Discuss the way communication technologies can enhance coordination of care by interprofessional teams

NUR 514 Topic 8 DQ 1 Discuss the way communication technologies can enhance coordination of care by interprofessional teams

Open and clear communication is critical for the effective functioning of the interprofessional team and the delivery of safe patient care. Discuss the way communication technologies can enhance coordination of care by interprofessional teams. Be sure to discuss a specific communication technology in your response.

Re: Topic 8 DQ 1

Everyday nursing requires communication, whether it is with the patient or members of the healthcare team. Effective communication between interprofessional teams, including patients, families and caregivers is important to coordinate care for optimal, quality, and safe health outcomes for patients. The Joint Commision emphasizes “effective communication occurs when needed, is clear, accurate, complete, and is understood by the receiver; the Joint Commission has found that ineffective communication is one of the top three root causes of reported sentinel events;” (Zysk, 2017, para. 4). According to VanDusen (2017), the Joint Commission has made communication between healthcare workers a patient safety goal in an effort to reduce medical errors” (para. 3).

Nurses should be able to coordinate care, expedite patient transitions of care, and mobilize hospital resources without having to constantly be looking for team members to make this happen. Communication technologies such as smartphones, iPads, EHRs, computers on wheels (COWS) and Vocera devices can help facilitate coordination of care between the nurse and the interprofessional team members, cultivating a sense of connection, collaboration, and teamwork.

Smartphones and Vocera badge allow for two-way communication. This allows for instant support, feed-back and team-building. Having a two-way communication allows the clinician to contact a team member while staying with the patient, instead of having to physically find the team member. According to a study, a nurse can save 2.5 hours in a 12-hour shift by using smartphones. This can help reduce physical fatigue and burnout. Considerations must be given to patient confidentiality and privacy when using these devices (Zysk, 2018).

These communication platforms allow the nurse to reach out to the MD who has not entered notes in the EHR, call the blood bank to find out if blood a type and screen is needed for a patient, or contact the pharmacy department to see if a medication is ready for pick up.

Communication technologies used along with interprofessional collaboration can help improve patient care and outcomes, reduce medical errors, start treatment faster, reduce inefficiencies and healthcare costs, and improve staff relationships and job satisfaction (Tigerconnect, 2021).

References

Tigerconnect. (2021). 5 benefits of interprofessional collaboration in healthcare. https://tigerconnect.com/blog/5-benefits-of-interprofessional-collaboration-in-healthcare/

Zysk, T. (2017, June 22). Hospital communication and coordination challenges and solutions. Live Process. https://www.liveprocess.com/blog-agile-healthcare-communication-coordination-challenge-nurse-tools

Zysk, T. (2018, September 18). Nursing communication tools: 5 benefits of smartphones in hospitals. https://www.liveprocess.com/blog-nursing-communication-tools-five-benefits-smartphones/

RESPOND HERE (150 WORDS, 2 REFERENCES)

Hello,

I agree with you that effective communication among interdisciplinary teams is key to promoting efficient effective care that is devoid of clinical errors and avoids duplication of roles. A two-way communication allows sharing of feedback and taking action on the feedback hence promote multidisciplinary teams approach in care. Multidisciplinary teams’ approach and collaboration have been

NUR 514 Topic 8 DQ 1 Discuss the way communication technologies can enhance coordination of care by interprofessional teams
NUR 514 Topic 8 DQ 1 Discuss the way communication technologies can enhance coordination of care by interprofessional teams

credited with carrying out delicate medical operations that have achieved great acclaim among the medical practitioners (Taberna et al., 2020). How do can effective and timely communication among members of theses teams be enhanced? This key question has been simplified by the advancement in information and communication technology. I strongly believe the use of smart phones has made this easier, I agree with you that smart phones have saved time and energy such that the members do not need to look out for each other physically. The members of these team can create a WhatsApp group, were there is centralized communication. This will make it faster to discuss and agree on key medical and clinical decisions swiftly and get into action as a well-coordinated team (Woods et al., 2019).

References

Taberna, M., Gil Moncayo, F., Jané-Salas, E., Antonio, M., Arribas, L., Vilajosana, E., Peralvez Torres, E., & Mesía, R. (2020). The Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) Approach and Quality of Care. Frontiers in Oncology, 10(85). https://doi.org/10.3389/fonc.2020.00085

Woods, J., Moorhouse, M., & Knight, L. (2019). A descriptive analysis of the role of a WhatsApp clinical discussion group as a forum for continuing medical education in the management of complicated HIV and TB clinical cases in a group of doctors in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. Southern African Journal of HIV Medicine, 20(1). https://doi.org/10.4102/sajhivmed.v20i1.982

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Re: Topic 8 DQ 1

Communication between interprofessional teams is imperative to successfully care for patients as well as the smooth functioning of our healthcare systems. Through the use of informatics and communication devices, healthcare technologies have been shown to improve patient safety. Through the use of electronic health records (EHRs) as well as computerized provider order entry (CPOEs)., errors have been reduced. Physicians and all members of the team are able to read and further document and communicate with all members. Although some technological platforms do not allow for conversation like communication, their documentation is a way of communicating with one another.

The National Patient Safety Foundation created a list of the top patient safety issues such as wrong site surgery, falls, and diagnostic errors in 2016 (McGonigle & Garver-Mastrian, 2018). “Some technologies that promote patient safety include wireless monitoring, clinician alerts, point of care applications, apps and radiofrequency identification applications” (McGonigle & Garver-Mastrian, 2018, p. 304). The use of these technological advancements may have been routine to us nurses and providers now, but they have not always been around.

Although technology has been shown to reduce the amount, of medical errors, the success ultimately is in the hands of the user. For example , providers may all have the tools to successfully communicate with one another, but if they are not used appropriately, patient safety is not always the best. According to the Joint Commission, “the overall safety and effectiveness of technology in healthcare ultimately depends of its human users, and any form of technology can be a negative impact on the quality and safety of care” (McGonigle & Garver-Mastrian, 2018, p. 303).

Recently, the hospital in which I am working started using an application called Microsoft Teams. Essentially, it is an app on your phone or desktop computer that allows all members to engage in team meetings, video chats, instant messaging, so much more. Depending on ones’ job title or expertise of work, members may be added into different groups for a more specialized communication. The beauty of this product is it allows members of the team to communicate from remote locations times of during these challenging COVID-19. I am also able to message and directly contact providers about clinical practice questions in regards to patients I am caring for. We are being told this application is secure and monitored by corporate security, but of course, applications are only as secure as their users.