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Connected Health: A Review Of Technologies And Strategies To Improve Patient Care With Telemedicine And Telehealth

- Joseph Kvedar1,
- Molly Joel Coye2 and
- Wendy Everett3,*
+ Author Affiliations
- 1Joseph Kvedar is director of the Center for Connected Health at Partners HealthCare System, in Boston, Massachusetts.
- 2Molly Joel Coye is chief innovation officer at University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Health, UCLA Medical Center, in Los Angeles.
- 3Wendy Everett () is president of NEHI ( Continue reading...

Passive Mercy Killing

According to medical practice, mercy killing is described as the act of allowing an individual to die or putting him to death painlessly through withholding medical procedures from the individual if he is diagnosed of an incurable painful condition (Khan, & Tadros, 2013). Owing to this definition, disconnecting the respirator and the events surrounding the death of Harryelt Gessner was a mercy killing. Marry Rose Robacynski explained in court that she was only trying to act in the best interest of the patient who was helpless after she could not feel any pulse or blood pressure. Additionally, I believe that Continue reading...

One of the main reasons a doctor is often blamed for is medical malpractice. Medical malpractice can be defined as any act or omission on behalf of a physician while treating a patient that has led to the injury of the patient. Medical malpractice is usually deviant from the norms of practice that are widely accepted by the medical community. Once a patient can establish that medical negligence had led to injury, the court calculates the compensation that the doctor should pay, based on the economic and noneconomic losses of the patient. Economic losses include the income the patient Continue reading...

Any hospital security engineer must observe the HIPAA privacy rule, which monitors the access and sharing of individual health information, as well as the HIPAA security rule, which comprises of the national security standards that safeguards the electronic health information. Since the hospital stores patient information using the paper based system, the manager will ensure that the implementation of electronic based health information systems is achieved within the shortest time possible (Keller & Associates, 2011). The paper records are always not secure and they contain massive irregularities and drawbacks towards the process of patient care and treatment. The paper based Continue reading...

An electronic health record (EHR) refers to a digital version of patients’ medical records. They give real-time, records that are based on an individual patient, which are made availed securely and instantly to medical practitioners with authorization. It presents different tools that can be used by health care providers to make decisions about a patient’s health (Harvey, 2011).
EHR has several advantages and disadvantages; the advantages include enhancing patient data security and privacy. It also provides up-to-date, accurate and meaningful information on a patient at the point of care. Lastly, it facilitates efficient and coordinated care. For example, Continue reading...

Introduction

Health Care Management affects more than a billion people every day all around the world. Therefore, it is very important to understand how the health units function. The evaluation of the health units is based on mainly three factors-Efficiency, Effectiveness and Equity. A look at the efficiency of Hospital operations will bring to the front the factors that cause a Hospital to fail in providing proper care to its patients. Once the Hospital analyses where it is going wrong, it can adopt some best practices to improve upon its services.

Causal Factors for Health Care Management

Health Care Management is a highly competitive field, and Continue reading...

Letter to editor

Letter to the Editor and copy to Legislative Representative
Health Care delivery measures require the imparting of high quality medical and paramedical care in primary, secondary and territory care. With the rapid advancement in the fields of medicine, surgery post-operative convalescence and long term geriatric or tertiary cure there have emerged more areas for making mistakes.
With this emergence of new techniques and methodologies of health care delivery there have become possible several levels of care. Along with the provision of such care came the greater responsibility of ensuring the best possible quality of care.
There are currently some Continue reading...

Salt intake control is a major issue globally. This needs to be addressed because of the associated consequences especially the high blood pressure. The main view of the paper is the review of the contrasting model of control which is the medical model and public health model of control. High salt intake comes from various sources. One of the main sources noted to be relevant in America is that of the intake from processed and restaurants foods.
The medical model is based on stating the amount of salt the patient needs based on the health condition of such patient. Continue reading...

Resource allocation remains a challenge to nurses in their care delivery. Nurses need to allocate resource in consistency with the ethical and moral requirements. They should ensure quality delivery of care taking respect for the individual patients. The allocation of resources in most cases presents the nurses with ethical dilemmas (Nursingworld.org, 2014). The dilemmas lead to conflict between moral obligations of the profession and moral obligations of their practice. Competent nurses need to have the skills in the allocation of resources because this ensures the success of healthcare delivery.
Ethical principles exist in nursing to help the nurses make Continue reading...

Introduction

Acute myocardial infarction is a complication of the heart that in which patients complain of heaviness or discomfort of the chest area. This complication is mainly as a result of a decrease in blood flow into the lungs or increase in perfusion. Diagnosis of this complication is done with great detail of the family history as well as physical examination to ascertain the levels of complication (Kapfhammer et al., 2004). In most cases, the treatment involves combating the possibility of re-infarction with much focus being given on the need to reduce any further damage of the cardiac tissue.
Treatment Continue reading...

Clinical Diagnosis and Rationale for the Diagnosis

Randle McMurphy is the protagonist in the movie “One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest”. Although he does not overtly show any mental disorder, he seems to be suffering from narcissistic personality disorder (Zaentz & Forma, 1975). Randle McMurphy suffers from Narcissistic Personality Disorders (in Axis 1), which, as he manifests, is proven by several symptoms. The patient employs humiliation and shame to win over others, exploits the situation to gratify himself and becomes jealous easily. He is also confident, arrogant and contemptuous, living in unrealistic fantasies, beauty, power, intelligence and romance, and appearing less emotional (American Psychiatric Association, 2014).
In Continue reading...

Trained medical professionals attend to patients of diverse ethno-cultural backgrounds, different age groups, different sexes, as well as patients with different educational backgrounds something that that makes communication between them more multifarious and difficult. Professionals in this field are required by law that they increase their communication competencies in culturally diverse healthcare contexts, where the cultural diversity of patients and staff challenges the professionals in the field. It is believed that the intercultural lens is appropriate for understanding the issue of intercultural communication, which usually involves miscommunication in hospital settings (Coiera and Tombs, 1996). The refresher course the medical Continue reading...

The relationship between the Physician or doctor and the patient is unique and at the same time very important. If the patient corporate with the Physician, it becomes easy for the Physician to treat the disease well. Stress free environment is necessary for both. When even a medical student starts his new job at any hospital, the primary training which a doctor obtains, is the respect and thoughtful treatment of the patient. They are taught to behave well and to treat the patients in a very pleasant environment. But if the patient does not corporate with the Physician or Continue reading...

English 1110

Life-saving and postponing a patient’s death is a doctor’s main obligation and, undoubtedly, in most cases, the decisions that doctors make definitely make a difference to the outcome of a patient’s condition. Upon graduation, each doctor takes the Hippocratic Oath, which states that a doctor’s role is to practice medicine with honesty, give no deadly medicine, and use their best ability and judgment, when treating a patient, among others. However, there are times when a doctor is unable to help save a patient’s life resulting in the death of the patient. Doctors should not Continue reading...

The importance of Health Information Technology (HIT) to the healthcare sector cannot be overemphasized. The availability of information as well as the ability to exchange this information is very crucial to the efficient delivery of care across all levels of the health care system. These levels involve different stakeholders that include the care team, patients, and health care organizations among others, which in totality comprise a political, economic system. The diagnosis and effective treatment of patients depend on the capacity of care providers, whether individual medical practitioners or large healthcare organizations to access three main types of medical related Continue reading...

Stevie, a forty-three year old married accountant, frequently complains of sweaty palms, dizziness, breath shortness and stomachaches. This has been going on for a period of over two years with few moments of prolonged relief. He also complains of mouth dryness, occasions of extreme muscular tension in addition to a persistent nervousness that he claims interferes with his ability to concentrate on his occupational responsibilities time and again.
Though such symptoms habitually event in frustration, Stevie denies feeling depressed in any way and continues to enjoy his various hobbies as well as family activities. Due to these symptoms, Stevie Continue reading...

The guidelines provided in Chapter 4: (Acute medical & surgical management) of the National Stroke Foundation's Clinical Guidelines (2010) are useful to clinicians. However, it is crucial to note that there are few points in the guidelines that make it not entirely useful to clinicians using it. One of the issues with the guidelines is that it focuses on the patients who have visited a health facility or are frequent visitors to a health facility (Chapter 4).
Screening helps identify early signs of stroke that is critical in its prevention and management. However, the guidelines will not be useful if Continue reading...

A 36-year-old woman is married and has two adopted children. She is diagnosed with polycystic kidney disease (PKD), and she will soon have to go on dialysis or consent to a renal transplant.
1. What additional data should the nurse collect to help the patient make the best decision for herself?
The nurse would need to collect previous health records of the patient. Gathering information on the cause of kidney failure and the medications used would help the nurse analyze the health issue in a precise manner. Gathering information on the patient’s psychological health and family would help Continue reading...

Jean Watson’s Theory of Caring

The caring theory can be described as a philosophical and moral basis for professional nursing and the disciplinary level which is the central focus. This theory offers a framework that will embrace art, science, humanities and nursing which is growing as a central to human phenomenon of nursing practice. Watson (1997) notes that in the current evolving phase and the ideas that were originally developed offer others a chance to evaluate and review how one may find self within the framework or the developing ideas relating to their own theories of caring practice.
Describing the role of nurses involves Continue reading...

Sources of nursing researches are the backbones of the most of research problems that press or stimulate nursing students and researchers to begin their researches. They may be non-documentary such as personal experiences, tertiary such as quotes from others books, secondary such as nursing literatures and primary such as nursing home studies. In this regard, when a nursing researcher wants to identify a problem on which he can research, he may find it from these kinds of literatures: On line journals such as Essential Nursing Resources, nursing association websites such as American Nursing Association and Nursing Times. Net, online Continue reading...

Discussion

Gastric Banding Device Vs Normal function of the Stomach
A gastric band device is also known as the lap band device. It is being operated on the top portion of the stomach. Gastric band can easily be mounting in the patient’s stomach by surgery known as bariatric surgery. It is used to check the patient’s body mass index. The body mass index of the patients is 35 to 40. It will improve the weight loss, diabetics, hypertension, etc. There are two types of gastric band device; they are lap band device system. This device comes with different Continue reading...

Institutiona Affiliation

Healthcare dilemma:
Among the challenges experienced in healthcare service is the provision of the health services under the limited the funds. There have been many strenuous efforts to remedy the problems, but the business problem has always been a major problem. Financial problems have led to many dilemmas to the service providers the hospital, the service production and also the service delivery to the patients. On the other hand, the issues of inflation, whether it is not even higher, it is a tremendous challenge to the health providers. (Katherine 2005, p. 35) There has been this dilemma in the Continue reading...

- What Is Endometriosis?
Abnormal growths of tissue that resemble the endometrium histologically, but present in locations other then the uterine lining are observed in the disease endometriosis. It occurs commonly in women who are at their reproductive ages (American Medical Network, 2011).
- Causes for Endometriosis
Retrograde menstruation has been attributed to be the leading cause for endometrioses. Proposed in 1920, it postulates that during menstruation, there are viable endometrial portions shed. These fragments pass through the uterine tubes and develop into endometrial lesions once deposited on the peritoneal surfaces in the pelvic cavity.
Another theory postulates that Continue reading...

Introduction

The House of God is a hilarious novel with information on everything doctors do not want patients to know. The author based the story on his experience at the Beth Israel Hospital. The novel caused a scandal when it first appeared. The work glamorized traits of dehumanizing and unprofessional attitudes towards ailing patients, which are a set of very unethical issues. Such include a sadistic and dark humor such as how to “turf” patients to other specialties. Another idea is that GOMERs go round.
The text promotes a detachment from the patient, which causes them to act in ways Continue reading...

Introduction

Some patients, especially those facing life-threatening illnesses, choose to avoid certain procedures or treatment or medication and may leave the hospital or clinic before they are treated. Regardless of this, it is the role of discharge staff to make sure that these patients are well-informed and that they are willing to pick a particular course of action by their own free will. Informed consent is based on the common law, which has the basic idea that all adult human beings have a right to determine what shall be done to their own bodies. Patient consent is the permission, which Continue reading...

Health care costs are very expensive in America. In 2010, the national health care spending was 17.9% of the nation’s GDP, a very high figure compared to other developed countries in the world such as Canada and the United Kingdom (Koch 2013). In comparison, these countries are even providing universal health coverage to its citizens. Over the years, the US have adopted several mechanisms for paying for health care in America. Medicare was established in 1965 through an act of Congress. This is a health-insurance provided to persons who are at least 65 years old and eligible for Continue reading...

Question 1

Alzheimer is a disease that mainly affects the elderly. Individuals who suffer from this ailment usually experience irreversible and progressive brain function impairment. This leads to reduced intellectual ability.
Several signs and symptoms may occur in an individual, and these may lead to a probable diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease. The most common of these include changes in behavior, mood and memory loss. Apart from there are several other occurrences that may lead to a probable diagnosis. Most of the are cognitive disturbances and include things such as failure to identify and recognize common objects, disturbances in planning, sequencing, Continue reading...

While euthanasia has been widely practice even in the ancient times, opposition against mercy killing still continues until today. Saint Thomas Aquinas is one of the most vocal figures during the earliest times who believed in the sanctity of life. In fact, the saint argued that euthanasia violates the natural laws of life--survival. The ethical and moral beliefs of those countries and states in the US that openly practice euthanasia at present is founded on the basic tenet that suffering among living things whether humans or animals should not be tolerated.
However, before discussing whether euthanasia is morally good Continue reading...

Introduction

The concept analysis of any nursing concept involves the description of the concept in relation to its anatomy. This process should comprise of a definition of the concept being analyzed, characteristics that differentiate it from other concepts, boundaries providing delineation for the concept, preconditions identifying the similar conditions that give rise to the behaviors distinguishing the concept and the outcomes that result from the concept. One of the nursing theories that this paper shall cover is the caring concept. The caring concept is developed from the caring theory by Parker and Smith (2010).

Jean Watson’s Theory of Caring

The concept of nursing cannot be Continue reading...

Introduction

Decubitus ulcer also referred to as bedsore or pressure sore is an open wound on the skin (Thomas, 2006). Thomas (2006) indicates that the decubitus ulcer mostly occurs on the skin that covers the born areas. Notably, the most common areas for bedsore to appear are; hips, ankles, back and buttocks. Decubitus ulcer are common among the disabled, elderly and those people who spend long periods of time on wheelchairs or bed, and those who are not able to move certain parts of their body without assistance (Thomas, 2006). In keeping with Albert and Spencer (2007), decubitus ulcers/ bedsores Continue reading...

The primary role of physicians in hospitals is to help save lives to the best of their abilities. Life support systems introduce ethical concerns and legal issues in the medical practice. Life support systems are usually regarded as a form of treatment that may assist the patient to recover and then the patient can be nursed into normal health when the life support system is removed. Currently, medical lawsuits against hospitals and physicians have made hospitals be more careful when dealing with issues of life support systems. According to Humphrey (2004, p46), physicians have opted to use other non-controversial Continue reading...

Importance of Health Informatics

Technology has changed how every industry conducts its activities and operations. Information system in hospitals has helped towards better delivery of health care. Research shows that hospitals that have adopted the use of information system perform better. It helps in preventing medical errors ensuring patient safety. The patient records are safe with adoption of information system and it allows easy access by various physicians who come out with a better solution after careful analysis.
Before adopting the information, system to the hospital the health care committee needs to consider a number of factors and characteristics of the information system Continue reading...

Medication processes entail the cooperation of healthcare professionals such as a physician, pharmacists and nurses that play major roles in medication processes. The procedure usually starts from the physician's prescription, towards pharmacist’s administration and then the nurses' contribution towards monitoring and administration to the patients. We need to understand that along these medication processes is where medication errors tend to occur. This is a major concern for both the patients and healthcare professional.
According to the definition of the American National Coordinating Council for Medication Error Reporting and Prevention (NCC MERP), the medication error can be defined as " Continue reading...

The aim of this essay is to plan and suggest an intervention plan for Henry. Henry underwent a temporary loop ileostomy approximately six months ago. The aim of this essay is to discuss the various aspects of peristomal skin care. The evidence for and against various products described for peristomal skin care will be reviewed and discussed. The intervention plan has to focus on reeducating the ostomate about good self-care practice for the peristomal skin.
The peristomal skin is the skin that surrounds the stoma and the skin to which the stoma appliance adheres to. Patients who undergo ileostomy Continue reading...

Pain Management in Pregnancy

Part I
Introduction: Pain and pregnancy
Pain is an occurrence that almost always occurs at one time or the other during the antepartum, intrapartum or postpartum period during the obstetric sojourn of the woman. Different factors result in the development of pain which is most severe during the intrapartum period. It is important for the woman to be offered modalities of abolishing or reducing the pain to the barest minimum in order to reduce the psychological and emotional trauma that excessive pain might cause the birthing mother.
Moreover, it is important to give the laboring patient sufficient and exhaustive Continue reading...

A medical professional with post graduate qualifications with a major in diagnosing, treating and preventing diseases related to skin, and skin cancer is known as a dermatologist. These professionals are skilled to understand the structure and functions of the skin and the connections that are concerned with skin pathologies and failures of other body parts. People perceive dermatologists to be specialists in treating medical issues; however, dermatologists also deal with beautifying skin problems, for example, wrinkles, scars, and early ageing. Several studies of Asian populations demonstrate pigmentary changes as a major component of early aging . After gaining a medical Continue reading...

Abstract

Working in a multicultural health care setting calls for a workforce that clearly understand the ethical and legal considerations that exist in relation to culture, beliefs, background, as well as knowledge. While physician and nurses have the upper hand in ensuring quality health care as well as life sustaining measures, the patient holds a very critical role in dictating the care procedures that they prefer. Bioethics studies have had differing approaches to the issue of making informed consent to health care procedures. However, there is one thing that remains untouched. The greatest responsibility is the life if the patients Continue reading...

The purpose of creating a database that can maintain records of patients in any given area is so that one can find out which vaccines have been administered to the people and which vaccines still need to be given. One needs to remember that this is a particular schedule which needs to be adhered to in relation to administration of vaccines for children, as well as adults. (Missouri Community Guide State Team Final Report, 2011)
This would be an excellent initiative which would help regularize the administration of vaccines and also help curtail the spread of controllable diseases. However Continue reading...

Introduction

One of the most controversial issues during the last few years is the right to assisted suicide. It is a burning topic that raises debates all over the world, and patients with terminal illnesses insist on been given the right to choose whether they can end their life, with the help of a physician or not. Those against point mainly to their religious beliefs and morals to reject assisted suicide. Physicians are also divided on this matter because, to them; the line between providing relief from dying and killing is extremely thin and vaguely defined. No matter how viewpoints Continue reading...

I am of the opinion that it is inappropriate to experiment with patients lives leave alone write about it. Most of the research carried however has been carried out on patients. Experimenting with patients is dangerous as the consequences could be dire and unbearable. It is not an accepted code of conduct in the medical practice.
It is widely assumed that the skin is highly contaminated and this contamination may be a major risk to the body through injections. This assumption leads to the practice of skin preparation prior to injections. The mode of skin preparation however differs amongst Continue reading...