Reflection 2: Databases /Alanna Schauer

           Databases and data mining was a recurrent theme this week on blogs. Fiona shared the possibility of one large searchable databases geared towards medical information. This would be a time saver and it would lend validity and credibility if it is has credible sources. Adam shared an article discussing the importance of data mining and the lack of computer information to new student nurses. He feels with the informatics trend that the nursing curriculum should be updated to include more computer knowledge. Joy had an excellent article on data mining and the many applications that can be used to improve healthcare decision making issues. The LiveData, Inc. article was another type of data mining with the specific area of expertise being the peri-operative area. This program helps meet federal and accrediting agencies mandates by embedding these requirements into their system on the OR dashboard.

Journal Entry #2- Databases Fundamentals/Alanna Schauer

                                                                                                                                        Alanna M Schauer

                                                                                                   Module 2-Database Fundamentals               

                                                                                                                        and Database Design

 

Robbins, J. (2013). LiveData, Inc: Improving the quality of patient care and lowering costs in the 

               peri-operative suite.  Critical Care Nursing Quarterly, (36).

                doi:10.1097/CNQ.0b013e318283d09f

 

 http://ovidsp.ovid.com/ovidweb.cgi?T=JS&CSC=Y&NEWS=N&PAGE=fulltext&D=ovftm&AN=00002727-201304000-00007

               This article was chosen because it focused on the latest technology for the peri -operative environment, which is the general surgical area that the cardiac catheterization lab is located and where I work. It is interesting article for several reasons. First because we are always looking for new ways to promote patient safety and this new technology from LiveData has very advanced peri-operative technology. This viewing unit "provides the surgical team with full situational awareness of the patient and procedure, including allergies, medications, and vital signs," (Robbins, 2013, pg. 175).

               This is a peer reviewed scholarly nursing article which is reputable and demonstrates quality information. There is only one author but the article is informational and explains the many fascinating components of the LiveData incorporated system. It is a product review that expands on the current company and their business ventures. They provide information on the strategic technology partnerships and annotate why these expansions enable them to grow. 

               The need addressed is the complex area of the peri-operative area which can be a scheduling nightmare and patients are moving about from pre-operative to holding area, to the OR and then to PACU and then back to a recovery area which we call Short Stay. LiveData evolved from years of hospital demands to incorporate the latest patient safety measures, the newest CMS core measures, and Joint Commission goals. With the reality of value based purchasing and the potential for reduced reimbursement money these regulatory agencies requirements are very critical.

               The LiveData approach provides a dashboard screen with all the patients on the daily schedule visualized with a simple glance. This dashboard screen displays, patient name, location, allergies, Operating Room readiness whether the chart is complete with history and physical and lab work. It can follow the patient into the Operating Room, post anesthesia and has a family waiting room module to keep families informed. This can help to identify schedule conflicts and the cause of delays that are very frequent in the peri-operative arena.

               LiveData has the CMS core measures, Surgical Quality Improvement Program (SCIP) and Joint Commission goals embedded into their system and the OR dashboard helps keep the staff compliant with prompts and workflows with mandatory fields for documenting. This can help to ensure the delivery of health care is done appropriately and documented correctly. This creates a safer environment for patients, and helps to control the flow of patients through the peri-operative area. Implementation of this LiveData system can be a patient and family satisfier and ultimately impact the financial and economic growth of an organization that utilizes this technology.

               In the application of my practice this is a wonderful system that could expedite many of the services we provide in the peri-operative area. The LiveData system can be modified based on the request of a hospital and tailed to a specific organizations need.  With hospitals being regulated and mandated to uphold the Affordable Care Act (ACA) they will need "to improve operating room efficiency and surgical outcomes," (Robbins, 2013, pg. 180) and improve patient safety with evidence based guidelines. This system would greatly support the services of the peri-operative environment.

                

Journal Entry #1 Lessons Learned /Alanna Schauer

                                                                                                                Alanna M Schauer

                                                                                                        Module 1-Databases and                 

                                                                                                        Knowledge Management

 

            Creating a blog was a unique experience, coupled with stress and shear panic at some moments.  I enjoyed reading the article that I had chosen about the security of our personal data, and the government's ability to access it based on laws post 911. I learned from Joy that data mining is crucial to develop outcomes and treatment plans for patient care. Patterns can be identified, decisions can be made, and changes implemented based on the results of the analyzed data. Adam presented the importance of nursing school students being taught the fundamentals of electronic health records and how to search for patient information. He feels it is a shortcoming of the nursing school curriculum. I am hoping it will be taught on some level in the schools soon. I learned from Fiona that there are major initiatives in healthcare to reduce costs while providing better patient care and quality outcomes. I felt with Accountable Care Organizations (ACO) emerging this may help to control costs and force a unified front towards patient care assuming the patient is compliant.

            This was a great assignment and I look forward to this week's blog. I do hope I can read everyone's this week.

Thanks,

Alanna

Module 1- Data versus information versus wisdom

                                                                                       

                                                                                                          Alanna M Schauer

                                                                                                        Module 1-Databases and                 

                                                                                                        Knowledge Management

                                     

  Dean, L. (2013). Data versus information versus wisdom.  Retrieved from            

              http://www.nonsensibleshoes.com/2013/06/data- versus-information-versus-wisdom.html

            This article was chosen because it provided an excellent bridge between current issues regarding information technology and the data to wisdom continuum. The author explained how data is collected and analyzed by the federal government as a necessary tool for protecting the nation from terrorism. It leads you to question whether this is acceptable or a breach of civil liberties.

            It is interesting because of the current issue with Edward Snowden and his problem with information security. Snowden leaked National Security Administrations' secrets about the eavesdropping and the ability to obtain phone records of United States Citizens.  The author discusses how the government collects many types of personal data from its citizens but remains incapable of analyzing the data and turning it into knowledge or wisdom.

            This article is an opinion on a web based site that explains that the government has captured many types of data from its citizens but that does mean it has intelligence on them.

"There's a lot of data being collected, but data is a long way from insight and knowledge, let alone wisdom," (Dean, 2013, para. 7).

            There was no specific solution offered in this article however it implied that with the large amount of data and no strategy for organizing and acting on this data they are not a threat to personal security. It was meant to decrease anxiety about your personal security being breached.

            The implications that this article has on healthcare delivery can be the notion that our medical records will be centralized and electronic for providers to see. They will be in a cloud or a silos and the potential of records being hacked is significant.  If the government can obtain phone records from Verizon, AT&T, and Sprint/Nextel, what will stop them from obtaining health records on political figures or black mailing someone to keep their heath history private?

            Information security is an important topic for all citizens but especially with the future requirement of all patient health records being electronic and available online.   It is important for the government to have the ability to monitor terroristic activities but there should be a stopping point to ensure they do not go too far.  Having carte blanche to access potential terrorism activists' medical records with cause may be excessive. The protection and security of confidential patient information has always been paramount to clinicians and the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) (McGonigle, & Mastrian, 2012).

                                                         Reference

Dean, L. (2013). Data versus information versus wisdom.  Retrieved from               

            http://www.nonsensibleshoes.com/2013/06/data- versus-information-versus-wisdom.html

McGonigle, D., & Mastrian, K. G. (2012). Nursing informatics and the foundation of knowledge.

            (2nd ed.). Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.