Video Conferencing Benefits in Nursing

Technology, Care Coordination, and Community Resources Considerations

There are several ways in which health care technology, coordination of care, and community resources can be applied to address the challenges faced by individuals with quadriplegia and co-morbidities who are medically fragile. These approaches can include:

Health care technology: There are a number of health care technologies that can be used to improve the care and support received by individuals with quadriplegia and co-morbidities who are medically fragile. For example, telehealth technologies, such as telemedicine or remote monitoring, can be used to provide access to specialized care and support, even for individuals who may have difficulty accessing healthcare services in person (Lopez et al., 2021). In addition, assistive technologies, such as specialized mobility devices or communication aids, can help these individuals maintain their independence and improve their overall quality of life.

Coordination of care: Effective coordination of care can be critical for addressing the challenges faced by individuals with quadriplegia and co-morbidities who are medically fragile. This can involve working with a range of healthcare providers, including primary care physicians, specialists, and therapists, to ensure that all of the necessary care and support is being provided in a coordinated and timely manner (Hui et al., 2018). In addition, coordinating care with community resources, such as home health agencies or transportation services, can help ensure that these individuals have access to the support they need to maintain their health and well-being.

Community resources: Community resources can be an important source of support for individuals with quadriplegia and co-morbidities who are medically fragile (Siddiqui et al., 2022). These resources can include local organizations or agencies that provide assistance with transportation, housing, or other basic needs, as well as support groups or peer mentorship programs that can provide social and emotional support.

To explore these aspects of the problem during the practicum, it is helpful to spend approximately 2 direct practicum hours with the patient, family, or group I have chosen to work with, and to consult with subject matter and industry experts as needed. This can involve discussing the challenges faced by these individuals and brainstorming potential strategies or approaches that could be used to address these challenges, as well as identifying and utilizing available resources and technologies that could be helpful in improving the care and support received by these individuals.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Health Care Technology

Health care technology can have a significant impact on the challenges faced by individuals with quadriplegia and co-morbidities who are medically fragile. There are a number of advantages and disadvantages to the use of specific technologies in addressing these challenges, as outlined in the literature.

One advantage of health care technology, such as video consulting, is that it can improve access to care and support for these individuals, particularly for those who may have difficulty accessing healthcare services in person (Donaghy et al., 2019). For example, telehealth technologies, such as telemedicine or remote monitoring, can allow these individuals to receive specialized care and support from the comfort of their own homes, reducing the need for hospital visits or other in-person healthcare encounters.

Another advantage of health care technology is that it can improve the efficiency and effectiveness of care and support for these individuals. For example, the use of electronic medical records can help ensure that all of the necessary information about an individual's health is readily available to healthcare providers, which can facilitate more accurate and timely diagnoses and treatment.

However, there are also some disadvantages to the use of health care technology in addressing the challenges faced by individuals with quadriplegia and co-morbidities who are medically fragile. One disadvantage is that these technologies can be expensive and may not be readily available to all individuals, which can create barriers to access. In addition, there may be concerns about the privacy and security of electronic health information, which can limit the willingness of some individuals to use these technologies.

Community Resources, Challenges, Barriers and Costs

It is helpful to consider the potential barriers and costs associated with the use of specific technologies in addressing the challenges faced by these individuals, and to identify strategies for overcoming these barriers and minimizing costs. This may involve working with healthcare providers, payers, and policymakers to identify and implement solutions that are both effective and affordable.

Care coordination and the utilization of community resources can also be important in addressing the challenges faced by individuals with quadriplegia and co-morbidities who are medically fragile. Care coordination involves working with a range of healthcare providers, including primary care physicians, specialists, and therapists, to ensure that all of the necessary care and support is being provided in a coordinated and timely manner. This can help reduce the risk of adverse events, improve the overall quality of care received, and reduce the costs of care for these individuals.

The utilization of community resources can also be important in addressing the challenges faced by these individuals. Community resources can include local organizations or agencies that provide assistance with transportation, housing, or other basic needs, as well as support groups or peer mentorship programs that can provide social and emotional support. These resources can help ensure that these individuals have access to the support they need to maintain their health and well-being, and can help reduce the overall burden on the healthcare system.

There is evidence in the literature to support the benefits of care coordination and the utilization of community resources in addressing the challenges faced by individuals with quadriplegia and co-morbidities who are medically fragile. For example, a study by Craver et al. (2018) found that the implementation of care coordination helped quad patients understand financial assistance programs available for them.

Standards and Policies

Standards or policies can guide the actions of nurses in applying technology, care coordination, and community resources to address the challenges faced by individuals with quadriplegia and co-morbidities who are medically fragile by providing guidance on the appropriate use and implementation of these strategies.

For example, nursing practice standards or guidelines may provide recommendations on the types of technologies that can be used to improve the care and support received by these individuals, as well as the appropriate level of supervision or oversight required for the use of these technologies. Similarly, standards or policies may provide guidance on the appropriate use of care coordination and community resources, including the types of resources that can be utilized and the processes for coordinating care with these resources.

Local, state, and federal policies or legislation can also have an impact on the nursing scope of practice in the context of technology, care coordination, and community resources. For example, local policies or legislation may impact the availability and access to certain technologies or resources, while state policies or legislation may govern the nursing scope of practice and the types of technologies or resources that nurses are allowed to use. Federal policies or legislation may impact the overall funding and resources available to healthcare providers, which can impact the ability of healthcare providers to utilize technology, care coordination, and community resources in addressing the challenges faced by these individuals.