There are so many ways technology can make our lives as healthcare workers more efficient. I would love to see hospitals incorporate something similar to text messaging/instant messaging to contact physicians. It would be more efficient for the simple questions that don’t necessarily require a phone call. For example and order for pepcid or a stool softener. The physician could place the order through the CIS. Phone conversations may still be necessary for more critical patient care situations. This would cut down on the physician having to return phone calls vs. treating patients. It would also same time for nurses who are waiting for a phone call at the nurses’ station. Sometimes the calls get missed and re-paged and then the process starts again.

One way Nursing Schools Could Integrate Healthcare Informatics

Nursing school reminds me of heavy textbooks and sore backs. It also conjures up images of time wasted looking through textbooks for information. I lost hours looking through books, reading back through notes, rewinding lecture tapes just to find one piece of information. One great way to cut down on all the above frustration would be nursing school PDA’s. Textbooks, drug dosages, class notes, calendar of assignment dues dates and clinical times all in ONE place. This would make finding that one piece of information quick and efficient by searching the PDA. This would make studying anywhere/anytime easier. There is no end to the possibilities this could have to increase the knowledge base of student nurses and the communication between students and instructors.

Tuberculosis  Webliography

Tuberculosis is a very recognizable disease although not thoroughly understood by the general public. Tuberculosis has been portrayed in the media as incurable and highly contagious. This disease is serious and should be treated quickly. Tuberculosis is transmitted through droplets in the air but it is rarely transmitted from stranger to stranger in the general public.  People with Tuberculosis are often shunned in the public even after receiving treatment due to the fear or transmission. I would like to provide links to quality information regarding the signs and symptoms and the Tuberculosis infection and treatment options. This webliography will also provide information regarding transmission and testing. Links to information regarding the Tuberculosis vaccine and disease statistics will also be provided.

These websites and databases were chosen based on their reliability. The reliability was judged by the owner of the webpage. These webpages have identifiable authors who are vouching for this information. Many of them are from physicians or scientists. Government websites are also used. The following sites were chosen based on the relevancy to Tuberculosis and how current the information is.

Mayo Clinic

Tuberculosis

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/tuberculosis/DS00372

This website teaches about the signs and symptoms of Tuberculosis including night sweats, coughing, unexplained weight loss and chills. The website also explains how TB is spread through droplets in the air. The process of diagnosis and treatment is explained. This website provides information for non-medical persons.

Tuberculist

Microbiology of Tuberculin bacteria

http://genolist.pasteur.fr/TubercuList/

This database is a microbioligist’s dream. Information on the structural genomics of the tuberculosis causing bacteria is listed along with links to tuberculin pathophysiology.  This database is a link from Harvard University’s department of cellular and molecular biology.

Medline Plus

Tuberculosis Signs and Symptoms

http://vsearch.nlm.nih.gov/vivisimo/cgi-bin/query meta?v%3Aproject=medlineplus&query=tuberculosis&x=38&y=17

This database relates information regarding the signs and symptoms of tuberculosis. There is also information listed about treatment options and links to research articles and up to date statistics on disease prevalence. The information listed is also available in Spanish and is a great resource for healthcare providers to provide to patients.

Medicine Net

Tuberculosis

http://www.medicinenet.com/tuberculosis/article.htm

This website provides in depth information on the transmission of tuberculosis. There is also information about different strains of tuberculosis including drug resistant strains. There has been media hype about drug resistant strains of tuberculosis. This website provides accurate information about transmission and prevalence of drug resistant tuberculosis.

Lab Test Online

Tuberculin Testing

http://www.labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/tb_skin/test.html

This website relates information about the different test performed to diagnose TB. The PPD is the skin test that can show if someone has been exposed to the tuberculin bacteria. A chest X-Ray is also used to confirm a TB infection. The process of a AFB culture is also explained.

Center for Disease Control

Tuberculosis Overview

http://www.cdc.gov/tb/

This website provides the best overall information regarding Tuberculosis infection. The Center for Disease Control provides in-depth statistics on outbreak areas and special populations. Treatment options are listed in depth. The website also discusses the Tuberculosis vaccine BCG. It is rarely used in the US and is not completely effective against all strains of TB.

The first week of Health Care Informatics has taught me many lessons. I did not know what health care informatics was to begin with. Now, I am becoming comfortable with many of the terms used such as dissemination, acquisition, and ergonomic. I have an introductory knowledge of what a clinical information system is and it’s purpose. Clinical information systems are the framework for electronic charting in the electronic medical record. Clinical information systems help prevent medical errors involving the misinterpretation of handwriting or verbal orders. They also sent alerts about medication allergies, medication dose timing to prevent errors. Clinical information systems hold data that can be searched and used for research on specific patient outcomes and disease processes.

This week has opened my eyes to the big wide world of social networking. I never thought of myself as computer savvy and had minimal experience using social networking systems. I now have a twitter account and have enjoyed using it. I was previously unaware how important social networking is in the business world and job market.  

 Technology can be fun and exciting, if we jump in and overcome the intimidation. Thank you all who have read my one and only blog! I hope you all will join me in further blogging!