Assessing the Problem: Technology, Care Coordination, and Community Resources Essay

 Assessing the Problem: Technology, Care Coordination, and Community Resources

Considerations

Introduction

The management of the constantly growing burden of chronic illnesses and developing disorders necessitates the development of innovative techniques (CDC, 2021). Diabetes mellitus is a chronic illness with a rapidly rising incidence that necessitates ongoing management from the physician’s, patient’s, and family’s perspective (CDC, 2021). Caregivers of diabetic patients continually need effective and modern technology, community support, and care coordination to aid in diagnosing and managing patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes (Shan et al., 2019). Self-monitoring tools and automated insulin delivery technologies, both of which can be utilized by patients in self-management, are examples of current applied technology in the management of diabetes (Shan et al., 2019). In addition to instruments, there has been a progressing medical approach to diabetes therapy, including the development of medications to treat certain forms of diabetes mellitus. There is a need for enhanced technology innovation and patient support both within and outside the health care center to manage patients with type 2 diabetes. This article will discuss how technology, care coordination, and community services play an integral role in managing and caring for patients with type 2 diabetes (Shan et al., 2019).

Technology

            Recently, various type 2 diabetes research and technological breakthroughs have substantially improved how the disease is treated and controlled. Outstanding innovation in mobile health has made type 2 diabetes prevention and dissemination of information about the condition easier, resulting in a reduction in the incidence of the disease (Shan et al., 2019). Continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), connected CGM-insulin pumps, various forms of use depending on the period of action, easier-to-use glucagon, wearable blood glucose meters, insulin management applications, virtual health coaching, health diaries, and automated text messages are among the various mobile health (mHealth) tools (Shan et al., 2019). These tools have aided in self-management, health promotion, and, as a result, behavioral change, all of which are critical in the prevention of type 2 diabetes. Furthermore, telemedicine, customized medicine, and health information technology have all contributed to the effectiveness of mHealth in the management and prevention of type 2 diabetes by making healthcare and health information more accessible. To provide assistance, information, and guidance to type 2 diabetes patients and the general public, software developers have developed several available applications on various platforms such as Google Play and the Apple App store (Shan et al., 2019).

According to Shan et al. (2019), a meta-analysis involving a group of individuals showed that the use of short message service (SMS) in sending and receiving information on blood glucose levels was associated with a significant reduction in the amount of hemoglobin A1c (an indicator of long-term blood sugar level control) compared to the control groups over six months. The adoption of connected CGM-insulin pumps for continuous monitoring and insulin self-injection has tremendously assisted in minimizing the challenges experienced in calculating the number of carbs and insulin boluses that a diabetic patient should ingest, particularly for type 2 diabetics (Shan et al., 2019). Patients who use the self-monitoring and insulin self-injecting tools can expect no substantial changes in their blood sugar levels. The tools are essential for controlling fasting glucose levels or postprandial blood glucose levels. Additionally, these tools can be linked to distant telemedicine components, indicating the respective changes, enabling physicians to monitor these patients remotely (Shan et al., 2019). Furthermore, apps such as Diabeo App allow monitoring of diabetic patients through telephone by physicians and other healthcare professionals twice a week. The healthcare, on receiving data from the continuous blood glucose monitoring device, decides whether the current medications are working and if there is any need to shift to another line of drugs for the management of diabetes (Kebede & Pischke, 2019).

A randomized controlled trial on Mobile Insulin Titration Intervention (MITI) has been conducted to streamline insulin glargine titration among the ethnically diverse, low-income type 2 diabetes patients through text messaging, which is usually expensive and time-consuming when conducted through face-to-face visits (Ding et al., 2018). In the MITI trial, Self-Monitoring of Blood Glucose (SMBG) results are obtained from patients over the telephone and text messaging upon request by the Accu-Check Connect App, which is connected to the blood glucose meter of the patient. The patient receives feedback through the same application, including the photographic food diary to determine the carbohydrate intake and insulin bolus (Ding et al., 2018). This sums the role of technology in ensuring easy accessibility to health consultants, remote monitoring of patients, education of the public, and management and treatment of diseases.

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One of the significant innovations in the role of technology in educating patients and the general public is the use of videoconferencing to provide nutrition therapy for diabetic patients (Shan et al., 2019). Through videoconferencing, food intake can be recorded daily, and the caloric intake adjusted based on physical activity using the distinct aspects of mHealth. The patient can also access a food database containing a wide variety of food in the nearby restaurant, with already calculated calories on the packed foodstuffs. Once the patient has taken the medication, real-time calculations of the consumed calories are performed, and the amount of insulin to be injected is calculated based on the ingested calories (Shan et al., 2019).

The examples above demonstrate how technology contributes and makes it easier to manage and care for patients with type 2 diabetes. Acceptance and ability to use mobile health services across various age groups have played a significant role in the success of diabetes management technology. The use of computers and smartphones has made it possible to easily access information from reliable resources and organizations such as the Diabetes Research Institute Foundation, International Diabetes Federation, Diabetes Care Journal, and others, which provide them with critical information on the prevention, management, and potential complications associated with various treatments. This makes it easier for patients to clear up any confusion about possible drug side effects and seek assistance as needed (Veazie et al., 2018).

Care Coordination and Community Resources

Diabetes treatment costs have been continuously increasing year after year. For example, the average cost increased from $174 billion in 2007 to almost $245 billion in 2012 (CDC, 2021). With the increasing prevalence of type 2 diabetes, the cost is likely to have risen significantly over the last decade. To reduce the economic burden and impact of diabetes, it is critical to reform healthcare delivery and involve the community and community-based resources in managing and caring for type 2 diabetes patients (Whittemore et al., 2019). The use of community-based resources can help to reduce this cost and make it more sustainable for locals to prevent and manage type 2 diabetes. Coordination of care for diabetic patients, including family, community, healthcare professionals, use of available technology, and involvement of the food industry, is critical in reducing the incidences of type 2 diabetes and ensuring better care for diabetic patients (Whittemore et al., 2019).

To reduce the disparities in accessing care for type 2 diabetic patients from low-income communities, alternative strategies involving the use of local community resources must be identified, and available resources must be invested in improving these local measures (Whittemore et al., 2019). The condition is extremely difficult to manage, requiring a high level of health numeracy and literacy, frequent communication and interaction with physicians, and self-monitoring. Education on diet, medications, and exercise is thus critical in health promotion and the prevention of diabetes-related complications, which saves money. Furthermore, educating and training patients on self-management saves resources that would otherwise be used to care for these patients (Whittemore et al., 2019).

Furthermore, community resources include community-based organizations, health workers, and other groups to actively assist diabetic patients and their families. Support for these individuals can be provided by availing exercise facilities, making healthy food easily accessible to reduce obesity cases, and providing financial assistance to ensure that these individuals can cover medication and logistic expenses. Community services also include educating diabetic patients on causes, self-management, and care through community health workers (Williams et al., 2020).

Physicians play a crucial role in managing complications associated with type 2 diabetes, such as neuropathy, nephropathy, and other microvascular complications, in diabetic patients (Shan et al., 2019). Physical therapists are also important in ensuring that the community is fit and that diabetic patients do not deteriorate physically. To ensure holistic care, spiritual guidance should be provided to diabetics through affiliated religious groups and their leaders. This is done to bring them closer to their deity and to maintain a healthy emotional and spiritual lifestyle. These faith-based organizations also play an essential role in assisting these individuals (Williams et al., 2020).

Conclusion

            Type 2 diabetes has become a threat to the general population, and it must therefore be prevented in addition to being managed and cared for in patients who have the condition. Management of the disease requires a multidisciplinary approach, which necessitates coordination of care and the incorporation of community-based resources in the care of patients with the condition and the prevention of future occurrences. Recent advancements in technology and medications have played a critical role in treating patients suffering from the disease.

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References

CDC. (2021, November 24). Type 2 diabetes. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/basics/type2.html

Ding, H., Fatehi, F., Russell, A. W., Karunanithi, M., Menon, A., Bird, D., & Gray, L. C. (2018). User experience of an innovative mobile health program to assist in insulin dose adjustment: Outcomes of a proof-of-concept trial. Telemedicine Journal and E-Health: The Official Journal of the American Telemedicine Association, 24(7), 536–543. https://doi.org/10.1089/tmj.2017.0190

Kebede, M. M., & Pischke, C. R. (2019). Popular diabetes apps and the impact of diabetes app use on self-care behavior: A survey among the digital community of persons with diabetes on social media. Frontiers in Endocrinology, 10, 135. https://doi.org/10.3389/fendo.2019.00135

Shan, R., Sarkar, S., & Martin, S. S. (2019). Digital health technology and mobile devices for the management of diabetes mellitus: state of the art. Diabetologia, 62(6), 877–887. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00125-019-4864-7

Veazie, S., Winchell, K., Gilbert, J., Paynter, R., Ivlev, I., Eden, K. B., Nussbaum, K., Weiskopf, N., Guise, J.-M., & Helfand, M. (2018). Rapid evidence review of mobile applications for self-management of diabetes. Journal of General Internal Medicine, 33(7), 1167–1176. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-018-4410-1

Whittemore, R., Vilar-Compte, M., De La Cerda, S., Marron, D., Conover, R., Delvy, R., Lozano-Marrufo, A., & Pérez-Escamilla, R. (2019). Challenges to diabetes self-management for adults with type 2 diabetes in low-resource settings in Mexico City: a qualitative descriptive study. International Journal for Equity in Health, 18(1), 133. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12939-019-1035-x

Williams, J. S., Walker, R. J., & Egede, L. E. (2020). The role of family and peer support in diabetes. In Behavioral Diabetes (pp. 391–401). Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-33286-0_25

 

I would like to focus on blood pressure monitors

In a 5-7 page written assessment, determine how health care technology, coordination of care, and community resources can be applied to address the patient, family, or population problem you\’ve defined. In addition, plan to spend approximately 2 direct practicum hours exploring these aspects of the problem with the patient, family, or group you\’ve chosen to work with and, if desired, consulting with subject matter and industry experts. Document the time spent (your practicum hours) with these individuals or group in the Core Elms Volunteer Experience Form. Report on your experiences during the second 2 hours of your practicum.

Introduction

As a baccalaureate-prepared nurse, you’ll be positioned to maximize the use of technology to achieve positive patient outcomes and improve organizational effectiveness. Providing holistic coordination of patient care across the entire health care continuum and leveraging community resource services can lead both to positive patient outcomes and to organizational improvements.

Preparation

In this assessment, you’ll determine how health care technology, coordination of care, and community resources can be applied to address the health problem you’ve defined. Plan to spend at least 2 direct practicum hours working with the same patient, family, or group. During this time, you may also choose to consult with subject matter and industry experts.

To prepare for the assessment:

Review the assessment instructions and scoring guide to ensure that you understand the work you will be asked to complete and how it will be assessed.
Conduct sufficient research of the scholarly and professional literature to inform your assessment and meet scholarly expectations for supporting evidence.
Review the Practicum Focus Sheet: Assessment 3 [PDF], which provides guidance for conducting this portion of your practicum.
Note: Remember that you can submit all, or a portion of, your draft assessment to Smarthinking for feedback, before you submit the final version. If you plan on using this free service, be mindful of the turnaround time of 24–48 hours for receiving feedback.

Instructions

Complete this assessment in two parts.

Part 1
Determine how health care technology, the coordination of care, and the use of community resources can be applied to address the patient, family, or population problem you’ve defined. Plan to spend at least 2 practicum hours exploring these aspects of the problem with the patient, family, or group. During this time, you may also consult with subject matter and industry experts of your choice. Document the time spent (your practicum hours) with these individuals or group in the Core Elms Volunteer Experience Form. Use the Practicum Focus Sheet: Assessment 3 [PDF] provided for this assessment to guide your work and interpersonal interactions.

Part 2
Report on your experiences during the second 2 hours of your practicum.

Whom did you meet with?
What did you learn from them?
Comment on the evidence-based practice (EBP) documents or websites you reviewed.
What did you learn from that review?
Share the process and experience of exploring the effect of the problem on the quality of care, patient safety, and costs to the system and individual.
Did your plan to address the problem change, based upon your experiences?
What surprised you, or was of particular interest to you, and why?
CORE ELMS

Update the total number of hours on the NURS-FPX4900 Volunteer Experience Form in CORE ELMS.

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Requirements

The assessment requirements, outlined below, correspond to the scoring guide criteria, so be sure to address each main point. Read the performance-level descriptions for each criterion to see how your work will be assessed. In addition, note the additional requirements for document format and length and for supporting evidence.

Analyze the impact of health care technology on the patient, family, or population problem.
Cite evidence from the literature that addresses the advantages and disadvantages of specific technologies, including research studies that present opposing views.
Determine whether the evidence is consistent with technology use you see in your nursing practice.
Identify potential barriers and costs associated with the use of specific technologies and how those technologies are applied within the context of this problem.
Explain how care coordination and the utilization of community resources can be used to address the patient, family, or population problem.
Cite evidence from the literature that addresses the benefits of care coordination and the utilization of community resources, including research studies that present opposing views.
Determine whether the evidence is consistent with how you see care coordination and community resources used in your nursing practice.
Identify barriers to the use of care coordination and community resources in the context of this problem.
Analyze state board nursing practice standards and/or organizational or governmental policies associated with health care technology, care coordination, and community resources and document the practicum hours spent with these individuals or group in the Core Elms Volunteer Experience Form.
Explain how these standards or policies will guide your actions in applying technology, care coordination, and community resources to address care quality, patient safety, and costs to the system and individual.
Describe the effects of local, state, and federal policies or legislation on your nursing scope of practice, within the context of technology, care coordination, and community resources.
Explain how nursing ethics will inform your approach to addressing the problem through the use of applied technology, care coordination, and community resources.
Document the time spent (your practicum hours) with these individuals or group in the Core Elms Volunteer Experience Form.
Support main points, assertions, arguments, conclusions, or recommendations with relevant and credible evidence.
Apply APA style and formatting to scholarly writing.
Additional Requirements
Format: Format your paper using APA style. APA Style Paper Tutorial [DOCX] is provided to help you in writing and formatting your paper. Be sure to include:
A title page and reference page. An abstract is not required.
Appropriate section headings.
Length: Your paper should be approximately 5–7 pages in length, not including the reference page.
Supporting evidence: Cite at least five sources of scholarly or professional evidence that support your central ideas. Resources should be no more than five years old. Provide in-text citations and references in APA format.
Proofreading: Proofread your paper, before you submit it, to minimize errors that could distract readers and make it more difficult for them to focus on its substance.
Competencies Measured

By successfully completing this assessment, you will demonstrate your proficiency in the course competencies through the following assessment scoring guide criteria:

Competency 4: Apply health information and patient care technology to improve patient and systems outcomes.
Analyze the impact of health care technology on a patient, family, or population problem.
Competency 5: Analyze the impact of health policy on quality and cost of care.
Analyze state board nursing practice standards and/or organizational or governmental policies associated with health technology, care coordination, and community resources and document the practicum hours spent with these individuals or group in the Core Elms Volunteer Experience Form.
Competency 6: Collaborate interprofessionally to improve patient and population outcomes.
Explain how care coordination and the utilization of community resources can be used to address a patient, family, or population problem.
Competency 8: Integrate professional standards and values into practice.
Support main points, assertions, arguments, conclusions, or recommendations with relevant and credible evidence.
Apply APA style and formatting to scholarly writing.