Using Smartphones in the Hospital

Technology using smartphones has downsides but I do believe that the use of innovations and technology as the trend of our world today will be successful when the benefits outweigh the risks. The success of using the smartphones in our hospital is always depends on the outcomes or results in quality of patient care and safety by addressing multiple issues.

SAFETY:

The smartphones devices have access to the internet, medical software applications, medical technology and dictionary, diagnostic tools and many more that could help in the medical field and to our profession to obtain necessary information. When nurses have easy access to evidenced-based clinical information using the wireless functions of the smartphones, errors may be reduced thus there will be improvements in their practice to be more effective and efficient in providing patient care. In times that nurses have a situation needing an immediate decision or needing critical thinking, easy access to smartphone using internet and other appropriate applications is very helpful to gain knowledge or information to be able to know what to do and lead to right decision in the most possible time.

             Infection control is another issue in using smartphone concerning patient’s safety. Smartphones could be a carrier of bacteria. I recommend for appropriate cleaning of these devices to reduce or minimize the risk of spreading infection. Also, emphasize proper hand washing to all staff or health care team. And impart health teachings to patients and relatives on proper hand washing and hand hygiene as the best important way to reduce spreading of infection.

            There is certainty in time saving element by being knowledgeable in using technology of smartphones. It allows staff to have the latest information at all times and applying the knowledge in practice to be useful by giving the most effective, efficient and proving a high standard of patient care. We all want to ensure patient satisfaction at all times.

LEGAL ISSUES:

            Data is easily or can be access in smartphones since it has memory storage and applications to retrieve data. Some important data are needed or may have an important role in legalities such as information about patient and staff, communications, video clips, voice recording and more. This data may be evidence in court or in any investigation.

            But this data or information or using smartphones must be guided accordingly with proper hospital protocol or organizational policy with corresponding sanctions and disciplinary proceedings for those who will violate it or use it inappropriately since information must be protected at all times and it has legal implications. Everything you do using smartphones and its application must be ensure to be highly guarded. The patient, employees and hospital is all at risk for misuse or improper usage. Imagine the potential ethical and medico-legal we are wading into. Nurses and other health care team must be provided with knowledge on the policies and protocols on using these devices and the consequences of every action. That everyone even patient and relative must be aware of and be given understanding about the use of smartphones should be for the patient care and safety and not to abuse it from misuse and evil ones.

DOCUMENTATIONS:

            Technology aims to simplify our lives and maximize our time to other  much more important matters like the use of smartphones by using emails, text messages, calls rather than to use the old snail-mail.

With smartphones, we can easily store contact details of the physicians, co-nurses, patients and relatives or other health care team and draw all relevant data if necessary from the same place at one time in one click. Through this, we can make referrals or contact health care member easily when they are needed in a specific area while they are attending to other patient or other area. Nurses have the ability to collaborate and reach staff quickly using the right contact information in a minute.

It can also provide a high quality medical image, store, use and distribution of images. This technology can really a big help in providing health care but again it comes with issues to be considered such as safety of the patients, confidentiality and legal aspects.

Some applications using smartphones help access a patient’s data and make updates. This could help in improving patient quality of care as well as nurse’s efficiency resulting to increase patient satisfaction.

CONFIDENTIALITY:

As what I have mentioned in legal implications, data or information in our patient, staff and hospital must ensure to be highly guarded and be protected at all times.

Most of the smartphones have cameras or other applications producing images from the hospital settings and patients. It can make a clinical photography which can be useful if properly addressed and use. It could be helpful for the medical professionals and nurses to use in clinical presentation, research and journals or articles. It can be useful in education such as in teaching and case presentation.

Guided with protocol and policies using this data should be emphasis. If these images were used to make patient vulnerable and undignified, a big problem may arise. Even documents and other patients’ information, when disclosed to other who is not related to the case, it would cause harm to the patients ‘privacy is a big problem. With the use of advance technology, we still have an obligation to maintain confidentiality. Hospitals have ethics committee and medical records. It is just everyone need to go proper protocol for getting data or information so that not to cause breach of privacy and confidentiality. Responsible staff should be in our mind at all times.

The loss or damage of the smartphones should be guided with proper protocol. If the smartphones in the hospital were loss, a big risk for privacy and confidentiality of data or information stored.

PROPOSED PROTOCOL:

·         Nurses can access smartphones with wireless functions and other appropriate applications with the provision of education and guidance for accessibility of valid evidence-based resources and information which are essential to the practice, patient safety, communication and ensuring dedicated information technology support.

·         Nurses must be aware, guided and adhere to hospital policy and guidelines regarding the proper use of smartphones including its application in the patient care setting and abuse or misuse can lead to legal implications and disciplinary actions.

·         Nurses must observe infection control measures at all times using the devices.

·         Nurses work collaboratively with leadership and advocate for proper use of smartphones to access content, to track and secure information and provide theft/loss protection.

·         Smartphones are used in hospital setting only and within the vicinity of given area.

·         Proper education and information about the use of their smartphones to patients and relatives.