Social media and mobile technology in healthcare patient monitoring

Mobile Computing

Research shows that Social media is playing a huge part when it comes to the health care industry. One study done by DC and Interactive Group shows that beyond 90% of individuals from the ages 18-24 mentioned they would rely on health data discovered on social media channels. The study showed that one in two adults utilize their smart phone to find health information. Even patients are going to the internet to converse about the care they are getting: 50% of individuals mentioned they would share negative or positive situations of a medical facility or hospital, and 52% made the point they would not waver to post comments about a nurse, doctor, or healthcare supplier on social media (Riberio, 2013).

Monitoring Patient Vital Signs via Mobile Computing vs. In-Patient Visits

The Internet is exceptional for the reason that it provides the chance to the public and healthcare professionals to access health and medical information, improve the effectiveness and operative, timely healthcare. The increase of mobile systems and the extensive adoption of the cell phone mean that mobile applications are a rapidly and exciting increasing area for such applications. Research shows that vital signs include the temperature, breathing rate, heart beat, and blood pressure. Usually most of these signs could be monitored, measured, and watched in so as to check an individual's level of physical running (VanVactor, 2011).

Usually, clinicians and nurses would look over and be responsible for the taking and recording of the vitals physically with a mobile computer or the results were then printed on paper and the clinician left the patients room to physically write into the electronic chart utilizing computers. From time to time, this documentation would take hours later when time was permitted. All of the vitals were not that easy hard to take in some circumstances and errors were not unusual. These stats are a device utilized to communicate patient decline to healthcare providers and unfortunately it also was not rare for clinical decisions concerning a patients care to be made using vitals that are outdated.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Using Mobile Computing Technology to Monitor Patients

Research show the world of mobile technology is taking over the healthcare field. Tablets and Ipads are becoming standard inside an electronic medical records software and medical office and is surpassing the healthcare region. Applications are out there being developed for medical customer and providers. Mobile health likewise permits for doctors to apply applications for instance body sensors that are capable of communicating the standing of the patient straight to the medical office (Freeman, 2012). This will clearly turn out to be a significant share of the healthcare industry in due time, as doctors would be capable of responding and giving more precise diagnosis straight to the patient.

The use of mobile technology permits doctors to aid patients with initial symptoms before acute assaults take place. It improves the patient-doctor communication for the reason that doctors now have the ability to offer patients with information about their medication and treatment that is not usually provided in a normal in office consultation because of absence of time or the aloof approach of the patient. There is also the additional advantage in some cases for the reason that patients can save time and money by evading in office visits because they will be able to collaborate with their medical care providers by means of the internet (Riberio, 2013). Patients with non-life threatening illness experience assistances because the new customs of health watching means they no longer have to put up with hospitalizations (Freeman, 2012). Patients now have the gain of having their nursing done via a mobile system that can notice irregularities and notify them and their medics when urgent care is necessary. In some circumstances, wireless-allowed computing devices have caused meddling with medical monitoring type of equipment. Special care is required in the placement of the wireless infrastructure so as to diminish the prospective for interference (VanVactor, 2011). Another disadvantage, it can as well mean more technical importance which at times is a stress factor for patients in addition to medical staff. The contribution of data needs to be stored and secured. The substructure may perhaps not be able to provide the same values as with wired substructures. However, the issue of radiation needs to be clarified because it is still unclear and needs to be clarified.

Social Networking for Group Support for Patients with Similar Medical Concerns

Support groups play a significant role in helping persons manage with their health situations by providing members with a system of social support and information. Online social networks permit users to bond with each other by surmounting geographic and time limitations (Freeman, 2012). Patients or their caregivers frequently turn to the Internet in order to get support. An online community for instance a social networking site is considered to be a place where registered users make outlines in regards to themselves, upload photos, stay in touch with friends and make new friends with interests that are common. YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, MySpace and numerous other social networks are influential platforms for those with significant material that could be used among individuals to teach and ease those who need them. This collaboration permits members to feel less lonely, judged or isolated. It provides them a sense of empowerment, improved coping skills, and a clearer accepting of what to imagine from their circumstances.

Conclusion

In the end, it is clear that the mobile systems are able to figure out which medications unfavorably relate with one another and can then be put together to make a routine for patients to keep an eye on. By tracking metrics for example blood sugar levels on their instruments and by leveraging gaming applications in order to assist in educating themselves, the service has been looked at as a huge success. So even though there are still some advances to be made, for instance communicating facts regarding the side effects of new drugs, mobile technology is really altering the way health care professionals function.