New methods of treatments are among some of the major technological advances occurring within the healthcare world today, and especially this past week. Robots, the Google cloud, and new surgical treatments through technology are among some of the latest innovations on the Health Data Management feed board. With that being said, the abundance of new and exciting ideas and techniques can continue to flood into the healthcare atmosphere, but there are also many downfalls that follow shortly to great innovations. Among these are cyber attacks, million dollar settlements, and other obstacles professionals in the health care field deal with on a day to day basis. The most rewarding aspect of the downfalls is how these minor setbacks help pave the way for future success. The cyberattacks offer many different clues to future threats, which helps healthcare data management officials stay aware and prepared for the times when the attacks occur.
Every day major surgeries occur at local hospitals, the same routines are done by nurses, check the patient’s blood pressure, their heart rate, offer a prediction on the length of stay and recovery time. But one doctor, Timothy Daskivich is completely changing the way nurses and patients everywhere deal with the aftermath of surgery. Rather than keeping a record and monitoring the usual- blood pressure and heart rate, vitals, Daskivich decided to spark a study to explore the relationship between steps and recovery time/length of stay at the hospital. A study of “100 patients at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, published in JAMA Network Open, found that for every 100 steps taken by post-operative participants they decreased their length of stay by 4 percent.” Each patient was equipped with a Fitbit device that allows them personally to monitor their steps each day and see the goal and progress over time. But how does this change anything? Not only does the Fitbit device allow for a new method of recording change within patients for doctors, but it also allows patients to see how much progress they have made over time. One aspect that should be attributed as extremely important is the ability to use this data to predict how long patients will have to stay with outpatient services. Within the study of just 100 patients, their duration of stay was decreased by 4%.
Not only is data management important regarding health care, but patient care is largely at the forefront of today’s technological advances and innovations. It is important for both the patient and the doctor to be aware of the new innovations taking place each day, with hopes that health care as a whole will improve worldwide. It is also worth noting the importance of allowing patients to witness their own success. Through doing this the patient has the ability to be well aware of the progress they have made, as well as the future predictions for recovery time- which is something we all need at times of need; reassurance.
For more info, check out Greg Slabodkin’s “Activity monitors measure step counts for surgery patients” on Health Data Management, (February 6, 2019).
Gator Strat Comms 