Informatics Nurses have to stay on top of technology trends. We need to be in the know about new approaches that change how healthcare is provided. One major trend that gave Nursing Informatics a huge boost this year: virtual care. In case you missed it, here are three articles we covered diving into different ways healthcare is going virtual.

Touch-less Heart Monitoring: ‘Alexa, am I having a heart attack?’

When we hear the words ‘heart monitor,’ many of us picture the ECG machine at a doctor’s office. If you have had the pleasure of experiencing one of these machines, you likely had 8 stickers placed on your chest, arms, and legs so the machine could monitor your heart rhythm and print it out on a long sheet of paper. That set up will seem incredibly old-fashioned once touch-less heart monitoring is common place. This is definitely a technology trend for Informatics Nurses to watch.

Getting Ready for Hospital-At-Home

Prompted by the pandemic, government support for high acuity services at home expanded rapidly over the last year. Many healthcare systems and providers are adapting quickly, with several big names announcing multi-million dollar investments in this area. With all of this change, it is important to consider what caregivers and nurses should do to be ready.

The Second Opinion Goes Virtual

Second opinions can help to confirm a diagnosis, ensure patients know all of their treatment options, and, most importantly, support patients in making the most informed decisions possible. Second opinions can also give patients access to treatments they did not know were available. Now that there are new digital services to help with second opinions, there are fewer reasons than ever to not get one.

Found this topic interesting? You may have the makings for a great Informatics Nurse! Check out From Bedside Nurse to Informatics Nurse: A How-To Guide in our online store, or by clicking here!