Transforming Healthcare Through the Use of Web-Based Technology

Nurses involve patients in their healthcare through explanation of tests, labs, and medication. Since the Institute of Medicine (IOM) released their recommendations (in their report, To Err Is Human (Institute of Medicine [IOM], 2000), there has been an increase focus to involve patients in their care. This presentation will introduce the basic concepts of patient engagement and health literacy. Participates will be able to discover new web-based technology that will enhance patient care. In addition, participants will be able to describe new tools to evaluate websites.

Patient engagement is involving patients and their significant others in their health care across the continuum of health. Involving patients increases health outcomes, patient satisfaction and is key to patient adherence. In order to achieve success in patient engagement is having the right tools and making sure that the patient understands the information. Health literacy is an important factor to achieve success in better health outcomes for the patient. Patients not only need to need to be able to read written material but also understand what it means.

There are many different web-based technology tools to increase patient engagement and to evaluate websites to make sure that the information is easy to read for patients. These sites include patient health records, social media sites, and telemedicine. Some patients are motivated if they can take an action to see their progress in achieving health outcomes like loosing weight or participating in activity challenges. There are many different websites out there for patients to be able to track their diet and exercise so that they can participate more in their health.

Nurses need to make sure that they have the tools necessary to evaluate the information that they give to patients. They need to make sure that the information is not only accurate, but also easy to read, and reviewed on a regular basis. There are many tools that nurses can use to make sure that it contains the basics needed for health literacy for patients.