Hospital Technology Is Beneficial to Patient Care

At Providence Hospital, Doctors, Nurses, and Secretaries all agree that new technology is beneficial to the hospital. Nowadays, everything is computerized, including our medical records and reference guides for doctors. Dr. Victoria Parks was asked if the hospital provided any technology for its doctors to use, whereas she explains they use an Ipod.



Apple devices such as the Ipod Touch and Iphone are known for their amazing app for everything. Nowadays doctors are using the apps to look up medicine dosage, frequency, and even to spell.

In a world where everything is digitized, the doctors were asked if they felt that today's doctors have a crutch with so much information at their fingertips? Dr. Lylla Fyyaz talks about how advantageous apple's apps have been to her.

89 % of hospitals are using the electronic lab results, which is faster and more immediate access to patient's labs. Article, "New Hospital Information Technology: Is it Helping to Improve Quality" held that new IT has "enormous potential to propel the health care system to higher quality" (Issue Brief 2006).

A nurse is asked if she likes the idea of electronic medical records, and she answers that she definitely sees the benefit. But, her only dilemma is that the less technologically savvy people will initially have a hard time adjusting to the new technology.

listen to ‘Computerized medical charts’ on Audioboo

A secretary was asked about her feelings about a computerized medical records system, which she believes is a great idea.

listen to ‘Computerized system decrease mistakes’ on Audioboo

While both the nurse and secretary agree that the computerized medical records is a good idea, the nurse is the only one who sees a disadvantage for those less inclined with technology. Perhaps, this is because the nurse usually has minimal contact with technology except that of medical instruments. On the other hand, the secretary often uses the computer and by profession is more inclined to work with computer technology. The secretary seems to benefit the most from computerized medical records when compared to the nurse to has minimal contact with the records.

Today, hospitals are using six types of health IT, specifically those that collect, store, retrieve, and transfer clinical information electronically (Issue Brief). Physician order entry is least common in hospitals, while the use of electronic lab results is most common.

However, what steals all the shine is the new phone applications that can do just about anything. There are apps that can take your blood pressure. Physician job recruitment firm, Jackson and Coker, conducted a study that shows that 80% of doctors use smart phones and apps in everyday medical use. These apps are all the rave, and are most used by emergency room physicians. The fast and efficient use of smartphones’ features enables doctors to search medication dosage, symptoms, side effects, etc.

Hospitals are successfully moving from the laptop to tablets and smartphones. Phone apps are growing with the smartphone popularity. In 2012, there will be 13,000 medical apps alone available for those in the medical field.
14% of doctors account for those who are up to date with the latest trends medicine. But, with the prevalence of smartphones this number will increase as doctors have the information available to them almost instantaneously.

Cloud computing is another new innovation that is beneficial to doctors and ensures faster and more organized keeping of medical records. With cloud computing, doctors are able to write progress notes on a patient on their tablet and it would automatically go to the hospital network’s database and into that patient’s electronic chart. The same would go for doctors using their smartphones; the information automatically connects to the other computers within the network.
The most important benefits from new IT and other technological advances in medicine is the quality of care for patients. Technology is helping to reduce medical error that is caused by human mistakes. The computerized systems lead to less patient errors, flagging of abnormal lab results, better record keeping, and legible writing.

The new technology poses many questions. What will become of secretaries? With the new technology and computerized medical records, certainly someone will be out of a job. Also, if secretaries are the ones who transcribe orders, what will happen when they no longer have to transcribe orders? Many have said that the medical secretary is at a crossroads. Their futures are unclear, but the secretary will most like adapt to the new technology, taking on different responsibilities. Let’s face it, computers cannot answer the phones themselves, and some duties computers cannot do.

Hospital Technology Described as Beneficial to Patient Care

Does the hospital provide any technology for its doctors?


Would electronic medical records and other transcription technology be beneficial to you as a secretary/nurse?

listen to ‘Computerized medical charts’ on Audioboo

listen to ‘Computerized system decrease mistakes’ on Audioboo

Supporting Links:
ER Doctors Now Using Phone Apps for Research and Diagnosis
Apps for Iphone for Doctors Video

**The original picture I plan to include requires access to a part of the hospital that I will be touring on Saturday.**

Residents Sleep 4 Hours in 28 Hour Shift

The road to becoming a doctor is a long one.  After undergraduate studies and medical school, a prospective doctor must complete a residency, or a sort of hands-on training at a hospital for a couple of years before they are worth their salt.  A residency includes a salary of about $35,000 a year, and demands long hours at a hospital.  I interviewed Sachin Gupta, a second year resident, whose opinions about his residency corroborate that residents work very long hours, get little rest, and definitely have to have a passion for what they do to keep at it.  First, let’s delve into the controversy: residents are often subjected to long work hours where they are constantly on-call always moving around in the hospital.  The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) now limits the work week to no more than 80 hours.  Still, this is a lot of work; especially for people who need to be coherent to make sound decisions for the well-being of patients.  Many studies have proven that sleep deprivation is the leading cause of medical errors.  Doctors cannot afford to make careless mistakes!  Dr. Gupta talks about the long 28 hour shifts he has at the hospital where he will get about 4 hours of sleep; but still has to balance family.
       

       In the journal for the Public Library of Science (PloS), a study was conducted where first year medical residents were questioned about their sleep and work schedule.  The results showed that “when residents reported working five marathon shifts in a single month, their risk of making a fatigue-related mistake that harmed a patient increased by 700%” (USA Today 12/11/2006).  Let’s be clear: I am not arguing that residents are a danger to patients.  I am presenting the reality that being a medical resident is grueling work.  Dr. Gupta discussed the easiest thing about being a resident: “always having back-up [and] being able to talk to your attending if you have any questions.”  His answer suggests that he is being polite; but also suggests that as a resident, he will continuously need questions answered and there is always something new to learn.  Residents are always learning and always have access to help.   Dr. Gupta is passionate about medicine; he admits that he always wanted to be a doctor. 

         Residents may or may not get their 4 hours of sleep during their 28 hour shift. Another resident, Himabindu Manneri is in her third year and shares the same opinion when it comes to the work load and lack of sleep. Dr. Manneri states she gets an average of “2-4 hours of sleep” and insists that the hardest thing about being a resident is the time away from her family. One can deduce that with the residents’ salary, workload, and lack of sleep, one has to be passionate about medicine to endure this.

Hispanic Radio is More Prevalent than Radio for the Ethnic Majority

    Ethnic radio continues to thrive in the Washington, DC area because of immigration—especially from Spanish-speaking countries. In 2010, Washington, DC’s population was that of about 600,000. Of that number, 50.7% is African American, 38.5% Caucasian, 9.1% Hispanic, and 3.5% Asian. Interestingly enough there are more African Americans in the DC area than any other ethnicity, yet there are more ethnic radio stations for the Hispanic population. Consider the conflicting statistics and presence of Hispanic radio; why are there more Hispanic radio stations than those for African Americans? I interviewed UMD student, Mariel Rothman who found that there were so many Hispanic radio stations, yet it was difficult to determine why.

listen to ‘Mariel Rothman Ethnic Radio’ on Audioboo

    One must consider that African Americans can listen to any of the English-speaking radio stations assuming that they speak English. On the other hand, many Spanish speaking people are either not proficient in English or do not speak it altogether. So, Hispanic radio is necessary for the language barrier that exists between the English-speaking and Spanish-speaking ethnicities. Also, Hispanic radio provides a sense of community.

    Mariel Rothman’s blog post about ethnic radio discusses the growth of our Hispanic population and their attempt at communalizing themselves with their own radio stations. Rothman states, “[ethnic radio] promotes events that bring people of the same culture together and [help them to] share information that pertains to Spanish-speaking individuals.” It is important to note that not all Hispanic radio stations only air in Spanish, some just provide a sense of community. Rothman even grew to like some of the Hispanic radio stations, although she is an English-speaking Caucasian.

listen to ‘Mariel Rothman’ on Audioboo

    Ethnic radio is necessary. It can be the glue that brings one’s ethnic community closer, but it is not always confined to the ethnic group for which it was intended. Although there are more African Americans than Hispanics, there are clearly more radio stations catering to the Hispanic population. Hispanic radio is not proportionate to the Hispanic population. This anomaly cannot be explained, yet people are always welcome to listen to whatever radio station they please—whether within or outside their ethnic group.

The Unethical Controversy of Henrietta Lacks' Immortal Cells

      The story of Henrietta Lacks is science ethics at its most important example and violation. Henrietta Lacks’ African American heritage and being in the lower class of society played a huge role in what happened to her. Lacks’ “immortal cells” were taken from her during treatment of a tumor. Dr. Lawrence Wharton Jr. retrieved the samples of cells without her permission. It was common that many of the doctors used samples from poorer patients who visited public facilities. The samples were usually taken without the patients’ knowledge or consent. In fact, many “scientists believed that since patients were treated for free in the public wards, it was fair to use them as research subjects as a form of payment” (Skloot 30). But, the question is: Was this the right thing to do? Although, HeLa has contributed to the polio vaccine, and research in cancer and AIDS, is it worth violating someone’s natural right to know what their doctor is doing to their body (or with their body)? 

     What makes HeLa so unique is that the cells can multiply rapidly. HeLa breaks all conformities of what a normal cell should be and how it should act. The cells were like a needle in a haystack. Dr. George Gey, the doctor who was given the cells had been looking for “immortal cells” for a very long time. Henrietta Lacks’ cells were very valuable and had been long sought after; but, the fate of her family is not reflective of Lacks’ medical contributions. Lacks’ family were unaware that Henrietta’s cells were being used. Johns Hopkins’ Hospital was charitable to the lower class, but at what price? Hopkins’ once studied black children’s blood for a “genetic predisposition to criminal behavior” (Skloot 167). Also, two black women sued Hopkins’ for their knowing that their children had been exposed to lead, but failed to inform them because they wanted to continue a study of lead abatement methods. However, what remains the most controversial and most wronged of those researched was Henrietta Lacks whose family remained in poverty after her death. 

    

listen to ‘HeLa with May Wildman’ on Audioboo

I interviewed May Wildman, a reporter for University of Maryland's Diamondback who attended a recent event where Henrietta Lacks' son, David "Sonny" Lacks was a speaker. She informed me that the family has yet to receive compensation. The most they have gotten is a statue in a lobby at Johns Hopkins.

listen to ‘Hospital Perspective’ on Audioboo

In a second interview, I spoke with a manager at a family care office at Providence Hospital in Washington DC, Teresa Yeager. She informed me that in her office, as is required by law, a patient must sign a consent for their doctor to release or use any of their samples or information. Also, I explained Henrietta Lacks' story, and asked for an opinion about the ordeal. Like many people, Ms. Yeager was surprised to find out that someone's cells were used without their permission; and after Henrietta passed her family remained poor. 

     Today, it is baffling that nothing has been done to give the Lacks family compensation. It is saddening that Henrietta Lacks' cells were taken; it is saddening that she passed away; it is saddening that her cells were used for research; but most of all, it is saddening that it has been 60 years and nothing has been done to attempt to rectify the ethical violation of Henrietta Lacks. (Skloot, Rebecca. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks. New York: Random House, 2010.)

WAMU, our Public Radio Station in DC

     

    Looking at the website for the public radio station, WAMU 88.5, I found that the main interest is the community.  News, Support, Programs, Community, and Events are just some of the sections on the website.  More importantly, the latest news stories are being covered.  For instance, the fate of the 11 year old boy from Maryland, William McQuain was covered.  Also, information on murdered 11 year old, Jessica Nguyen who was murdered last May is covered; but new evidence has implicated her step-father.  Major news stories such as these are the tip of the iceberg for public radio stations such as WAMU 88.5.  We care about what is going on in our neighborhoods, and we want the news as it happens.  Public radio provides that for us.   

         Public radio provides public service to the community.  News stories and programs are a part of the initiative of public radio stations for community outreach and providing news coverage that matters to the area.  Washington, D.C.’s only full-time National Public Radio news station is WAMU, which is licensed to American University.  WAMU 88.5 has its studio near the campus.  There is a sub-channel, WAMU­-2, that broadcasts Bluegrass Country.  It is interesting that WAMU would choose to have a sub-channel of country music given that the area is urban.  But, since country music is the most popular radio format, this makes sense.  WAMU-3 includes content from WTMD, the radio station licensed to Towson University in Maryland.  WAMU airs information from the National Public Radio, American Public Media, Public Radio International, and the British Broadcasting Corporation.

        The main studio for WAMU is in Northwest Washington, DC.  The average WAMU salary is $56,161.  The IT Director’s average salary is $97,452.  Some of the positions are managers of special giving, broadcast engineers, phone room managers, membership marketing managers, and communication managers.  Interestingly enough, public radio uses other sources as their news.  For example, the NPR, APM, and PRI are used to provide news.  It makes perfect sense that other news sources are used because it gives a greater range to the selection of our news.  Instead of just receiving news from our area, we are exposed to International news. 

         Some people can get immersed into news radio.  WAMU definitely provides a menu of different news.  For instance, today’s air schedule includes World News, the German International Broadcasting Service, a daily interview, business news, eyewitness accounts of people who experienced history, and current affairs.  WAMU is well-rounded.  Listening to the news program, I became even more aware of how up to the minute they were.  Major news about Libya's Muammar Gaddafi being killed was covered as it happened, and calls were taken from listeners who may want to express their knowledge or opinions.  Genuinely, WAMU wants to be the go-to radio news source.  I even recall hearing the news host, Diane Rehm mention that she wanted comments to “expand” the audience’s news experience.  “It may change in the next moment, but we’re right here to tell you what is going on,” Ms. Rehm stated.  One can appreciate a news program that believes in interactivity with their audience and is continuously working to provide news.

Ebooks Vs. Books

          I have to admit it—I dislike the idea of the popular ebook, and the effects its popularity may have on those who still enjoy actual books.  I can still remember the excitement of visiting the library as a child or the memory of my mother reading me books.  The colorful book covers, the smell—even the texture of a book had me hooked. 

          So, why is it that the ebook experience is so different?  I read an article where it explores the difference one gets from the digital screen and the actual page. http://scienceblogs.com/cortex/2009/10/reading_e-books_and_the_brain.php  Jonah Lehrer writes, “new reading formats (such as computer screens on ebooks) might initially require a bit more dorsal processing.”  Lehrer discusses that there are two processes that one has when they read letters.  One of the processes allows someone to read quickly, while the second occurs when we read something unfamiliar.  With this second pathway process reading was slower, and more difficult to understand.  It is believed that one uses their first pathway process naturally when reading things that are familiar to them.  You may ask, what is the point?  Well, for the many people that are unfamiliar with the ebook, reading on the digital screen would take more time than reading the traditional book.  In another article, ebooks and printed books are compared.  http://www.cnn.com/2010/TECH/gaming.gadgets/07/05/kindle.ipad.reading.mashable/index.html The Nielsen Group conducted a study where it was found that “ebooks take longer to read than print.”  This corroborates Lehrer’s findings that because the ebook is new to us, it requires more dorsal processing. 

         At any rate, let’s get back to the idea of an actual book—its color, its smell, and its texture.  What draws us to the traditional book may be nostalgia.   Since I learned to read from an actual paper page, I am more comfortable with it.  I can still remember what it felt like to touch the glossy page, and smell the paper.  To this day, I am still conscious of the smell of a book.  After all, “smell is the strongest and most vivid [of] long-term memories.”  http://www.agewiseliving.com/remember-more.htm On the other hand, sight is the strongest of short term memory.  So, it makes sense (no pun intended) that many avid book readers are still infatuated with the experience of an actual book.  Our senses make a virtual memory book in our brains.  For some, the pleasant memories of reading an actual book are difficult to erase.

         So, what is this “feeling” of reading an actual book?  It is our memory that attaches us to it. We still associate the book with the pleasantries and innocence of our childhood.  Thus, the book is a symbol of simpler times; or an escape from the complexities of the real world.  Depending on how the newer generations of parents teach their children how to read, determines if the actual book can be preserved.  Exposing children to an actual book first will make reading the book possible with less dorsal processing.  However, if children are exposed to the ebook first, the newer generations will start to process letters on the digital screen faster than the letters on a paper page.  Hopefully, we can find a happy medium (pun intended).