Technology, Care Coordination, and Community Resources Considerations

Part 1

Health care technology has evolved rapidly in recent years, and this has had a profound impact on the care of patients with diabetes. Coordination of care has become increasingly important as different specialists are now able to share information and work together more effectively. Diabetes is a chronic condition that requires ongoing medical attention. In order to effectively manage the disease, it is essential to have coordinated care between multiple providers. A coordinated care team can help to ensure that patients receive the necessary screenings, medications, and lifestyle support. In addition, coordinated care can help to identify potential complications early, preventing serious health problems down the road. For these reasons, the role of coordination of care is essential in the treatment of diabetes. By working together, healthcare providers can help patients to manage their diabetes and live long, healthy lives.

In addition, community resources such as support groups and educational materials have become more widely available and can play a vital role in helping patients to manage their diabetes. While medication and regular doctor visits are important for managing diabetes, community resources can also play a vital role in treatment. Support groups provide an opportunity for people with diabetes to share information and give and receive support from others who understand what they are going through. Educational materials can help people with diabetes learn about how to best manage their condition and understand their medications. When people with diabetes have access to these resources, they are more likely to stay compliant with their treatment plan and experience better health outcomes. All of these factors can help to improve the quality of care for patients with diabetes and lead to better health outcomes.

Part 2

For my second 2 hours of my practicum I again met with my patient and his son. I learned from them about how it had been going since meeting with the dietician, who helped the patient plan a diet that meets his needs. I learned also what the patient had been reviewing on the Internet about his condition, about support groups in the area, and about what he could do to self-manage his care. I answered questions that the patient and his son had about these issues. We looked at websites that discussed support groups for people with diabetes, and we looked at how web forums can be used so that the patient does not even have to leave his home to get support, share stories, and engage with others who are like him. We also again looked at the CDC (2022) website and the articles by the American Diabetes Association (2018), Carpenter and Smith (2018), Forouhi and Wareham (2019), as well as one by Reaven et al. (2019) that I had mentioned in my last visit and that the patient had looked up and read.

The plan to address the problem has not changed based on my experiences in this second session. However, it has shown me how important technology can be for a patient engaged in self-care. The role of technology and support group forums in helping a person self-manage diabetes has been increasingly recognized in recent years....…own practice. The only barrier I see is trying to gain support from an online group if the members are not very active. That could be a problem, but with some luck and effort, the patient may find the right forum that meets his support needs.

State board nursing practice standards with regard to technology are not sufficiently defined at this time. However, Kentucky does recommend a program for controlling and preventing diabetes that will be and has been helpful thus far. In Pikeville, Kentucky, where this practicum is taking place, standards have begun to embrace telemedicine, which will open up more doors for the patient in terms of organizing coordinated care.

In terms of ethics, as a nurse, I am guided by a set of ethical principles that relate to the provision of care. These principles include beneficence, which calls for me to do what is in the best interests of the patient; autonomy, which respect the rights of patients to make their own decisions about their care; and justice, which requires that I distribute scarce resources in a fair and equitable manner. When addressing the problem of diabetes, these principles will inform my approach in a number of ways (Carpenter & Smith, 2018). First, I will use technology to help patients manage their condition and improve their outcomes. Second, I will coordinate care with other health care providers to ensure that patients receive the services they need. Finally, I will work with community resources to promote public health and prevent the development of diabetes. By adhering to these principles, I will be able to provide…