1. RUNNING HEAD: FINAL PAPER
1
Final Paper
for
Technology and Public Health
Sandie Castillo
HHS440: Technology in Health Services
(CGK1341A)
Instructor: Angelia Terrell-Newman
November 11, 2013

2. Technology and Public Health
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Introduction
The topic, I wish to analyze and discuss are "Technology and
Public Health." According to our text, it states that "the field of public health is
very broad. It concludes the care of the environment (water, earth, and air). Public health
informatics supports public health practice and research with information technology.
Public health also includes the health issue to tobacco use, planning for natural disaster,
protecting food supply, and the identification and prevention or containment of
epidemics." (Burke & Weill, 2009, p.86).
Health information technology has the potential to improve patient safety, health care
quality, efficiency, data collection and may also help to restrain the rising cost. Health
communication and health information technology (IT) are central to health care, public
health, and the way our society views health. In the doctor's office we see so many files
accumalating and wondering what happens when there is no more room left to add more
files where does the rest go. Advance technology involved managing and sharing patient
information electronically, rather than through paper records. Another challenge is
protecting patient privacy. Once confidential patient information has been stored
electronically, only those with a legitimate need to know should have access to it.
"Use of electronic health records (EHRs) is becoming more and more common. It is
anticipated that their use will improve patient-care, decrease practice cost, and
increase provider productivity and revenue."(Chin & Sakuda, 2012).

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In today's world of advance technology, we will face some negatives and some positive
along the way. The one most significant and positive impact, that I see is the greater use
of how computers has made our everyday work and task easy, simple and convenient.
The negative side of it is, the practical problems we experience and face today is privacy
and safety, personal information is no longer safe and secured in today's society. Another
is social media which has taken over our young children and adult's lives, less face-toface interaction with family members. Technology can be most effective in the use of
health communication, and to increase the efficiency of health care and public health
service delivery which we know is critically important. The development through
technology has proven some areas to work effectively for the health care industry today,
by way of medicines, surgery for people to live long lives, provides food and shelter,
educate families for better health.
"One advantage embracing technology as it pertains to public health is registries,
which are organized systems that has information on people with diseases, exposing to
anything that may cause illness and a predisposition towards a disease. Information in
registries can help with a problem and it's size and examines trends over time. A
disadvantage is if there is a pandemic outbreak, much of the world's population will need
medical care which we cannot provide, becuase our health care system lacks surge of
medication and hospital beds, and there may or may not be a vaccine in the beginning of
the pandemic."(Burke & Weill, 2009).

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"Public health is the science and art of protecting and improving the health of
communities through education, promotion of healthy lifestyles, and research for disease
and injury prevention. Public health helps improve the health and well being of people in
local communities and around the globe. Public health works to prevent health problems
before they occur."
By providing new ways for providers and their patients to readily access and use health
information, information technology (IT) has the potential to improve the quality, safety,
and efficiency of health care. Effective use of communication and technology by health
care, and public health professionals can bring about an age of patient and public
centered health information and services. Improve health care quality and safety,
increase the efficiency of health care and public health service delivery, improve the
public health information infrastructure, support care in the community and at home,
facilitate clinical and consumer decision-making, and build health skills and knowledge.
In addition to technology how does it impact this area of health care as it relates to the
provision of services such as; supporting shared decision-making between patient's and
providers. Providing personlized self-management tools and resources. Building social
support networks, delivering accurate accessible, and actionable health information that
is targeted or tailored, facilitating the meaningful use of health (IT) and exchange of
health information among health care and public health professionals, enabling quick
and informed action to health risks and public health emergencies.

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Increasing health literacy skills, providing new opportunities to connect with culturally
diverse and hard-to-reach populations. Providing sound principles in the design of
programs and interventions that result in healthier behaviors and increasing internet and
mobile access especially for the elderly's in their type of situation and condition.
The effective use of communication and technology by health care and public health
professionals can bring about an age of patient-and public-centered health information
and services. By strategically combining health (IT) tools and effective health
communication processes. "Primary Care is increasingly geared toward standardized
care and decision-making for common chronic conditions, combinations of medical
and mental health conditions, and the behavioral aspects of care for those conditions.
Patinet complexity is defined here as interference with standard care and decisionmaking by symptom severity or impairments, diagnostic uncertainty, difficult engaging
care, lack of social safety or participation, disorganization of care, and difficult patient
clinician relationships.' (Ebsco/Host, Peek, Baird & Coleman, 2009).
The rising cost in today's economy for healthcare insurance is effecting many American's
especially those who don't have a job to support themselves and or their families, let
alone the high cost of food, shelter, raising the amount of children in the home, the
ageing population is living longer than expected that is costing them a bundle for hospital
care, the nursing facility assisted living care, or the patient care in their own home.

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"Despite the recent public attention to e-health as a solution to rising healthcare costs
and an ageing population, there have been relatively few studies examining the
geographical pattern of e-health usage." (Ebsco/Host, Jung, Sunderland, 2010).
"Presents surveys results depicting the strong support among Americans adults for
government sponsored health coverage in the U.S. Consideration of health care as a
necessity that should be regulated by the government; levels of assistance for extensive
health care reform in the face of worsening crisis in rising medical costs; reduction of
the prescription doses to extend the medication." (Anonymous, 2004).
"The general public believes that technology will improve health care efficiency, quality,
safety, and cost. However, few people consider that these same technologies may also
introduce errors and adverse events. Given that nearlt 5,000 types of medical devices
are used by millions of health care providers around the world, device related problems
are inevitable. While technology holds much promise, the benefits os a specific
technology may not be realized due to four common pitfalls: (1) poor technology design
that does not adhere to human factors and ergonomic principles, (2) poor technology
interface with the patient or environment (3) inadequate plan for implementing a new
technology into practice, and (4) inadequate maintenance plan."
(Cope, Nelson, & Peterson, 2008).

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"Lenders at health care organizations across the country are finding innovative ways to
use video conferencing devices to meet the specialty care needs of rural patients. A
look at the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Office of Advancement of Telehealth (OAT) grantees shows that these organization are making clear
headway in linking their physicians and patients remotely, but work still needs to be
done to digitally collect and document the remote consult within the electronic health
record (EHR)." (Prestigiacomo, 2012).
"Medical and public health groups are banding together to explain warming has
threaten a toll on human health and will continue to cause food-borne illnesses,
respiratory problems, and deaths unless policy changes are enacted." And also, the
spread of disease due to a natural disaster that comes from areas of nearby streams,
low line areas and from the flow of water coming down from the mountains where
people and animals live. The conteminated waters that has debree, animal feces, bacteria
and even people that might be carrying some kind of bacteria or disease that is very
contagous will spread quicker and faster to others in no time. "Global public health
surveillance is critical for the identification and prevention of emerging and reemerging
diseases, both for infectious and non-communicable diseases that account for the
greatest burden of diseases, even in very poor countries."(St. Louis, MD, 2012).
"Health emergencies pose some of the greatest threats to our nation, because they can be
difficult to prepare for, detect, and contain. Important progress has been made to improve
emergency preparedness since Sept. 11, 2001, the subsequent anthrax attacks, and
Hurricane Katrina; three events that put severe stress on our public health system."

8. (Aonymous, 2013).
Technology and Public Health
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"Trust for America's Health (TFAH), publishes an annual report on public health preparedness called-Ready or Not? Protecting the Public's Health from Diseases, Disasters
and Bioterrorism, which examines American's ability to respond to health threats and
help identify areas of vulnerability."(Anaymous, 2013).
"The New International Health Regulations adopted by the World Health Assembly in
may 2005 (IHR 2005) represents a major development in the use of international law for
public health purposes. One of the most important aspects of IHR 2005 is the establishment of a global serveillance system for public health emergencies of international concern."
(Baker, 2006).
Using technology to advance in public's health. According to, Riegelman and Persilypurpose revising the core curriculum in schools of public health to include applied
research and technology. The concepts Riegelman and Persily present have more
than 30 years'historical support their position is further strengthened by the technologic
revolution of the decade. At present, relatively low-cost and powerful personal computers
(PCs) and PC-based statistical research packages may be used to access databases from
private, state, and federal agencies. These databases include health care ecounters at the
patient level and individual responses to national surveys of, for example, nutrition and
health."(Arons, 2001).

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Health care professionals need to be familiar with the most current computer hardware,
and software, networking, wireless technology, and to maintain a high level of computer
literacy. With any up to date knowledge of computer hardware and software, networking,
wireless technology of today, and to maintain a high level of computer literacy then, the
health care professional would not be able to provide the quality of health care service
needed for his or her patient/clients. The important goal of a health care professionals in
the health care sector is being able to know how to function and operate programs,
access resources through the use of technology and to keep up with new and ever
changing world of technology.
"Health information technology (health IT), involves the exchange of health information
in an eletronic environment. Widespread use of health IT within the health care industry
will improve the quality of health care, prevent medical errors, reduce health care costs,
increase administrative efficiencies, decrease paperwork, and expand access to affordable
health care."(HIPAA, 2012).
"When you are not computer literate or do not have the resources that you need then it
world take longer for treatment. Technology helps to provide the faster treatment, which
can help physicians and nurses to promote care for more patients at a given time. Without
the best resources many physicians would not be able to see the disease, viruses, and
cancer. There have been less medication errors with the use of technology. This usually
happens during order transcription or administration of medication." (Anonymous,2012).

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With technology being used to prevent such errors by verifying medication with barcodes verification within an electronic medication administration system. The future
research or applications of technology for the public health looks at electronic health
records (EHR) reason is no more paper records every patient/client information is
now stored in a computer data systems which makes it a lot easier and simpler to
keep an office space free from record files every where. New technology to predict
future appearence, such as manufacturing, transportation and communication. One
day soon patients will interact with their doctor via remote telepresence either by:
video conferencing, video telephony, hand-held mobile devices, sound and telerobotics.
Thr future inventions including the robotic surgery which now is here and another is
medical nanobots that target specific cancer cells and other diseased cells. Earlier, I
mentioned robotic surgery which also includes the use lasers, frequency sound waves,
computer-assisted surgery, telepresence surgery and nanotechnology.

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Conclusion.....
This concludes my part 1: final paper for technology and public health. One advancement of technology for public health and many others that involves the use of technology.
It all started from the beginning and has developed more over time is the internet. The
internet has changed all of us in so many questionable ways. How could we have made
it this far, if it wasn't for the internet that kept us going in our day to day work, school
and play. Healthcare technologies have been employed to extend human life, reduce
pain, disease risk, and to improve patient's quality of life. Today, society turn to
technology to keep them informed and entertained.

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References:
Anonymous, (2012). Health Information Technology U.S. Department of....
Retrieved from: http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/understanding/special/healthit
Anonymous, (2013). Bioterrorism and Public Health Preparedness. TFAH-Issues
(Trust for America's Health).
Retrieved from: http://www.healthyamericans.org/bioterrorism-and-public-health..
Arons, R. R., (2001). Using Technology to Advance in Public's Health. American
Journal of Public Health Association. Washington DC.
Retrieved from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1446738
Baker, M. G., (2006). Global Public Health Surveillance Under New Informational
Health Regulations. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16836821
Burke, L., & Weill, B., (2009). Information Technology for the Professionals. (3rd ed.).
Upper Saddle River, NJ. Pearson Education, Inc.
Chin, B. J., MBA, MPH & Sakuda, C.M., MBA (2012). Transforming & Improving
Health Care through meaning use of Health Information Technology. Hawaii Journal
of Medicine & Public Health.
Retrieved from: http://www.ncbi.nilm.nig.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3347738

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References:
Cope, G. P., Nelson, A. L., & Peterson, E. S., (2008). Patient Care Technology and
Safety-Patient Safety. Retrieved from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK2686
Prestigiacomo, J., (2012). Warning Threatens Public Health. Integrating Telehealth and the
EHR-Health Care informatics....
Retrieved from: http://www.healthcareinformatics.com/article/integrating-tele..
St. Louis, M., MD (2012) Global Health Surveillance. Center for Global Health
CDC. Retrieved from: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/su6103a4
Walker, E.P., (2011). Warning Threatens Public Health, Groups War.
Retrieved from: http://www.medpagetoday.com/PublicHealthPolicy/Environmental...