The advancement of technology has forced many fields to incorporate technology into their daily functions. One of the sectors that have fully embraced technology is the healthcare sector where, through the incorporation of technology, it has improved in efficiency and quality of service delivery ( Romanelli, 2017) . Technology has also provided cure and treatment methods to some diseases that were previously incurable. Furthermore, according to Romanelli (2017), technology has resulted in new professions. One of the occupations that came into existence as a result of the advancement of technology is the informatics nurse specialist. Informatics nursing specialists can combine their technical knowledge with nursing skills, enabling them to serve patients better. They have also played a key role in helping healthcare systems around the world adopt technology in an organized and more productive manner. This paper seeks to explain the role of an informatics nurse specialist, their importance, and the various ways that informatics has impacted public health.
The Role of an Informatics Nurse Specialist
An informatics nurse specialists play an important role in the current technologically advanced medical environment. As more healthcare systems around the world become more dependent on technology, they will need specialized medical professionals who can provide technological solutions. With the use of tools such as the electrical medical records, healthcare systems will require IT departments which are well staffed with nurses who are also equipped with IT knowledge. Informatics nurse specialists have several roles that make them crucial in the operations of any healthcare system. Foremost, they use data to improve the quality of care provided to patients. With the data, an informatics nurse specialist can monitor and identify any errors, study trends, and come up with new and better systems ( Chapman, 2011) . Informatics specialist nurses utilize a patient’s data together with the available computer systems which enable them to act as a point of communication between the information technology department and clinical nurses. They also utilize the feedback that they get from clinical nurses concerning the performance of new systems to make the necessary improvements. In addition to collecting feedback from clinical nurses, informatics nursing specialists write policies that are aimed at creating better healthcare systems which can accommodate rapid technological changes ( Chapman, 2011) . Furthermore, informatics nurse specialists manage several projects that require the implementation of various technological tools. With their technical and medical skills, such projects have a high probability of success. It is evident that the demand for informatics nurse specialists will continue to increase due to the continued integration of technology with healthcare systems.
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Connected Health and Its Examples
For a long period, healthcare institutions have been characterized by the tendencies of clinicians or nurses to make decisions without looking at the whole scenario comprehensively. To effectively analyze situations nurses and other clinicians use connected health. Connected health is a healthcare approach which seeks to overcome specific healthcare challenges by putting the patient at the center of a healthcare system and utilizing information from various sources to make more informed decisions ( Ashrafiet et al ., 2014 ). Through connected healthcare systems, the challenges or problems faced by patients can be solved promptly and for once. The role that connected health has played in the improvement of healthcare systems around the world is evident through various examples. One of the most notable examples of connected health is OpenAPS-closed-loop insulin delivery. APS stands for Artificial Pancreases System, and it enables specialists to access a patient’s continuous glucose monitor and insulin pump where they can get live feeds which make it possible for soft wares in their own devices to control the amount of insulin being administered to the patient ( Ashrafiet et al ., 2014 ). The system has several advantages as well as disadvantages. It has provided healthcare professionals with an easy way of tackling diabetes among patients. The system also provides accurate and real-time data which enables healthcare professionals to choose the best treatment option. Through the use of the OpenAPS-closed-loop insulin delivery system, nurses can monitor their patient’s progress and establish whether or not they are sticking to their treatment plan. Despite its advantages, there are a number of disadvantages that come with the implementation of OpenAPS-closed-loop insulin delivery. Foremost, it is expensive to acquire and maintain such a system. The system’s implementation will lead to many people losing their jobs ( Ashrafiet et al ., 2014 ). The efficiency of the OpenAPS-closed-loop insulin delivery system shows how patients have eagerly waited for such technology that can effectively address their challenges.
Another revolutionary technology that demonstrates connected health is Pharma’s glucose monitoring system. The system which is still in the implementation stage helps diabetic patients to monitor their glucose levels through a sensor implanted below the patient’s skin. The sensor sends data to a transmitter which in turn transmits the concentration of glucose in a patient’s blood to their phones. The advantages of Pharma’s glucose monitoring system are that the system enables clinicians to observe their patient’s health conditions and alert them whenever the patient needs urgent medical attention. Through the system, patients can monitor their blood sugar levels and seek medical health before the levels rise to dangerous levels. Another advantage presented by Pharma’s glucose monitoring system is that it can reduce the number of deaths caused by diabetics. There are also some disadvantages that come with the implementation of Pharma’s glucose monitoring system. The system is expensive, and its maintenance costs might discourage people from using it. The system is also prone to technological failures ( Ashrafiet et al ., 2014 ).
Connected inhalers are another example of connected health. Through the inhalers, clinicians can monitor the activity of patients and also determine whether or not they are sticking to their treatment plan. ( Ashrafiet et al ., 2014 ). The benefits of connected inhalers are that they provide a better and effective way for asthmatic people to deal with the condition. Connected inhalers also provide accurate and timely data to medical professionals that may help them in coming up with better ways to handle asthmatic patients. Through the system, asthmatic conditions in patients have been well contained, and any incident is quickly attended to. There are also many disadvantages that come with connected inhalers. There are instances where the system may fail. The cost of purchasing connected inhalers prevents many patients from buying them, forcing them to use the traditional inhalers ( Ashrafiet et al ., 2014 ). From the example of connected health, it is evident that the future of healthcare around the world because through technology, many illnesses and challenges facing current healthcare systems will be dealt with appropriately.
The Influence of Informatics on Public Health
An analysis of informatics reveals its influence and effects on public health. Since informatics is the process through which unstructured and raw data is transformed into information, it has been used in different types of medical research. Information is one of the most critical resources in public health as it acts as the first step in the analysis of diseases. Professionals in the healthcare sector usually require information to interpret it and come up with recommendations or solutions to various challenges facing the public health sector ( Weiner, Yeh, & Blumenthal, 2013) . Further, according to Weiner, Yeh, and Blumenthal (2013) , informatics can also be used to support monitoring and surveillance, decision making and improvement of population health. Through informatics, the right technologies which can enable the acquisition of quality data and aid in decision making are utilized. From the various effects that informatics has on public health, it is clear that it is an essential aspect of any healthcare system and efforts must be made to enable healthcare systems effectively utilize informatics to their advantage. With the use of informatics, quality service and better results are guaranteed because informatics enables professionals in the medical field to make decisions based on accurate and relevant data.
Conclusion
Informatics nurse specialists play a vital role in the integration of healthcare systems and technological tools that enhance their efficiency. Various functions make informatics nurse specialists an integral part of any healthcare system. Foremost, informatics nurse specialists use data to improve the quality of care provided to patients. They also act as a point of communication between the information technology department and clinical nurses. Connected health is a healthcare approach which seeks to overcome specific healthcare challenges by putting the patient at the center of a healthcare system and utilizing information from various sources to make more informed decisions. Examples of connected health include the OpenAPS-closed-loop insulin delivery, Pharma’s glucose monitoring system, and connected inhalers. Informatics also plays a major role in public health. It acts as the first step in the process of analyzing diseases. It also supports the monitoring and surveillance, decision making and improvement of population health. Finally, they help in decision making as far as deciding the best healthcare approaches is concerned.
References
Ashrafi, N., Kuilboer, J., Joshi, C., Ran, I., & Pande, P. (2014). Health informatics in the classroom: An empirical study to investigate higher education's response to healthcare transformation. Journal of Information Systems Education, 25 (4), 305-315. http://jise.org/volume25/n4/JISEv25n4p305.pdf
Chapman, J. (2011). Medical informatics: The future of organized healthcare or Orwellian medicine? Evidenced-Based Spine Care Journal , 2(3), 5-6. doi: 10.1055/s-0030-1267106
Romanelli, M. (2017). Towards sustainable health care organizations. Management Dynamics in the Knowledge Economy, 5 (3), 377-394. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.25019/MDKE/5.3.04
Weiner, J. P., Yeh, S., & Blumenthal, D. (2013). The impact of health information technology and e-health on the future demand for physician services. Health Affairs, 32 (11), 1998- 2004. doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.2013.0680.
