patient portals should be available and accessible to the patients at any time that the patient wishes to do so through the computer or an IPad.
Conclusion
The adoption of the patient education technology has significantly brought positive change by improving the nursing quality. When a patient is knowledgeable, it implies that they are in a position to take good care of individual health thereby living a positive life. Using technology to engage the patients in the health decision journey will go to the length of empowering the patient as well as creating a partnership between the healthcare practitioner and the patient. It is however important that ethical obligations have to be utilized through the patient education and the nursing care. Corporation between families and team members is essential for the best education and treatment.
References
Call for papers – Health Information and Communication Technology (HICT). (2012). Patient education and counseling, 86(2), 277. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/s0738-3991(12)00025-0
Stoop, A. P., van’t Riet, A., & Berg, M. (2004). Using information technology for patient education: realizing surplus value? Patient education and counseling, 54(2), 187-195. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/s0738-3991(03)00211-8
