Mobile Computing Technology - Essay Example

?It is without question that mobile computing and technology have changed many of the ways in which key aspects of healthcare have been provided to the end user within the past several years. Much of these changes have been concentric upon providing more effective and immediate service to patients who would otherwise need to be dependent upon older, much slower technology to affect the same goals. However, within the current system, mobile computing and social networking has proven to be a paradigm shift by which almost every aspect of society is impacted. As a function of discussing and analyzing this to a further degree, the following analysis will seek to answer for key questions concerning the prospect of engaging in further utilization of mobile computing and social networking as a means of effecting healthcare to the patient; comparing and contrasting the monitoring the patient vital signs using mobile computer technology to inpatient visits, analyzing the advantages and disadvantages of using mobile computing technology to monitor patients, assessing the security concerns with regards the transmission of personal medical information over wireless networks, and assessing the use of social networking for group support for patients with similar medical concerns. Firstly, with regards to comparing and contrasting the monitoring of patient vital signs using mobile computing technology to inpatient visits, it can immediately be noted that a massive amount of time can be saved with regards to such a monitoring process. Due to the fact that only the data will need to be analyzed and the patient himself/herself is not present at the doctor’s office, it is possible for the doctor/doctors in question to analyze and keep track of a great many more patients than they might be able to otherwise. With employees shortages evidenced in nearly each and every healthcare sector, this is a positive aspect that could be furthered in the future. However, with regards to some of the negatives that such an approach could generate, it must be noted that the responsibility of measurement and/or sustainment of the device/devices in question used to report this information would ultimately be in the hands of the end patient. Whereas in the doctor’s office a team of medical support staff are able to ensure that proper measurements are being affected, quite a different situation entirely is evidenced with regards to a patient being responsible for utilizing equipment in the correct way. In effect, the veracity of the information and key environmental factors must be taken into account with regards to the inference which can be drawn from the date of which is perceived. Similarly, an analysis of the advantages and disadvantages of using mobile computing technology to monitor patients will herein be engaged. With regards to the advantages which could be realized, it is necessary to note that a massive level of cost savings could be generated by maximizing time that the medical professionals have to devote to each subset of data. Whereas it is important to have personal contact and a discussion of complicated factors with the patient in question, oftentimes this personal contact eats in to the time that the medical professionals have to analyze key healthcare data that could otherwise be leveraged to make a positive overall impact upon the health of the individual. However, the converse view of this particular situation is one in which an impersonal and removed relationship exists between the healthcare professionals and patients. Although it is no doubt beneficial to maximize healthcare professionals time and increase the veracity of the information and data which can be accrued regarding file signs and healthcare information, achieving this at the risk of creating such an impersonal relationship between doctor and patient is a risk that carries a great deal of negative repercussions. Anytime a technology is employed it is necessary to consider the means by which security concerns can impact upon the way in which a particular service or product is made available. The past several years have noted a marked increase in the level of hacking and data theft of personal information that is occurred around the globe. One of the most personal aspects of information that exists is with regards to health care information. So prescient is this concern that the United States Congress passed HIPPA during the mid-1990s; legislation aimed at guaranteeing the security and privacy of medical records and personal medical information. Anytime that these records are transmitted online and via wireless networks, there exists a high probability that some of this information may be hijacked and utilize by individuals who have no right to such information. In such a way, rather than merely instituting such a program in hoping for the best, it is necessary for any and all stakeholders involved in creating the infrastructure for such a system to be highly cognizant of this risk and work at each and every juncture to protect this information by encryption and other technological means. Lastly, with respect to the means by which social networking groups can be utilized to support patients with similar medical concerns, this is an important step forward in seeking to move the medical profession and the patient towards a nexus of technological integration and support. However, this being said, it is also necessary to understand that many patients will not want to integrate with any social networking related to their particular healthcare concern due to the fact that they fundamentally believe that it is no one else’s concern what they suffer from or what particular health ailment they are currently battling (Munck et al, 2012). In such a manner, it should be the role of the healthcare provider to mention that such an option exists; however, they should not seek to push this upon the individual as key privacy concerns necessarily impact on whether or not they would be willing to engage in such a course of action. In short, technology provides a means by which the medical profession can be greatly benefited. However, this being said, it is also necessary to note that she shortcomings and necessary drawbacks are also evidenced within each technological progression that takes place. Although the shortcomings are oftentimes worrisome, this should not serve as a means of frightening the individual, or the healthcare community have large, from engaging with these new means of integrating with the patient. Rather, it should merely be understood that these technological means to be thoroughly understood in employed in a responsible manner. Reference Munck, B., Sandgren, A., Fridlund, B., & Martensson, J. (2012). Conceptions of medical technology in palliative homecare. Journal Of Clinical Nursing, 21(13/14), 1868-1877. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2702.2012.04123.x Read More