Gimme my Damn Data! #nursinginformatics

       

 This weeks topic: Consumer Health Informatics and eHealth

          Have you met e-patient Dave? Today we watched a video where Dave shared an amazing story of how his ability to access the right information about his health care allowed him to beat his odds against cancer and dance with his daughter on her wedding day. A real tear jerker at moments I might warn:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2vejkD0Rl3o

          The point that Dave is trying to make is that it's important for patients to be a part of their own care. If he had not taken his care into his own hands, he may not have been around to tell his story today, and certainly wouldn't have been able to share in an important moment in his daughter's life.

          Having worked in a doctor's office myself, I've often heard the doctor say, "We'll call you if anything comes up" or "We will only contact you in the case of abnormal results". I've also seen, many times, things get missed, or overlooked due to high patient volumes. Often times, practices are so large that patients can no longer be viewed on an individual level and instead just become a part of the system. But what implications does this have?

           I think in order to understand the importance of Dave's concept, you need to put yourself in his shoes. How many of you would have done what Dave did? And how many of you would have the knowledge to do what Dave did? I can honestly say, that prior to starting the nursing program, I likely would not have questioned a doctor's diagnosis or prognosis. Mainly because I just assumed that because they are the doctor, they would know best. But it's amazing how having access to knowledge and resources about your diagnosis/condition can allow you to make your own informed decisions about health care treatments and options, rather than sitting idly by awaiting the worst case scenario.

          Dave's talk raised some interesting ideas as well, suggesting a 'Google Earth' for our bodies to allow us to explore our own health concerns. He also pointed out that having the medical information listed on our charts similar to a 'nutritional label' would allow all health care providers to have access to the same information helping to prevent errors.  Gladwin (2012), agrees with Dave in her article, Patients welcome access to online health records, when she states, "There are many benefits to patients being able to access their records" (p.10). In addition, Gladwin (2012),  informs us that, "Those who have evaluated the service in our practice have said that they have reduced the number of visits or calls to the practice by accessing results or referrals online" (p.10). By this logic, wouldn't  we also be helping to reduce health care expenses as well as give patients a sense of self in their own care?

          I personally have not experienced a situation like Dave has but having listened to what he has to say about it, I can see how valuable it would be to have all patients participating in their care in some form or another. I believe that as we evolve more and more into a technologically advanced world as health care providers, our patients should be evolving with us.

References

 

Gladwin, Jacqui. 2012. Patients welcome access to online health records. Primary Health Care 22, (5) (06): 10