4.1 Using technology in health and social care
You may well have experienced or used digital technology where you live or work; many people use smartphones, mobile apps and you will have been using the internet to access this OpenLearn course. Integrated and electronic patient records are becoming more and more popular and you have seen from the different activities in this course that people are broadening their use of digital technology.
The next activity provides some examples of digital technologies across different parts of the UK; you might have already heard about these, however, some might be completely new to you.
Activity 6 Map of technology of healthcare
Choose one of the UK nations, either the one you live in or one that interests you, and watch the associated video (and associated link if provided).
England
Download this video clip.Video player: Video 4 ChatHealth
Transcript: Video 4 ChatHealth
STUDENT
It allows us to express ourselves in a way that we can express to our friends. And to know that it's confidential makes me open up to other people besides my other friends.
STUDENT
Sometimes you have things that are so embarrassing that you can't talk about. So if you send a message, then you have-- the nurse already knows what you've going to talk about. And then we can just think of ways to get over that and just help. So it's really useful.
STUDENT
You can feel judged by talking to someone face to face. So I think if you can text them it's like they don't actually know who you are.
JANE DAWSON
Hi, my name's Jane Dawson, and I'm a school nurse for the Brixton team, and I'm a chat health ambassador.
KATIE
Hi, my name's Katie. I'm a school nurse in the Hinckley & Bosworth school nursing team. I've been a chat health ambassador now for the last two years.
JANE DAWSON
I do chat health as part of my daily job, but it doesn't stop my day. I can go in and out of all the schools, come back, respond to text messages, and then go out again.
KATIE
Generally, we get about 15 messages a day from young people asking a variety of questions or asking for a variety of advice.
JANE DAWSON
We're informed when we're going to be a chat health ambassadors. So I plan my day to make sure I'm in the office in some points of the day to respond to the text messages. I also go out to my schools and promote the chat health service so young people know how to access it.
KATIE
Chat health allows us to have a pause in what we're doing so we can have supervision with other staff or think about our responses, which enables us to provide a high standard service and also a standardised service as well.
JANE DAWSON
I love the fact that the young people can access this service, and the feedback is just brilliant. They will text you saying, thank you so much for your support. And it just puts a smile on your face knowing that you've helped someone.
STUDENT
Hello, my name's Serita, and I like this website because it makes me fit and healthy.
STUDENT
I like the website because it will make you fit, and I like the characters.
STUDENT
I like your website because it has funny games in it and fun games in it, and it keeps me fit and healthy.
STUDENT
I like the website because it makes me fit and healthy, and I like the logo as well.
STUDENTS
We love Health For Kids!
STUDENT
Website looks really great, and it really looks like they've taken on our advice, and the videos are a really nice touch.
STUDENT
I think that the quizzes are a really entertaining way to get information across to teens.
STUDENT
Today's website launch has been amazing, and I'm very proud to be a part of this wonderful, exciting launch.
STUDENT
I really think the website is really good. And it can really help teenagers who have problems, and it can really help you out.
STUDENT
It looks like it was really well designed, and it can fit bascially every pupose, especially with everything new coming out for it.
STUDENT
You know, being involved in what we have all created as something essential for everyone is to benefit not just us alone. It's to benefit everyone in the UK. So I think that to be good.
STUDENT
Visit health for teens.
[GIGGLING]
Video 4 ChatHealth
Interactive feature not available in single page view (see it in standard view).
Wales
Download this video clip.Video player: Video 5 Digital Communities Wales case study: Mental Health Matters
Transcript: Video 5 Digital Communities Wales case study: Mental Health Matters
CERI BISLEY
I'm a community services worker for Mental Health Matters Wales. We're based in Bridgend. We're a charity that supports people with mental health issues in the Bridgend Borough. And we deliver a number of different services, one of which is the well-being centre here.
We try and sort of encourage all of our service users to use the equipment, whether that's the iPads, the tablets, the laptops. If they ask us a question, we say-- perhaps sometimes on purpose-- I don't know that. Should we Google it? Should we have a look? And sometimes I genuinely don't know the answer to the questions. And it's just a way to sort of encourage them to get familiar with the equipment, because that's primarily, isn't it, a lot of the issues.
The equipment we receive from Digital Communities Wales, in total, there's a laptop, a tablet, the iPad, the wireless keyboard, the Bluetooth speakers. And the service users use them in a variety of different ways. Sometimes it is just for shopping or searching the internet. They've used it to register for courses, to look at things. On the NHS websites, they tend to use a lot here, because we encourage-- obviously, it's all about healthy eating, and mindfulness, and well-being, and referring on to other agencies. So they use it for that.
Plus, we've had a couple of service users who have registered with courses in the local further education colleges. And one of our service users regularly does his coursework when he was enrolled on those courses. So he used the computers for that, used Excel and some of the other Microsoft packages.
MAN 1
How I got into this technology was fairly straightforward. I enrolled in a night school in the tech and doing simple spreadsheets, which they teach you. And I also bought comprehensive books in Open University, which I enrolled later on a course, which I managed to pass.
CERI BISLEY
Through Mental Health Matters Wales, through our well-being centres and our community cafes, I guess we reach in excess of 500 service users across the county. And that's Kenfig Hill, Maesteg, Pencoed, Bridgend, and Cefn Glas as well. And certainly high in percentage, I would say probably getting on for 80% of those, wouldn't have access to any other form of equipment, or get online, or anything like that if it wasn't for the equipment that we have here.
We support people in the community with mental health issues. And it is harder at times to engage some of those service users with the world wide web, just by nature of its technology. We do support them and sit with them. It is more difficult, certainly with people with learning disabilities. For them, a lot of the time it's just, they've talked themselves into they can't do it.
And once they realise how easy it is and how straightforward-- certainly when they see the iPads, and how user-friendly it is, you know, because it's all apps, and it's all pictures, they just are blown away by it. It's really exciting actually.
MAN 2
It was like, because I can't call my brother. Because since my brother's abroad, and I don't want my bill to be sky high, so I use social media like Facebook to keep in contact with him.
MAN 1
These people are angels in my sight. And they serve the local community. They do it absolutely free, with no praise or commendation from anyone. They spare their time for the general good of the community.
Video 5 Digital Communities Wales case study: Mental Health Matters
Interactive feature not available in single page view (see it in standard view).
Scotland
Download this video clip.Video player: Video 6 ROAR VR
Transcript: Video 6 ROAR VR
NARRATOR
The trouble with virtual reality and live video streaming is it's wasted on the young. It's great fighting zombies and watching celebrities. But we want to use this tech for something far more exciting.
We want to take the housebound elderly to the theatre, the park, and local events. We are the charity Roar Connections For Life. And we work for the older citizens in Renfrewshire. We run clubs, groups, and activities, including sessions in new technology. We work to enable participants to stay actively engaged in their community and their own lives. Since 2010, we have reached thousands. And today we have over 900 active users.
In 2021, Paisley hopes to be the UK City of Culture, bringing a plethora of new attractions and events to Renfrewshire, which, sadly, many of the housebound elderly will be unable to attend. Roar want to use VR and live video streaming to connect these people to what's happening over their doorsteps. Funding will help us set up a channel to create and present bespoke content specifically aimed at the older housebound in Renfrewshire.
VR films will let them experience local parks and museums. Live streaming will take them to performances. And live video tours with two-way comms will let them take an active part in exhibitions and events. The model can then be replicated in other areas, bringing the experience to thousands. Now isn't that better than zombies and celebrities?
WOMAN
That was very exciting.
Video 6 ROAR VR
Interactive feature not available in single page view (see it in standard view).
Additional resource: Virtual Reality over the Doorstep [Tip: hold Ctrl and click a link to open it in a new tab. (Hide tip)]
Northern Ireland
Download this video clip.Video player: Video 7 Northern Ireland Electronic Care Record (NIECR)
Transcript: Video 7 Northern Ireland Electronic Care Record (NIECR)
[MUSIC PLAYING]
KEN FULLERTON
In these days of the internet, the patients are quite surprised to discover that we have been using bits of paper and posting things between hospitals, that it can take days, sometimes, for records from another hospital to turn up.
For instance, it's not unusual at an outpatient clinic for the patient to turn up, for the doctor to be there, and the notes haven't appeared. Previously, the patient would have had to go home again until we found the notes. Now, the information that we need is all available online. We can see the patient right away, and there's no longer a problem.
DARSHAN KUMAR
Electronic care record gives us information about patients when they have been in the other hospitals. The main thing is, it preventing duplication because we know these tests or investigations have been done, or the patient has been under somebody for the relevant problems. So there's no need to reinvent the wheel or redo all the investigations.
ELIZABETH CONNOLLY
Instead of having to look at multiple different systems, different programmes for clinic letters, different letters for-- or different programmes for labs, different programmes for-- actually, it's all there. You know, it's really, really quick. It just gives you-- you can assess their history really quickly so you-- there's obviously more time with the patient, quicker admissions, quicker in clinic, quicker on the ward.
LAURENCE BURKE
Even before patients arrive with us on the ward, I'm able to get the information from the electronic care record, get all of their relevant previous medical history, find out what conditions they've got, see if the admission is related to a condition that they've already got or already seeing somebody for, or whether it's something new that's shown up. That way, I think we're armed with as much information as we can about the patient.
DAVID PATTON
Hello, this is Dr. David Patton here, one of the emergency medicine registrars.
PAUL TURKINGTON
We're all well practised at following family members, GPs, and nursing homes to get the information you need to collect together a picture of the patient. And I think the ECR is a tool that helps with that. It doesn't replace the need to talk to the patient and the family and all that. But it's a great extra addition to that.
SHANE MCKEE
I would see patients very often in quite a complex care scenario. We see genetic patients so they're maybe seeing a number of different specialists for lots of different things. So if we can see all their information, and all the number of specialists that they're seeing, and when they're seeing them up on the screen, it allows us then to coordinate their care a lot better, to understand their needs, and to see if there are any gaps in their care that perhaps need to be filled in. So it helps us to join up the whole process and make the appointment process itself, which can often be quite long-- we would normally see people for maybe 45 minutes. But it makes that process much more efficient, so we can get a lot more done within that time.
PAUL MCKEAGNEY
My work is as a respiratory consultant. So I have lots of people with chronic diseases. And I work particularly closely with the south and east community teams. So we have a lot of patients who may go between different hospitals. So the system means that I can access records from other hospitals, particularly blood results, sputum results, or actuary reports for my patients who may go to a different hospital. So logging into this one system means that everything is brought together and that I can see what has been done previously to make sure that I'm not duplicating or repeating unnecessary examinations. But it also helps appropriate treatment as well.
TARA HASLETT
I would use the laptop with the MiFi, so I connect into the Trust system. And then that takes me into the ECR. I have a work list, where I have my own patients and one of my colleague's patients on that list.
If I arrive to the house, the patient wasn't there, I can see if they've landed into A&E as well. I can see if they've got a pending outpatient appointment.
NICKY BROWN
Because I cover quite a large geographical area, that I'm not always on base, the fact that I can remotely access ECR from any area within my locality-- if a patient phones me, I can look up their information very speedily, see what their last admission was, what treatments they're on, any allergies, any sort of urgent medication that they have needed. And it just helps me in diagnosing that patient and treating them appropriately to keep them out of hospital.
NATASHA JAMISON
good thing about ECR is that it's web-based, so you can access it via PC, via tablet, via your mobile phone. As long as it's on the secure network, the Trust network, you can access it anywhere, so inside and outside of hospital.
SHANE MCKEE
Patient medical information, of course, is very sensitive, and it's very personal to the patient themselves. So they do need to be reassured that full confidentiality will be maintained, so there's a consent process that we take them through whenever we're opening up their record on the electronic care record.
RUTH GILMARTIN
I'm carrying notes for my pregnancy. This is 2013. It should probably all be computerised so that I don't have to carry around a document to say I'm pregnant, and here are my notes.
NOEL CONLON
To bring everything in under the one umbrella would be a tremendous achievement. To follow your Belfast City Hospital number and be able to immediately go to the A&E and be able to identify on the screen immediately with your history, ancestry, and whatever you're getting treated for in an instant would be undoubtedly a fantastic achievement.
PAMELA O'LOAN
I'm a diabetic with high blood pressure. And sometimes it's very difficult to remember the names of the pills I use. So I think it's a great idea that they would have everything to hand, if you went from one place to another, that you don't have to give the same information to one doctor, another doctor, and another doctor.
KEN FULLERTON
I use it every day. It's the first system I turn on in the morning. I bring it with me when I do ward rounds. I use it whenever I'm in the outpatient clinic. It's been brilliant, a really successful system.
Video 7 Northern Ireland Electronic Care Record (NIECR)
Interactive feature not available in single page view (see it in standard view).
Additional resource: Northern Ireland Electronic Health Record
Part 2
Next, watch the following video.
Download this video clip.Video player: Video 8 DRIFT project
Transcript: Video 8 DRIFT project
Please note: this video has no audio narration. The following transcript consists of the text that appears during the course of the video.
The DRIFT Project: Disseminating Research Information through Facebook and Twitter
Project Aim: To use social media platforms to engage, listen and inform parents and carers of children with ADHD about healthcare research; Explain how, why and in what circumstance people engage with Facebook and Twitter for this purpose; Explain what type information and media works, why and when to engage, listen and inform patients & the public about research.
It looked like this: [shows screenshot of a poorly laid-out website]
We shared information on Facebook & Twitter about... How do I know the research in the news is ‘credible’? Where do I get advice and support about ADHD? What are clinical guidelines and what do they mean for my child’s care?
We explained what different types of research means for patients
We shared websites, photos and videos to explain research and ADHD as a condition
We brought people together...
Who were they...?
1300 followers over 3 months!
84% women
59% 18-34 years old
30 countries
Video 8 DRIFT project
Interactive feature not available in single page view (see it in standard view).
Now choose one of these case studies and write a short summary. In it, you should:
- summarise the technology used
- state a benefit of the technology used
- include a summary sentence that states why you chose this example and if you think it is a worthwhile use of technology.
Interactive feature not available in single page view (see it in standard view).
Discussion
When you wrote your summary of the technology you should have been able to identify some of the benefits that it’s providing for people and/or organisations. These are likely to include improved communication, sharing information, improving quality of, access to and the experience of care, efficiency and cost saving.
An example post might look similar to the example below:
DRIFT: Disseminating Research Information using Facebook and Twitter
- This project used the social networks Facebook and Twitter to bring together parents and carers of children and young people with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). It provided information about research and quality standards on the topic of ADHD and helped patients and the public understand what the research was saying and whether it was of good quality.
- The use of online social networks like this brought together patients from around the world, the project provided useful information and support for parents and carers of children with ADHD.
- This was a useful project because it proved to be an efficient and cost-effective way of reaching a lot of people.