Article Review
In my opinion, technology has great potential for connecting rural and public health providers and consumers with resources outside their community, as well as with keeping in touch with them. For example, some nurses use text messages or email messages to stay in close contact with clients and help them remember the details of their health maintenance plan. Being able to keep in touch these ways requires that the clients have a cell phone and know how to operate the device or they have a computer and know how to send an email (Ferguson, 55.November).
Is this practice good or bad for healthcare system, or have elements of both
The concept of telehealth is an expansion of the term telemedicine. Mostly telemedicine more narrowly focuses on the creative aspect of health care where else telehealth encompasses preventive, promotive and curative aspects of healthcare and can include delivery of educational and information to a more distant client. Evidently, with the introduction of such advanced technological skills, health centers have the ability to reach quickly and serve best their clients.
Does the patient suffer from this practice, if so, how?
The article, however, does not consider the clients without such technological skills that enable them to handle the advanced technology. Such clients might just need, practical nursing and instructions other than attempting to retrieve their emails. On the other hand, there is a huge possibility the emails sent might not reach patients at the appropriate time and such might create inconveniences.
What role does the government have or should have in regulating or controlling this issue
Although public health systems have been considered for many years to involve the government agencies such as health departments, the role of government is,however, shaped by both the needs and demands of citizens and by the citizens’ belief and values about personal responsibility and self-sufficiency. For that matter, the government has very limited control over what the public sees fit for the society. In case the health care system finds improved technology more efficient and less time consuming and also enables clients to be in touch with their nurses, so be it. The government should, but does not have total control over the decisions to be made, but the technology introduced to be in light of the law requirements.
Works Cited
Ferguson, M. (2015, November). Leveraging technology to enhance peer-sharing among prevention providers: Virtual approaches for collaboration. In143rd APHA Annual Meeting and Expo (Oct. 31-Nov. 4, 2015). APHA. Retrieved from http://www.hhnmag.com/articles/6739-community-paramedicine-can-improve-your-hospitals-standing-ease-ed-burden
