Utilization of Digital Health Technology in Healthcare: Evaluation, Legal & Ethical Requirements, Impact on Health Outcomes, and Confidentiality of Personal Data

This article discusses the utilization of digital health technology in healthcare, including My Health Record, secure text messaging, electronic prescriptions, and telemedicine. It also explores the legal and ethical requirements of registered nurses when assessing digital health information, the impact of digital health technology on health outcomes, and the information that needs to be provided to patients regarding confidentiality and accessing personal data.

CLINICAL CASE
SCENARIO

Table of Contents
QUESTIONS...................................................................................................................................3
1- Discussing and evaluate general utilize of digital health technology which are used in
healthcare.....................................................................................................................................3
2- Discussing legal & ethical requirements of registered nurse, when assessing digital health
information...................................................................................................................................4
3 Impact of digital health technology on improvement of health outcomes................................5
4 Information need to be provided to the patient regarding confidentiality and accessing
personal data................................................................................................................................7
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................1

QUESTIONS
1- Discussing and evaluate general utilize of digital health technology which are used in
healthcare.
Digital technology is defined as those key elements that contribute to achieve set
aim and objectives (Li & et.al. 2021). This element included varied terms such as
electronic tools, technological devices, automatic systems and resources that support to
increase the productivity and performance level in effective manner. Each device,
system and resource that are included in digital technology may aid to store and
proceed data systematically that in turn provide unpredictable benefits to individual
person. In the recent time, digital technology or technologies are utilized in each and
every field, either education or nursing, because of varied reasons.
There are different types of digital health technology exist and utilized in the
health care sector for purpose of providing better care and treatment to each patient
that aid to recover their health in rapid manner. My health Record, is the best example
of digital health technology that may use in the Australian health care organizations, in
order to personally controlling electronic health record, in ethical manner, which may put
direct impact on patient (Khan and et.al., 2018). It may provide a lot of benefits to
patients in term of securing electronic summary of their medical history that may enable
health care providers to treat patients and prescribe medicines accordingly. In the
Australian health care organizations, the current technology plays vital role in regard to
provide varied advantages of patients, who expect to obtain better treatment and fast
recovery, by taking treatment with the best health care service tools, technologies and
systems. It is fact that my health record technology utilization in the organizations may
benefit patients in several manners. For example, it may contribute to eliminate
medication errors, and allow each patient to get better care or medication on time in
systematic manner.
Another digital health technologies along with above one, may utilize in the
healthcare world are secure text messaging, electronic prescriptions and
telemedicine. Each technology is required to treat number of patients and help to make
their health even better than last few weeks or months. Telemedicine is one of those
elements that enable professionals in health care utilizing different technologies. They

may take approach to use artificial intelligence, tele-robots, nanotechnology, 3D
printing, and IOT, as useful technologies in telemedicine. The best thing about 3D
printing technology is that it print functional tissue to aid with reconstructive surgery and
skin grafting (Awad & et.al. (2021). This form of practices may benefit patients in term of
new lease on life and look, younger than ever, which may give them new confidence to
live life happily. Electronic prescriptions, as digital health technology also provide
several advantages to patients, in form of providing quick notification of allergies and
duplicate therapies as well as drug interactions.
Secure text messaging is another example that included in list of digital health
technology that provide benefit to patients and physicians as well, in form of testing
messages personally to the mobile of person. They may direct or guide how to take
medicines on time.
2- Discussing legal & ethical requirements of registered nurse, when assessing digital
health information.
In term of legal requirements, a registered nurse is accountable to conduct varied
ethical and legal practices during the process of assessing health care data. They
accountable to analyse, access and utilize the best accessible evidences that usually
include research findings, for quality and safe practice (Registered nurse standards for
practice, 2022). Along with current practice, they may comply with key legislations,
guidelines, rules, policies and other standard that are appropriate in the context of
practice when making decisions related to assessing health care data, which is
necessary for them to manage systematically and appropriately. It is quite essential for
a registered nurse to consider and follow the standards that are developed and set in
the Australian health care sector only for professionals, who are especially responsible
to treat patients and give them the best treatment, along with consideration of their
concerns, need and expectations.
Along with legal requirement, some elements are also needed in regard to
registered nurse when they may take initiative to access health care data in term of
utilizing the code of ethics (Pugh & Scruth, 2021). For example, a registered nurse is
accountable to maintain confidentiality related to data or medical related information of
their patients, during the procedure of assessing health care info. Another ethical

requirement for a registered nurse that they may take into their consideration while
assessing data is that they may actively create a strong password and copy of each info
about the patients (Bloomfield, Crawford & Fisher, 2021). With complex password they
may secure confidentiality and eliminate risk of emerging any unethical issue that may
put adverse impact on health care professionals practices. It is necessary for them to
participate in and lead collaborative practice, which enhance or improve their
performance level, even better than last few days or weeks. With appropriate
participation in collaborative and coordinative practices they may gain benefit of gaining
knowledge about varied aspects related to a registered nurse ethical practices.
Registered nurses plays essential role in the healthcare centres, as they may
have set of accountabilities which is important for them to fulfil related to access digital
technologies with confidentiality and privacy (Booth & et.al. 2021). The main
responsibility of nurse when they use or take initiative to use digital technologies like 3D
printing, secure message texting, etc. to take care of patients privacy and confidence,
which is the main accountability of their job role in a health care firm. Along with current
one, they are responsible to administer medications and treatments, as well as monitor
patients for side reactions. They are highly restricted to share any kind of data with
other people who are not included in case of patients, which may prevent unpredictable
harm upon each patient health and life as well. They may do not provide access of
information to anyone, without approval from professionals.
3 Impact of digital health technology on improvement of health outcomes
Modern technologies such as My health record, secure text messaging,
telemedicine, electronic prescriptions are such new digital avenues which can
incentivize the outcomes of the medical facilities for John, who is reluctant to make
frequent visits to hospitals. John is having problems due to some circumstances, like he
is residing in a rural area, so his accessibility is very poor, some ethical concerns are
also restricting john to use modern tools for his health Calder, Dunkin, (2019)
The digitalized tools will be very helping for making the health better. My health
care record which keeps all the information of a patient, key health information and
summary is being provided. It gets operated online so at any point a better surveillance
can be practised. People like John who often forget keeping prescriptions so for them

the online record shows all relevant information and pave the way for appropriate
treatment. Perils like adverse drug events, patient self management, reducing time
of clinical staff and can extend best to the patient.
In rural and remote areas where lack of inclination makes the health services
complicated to access but with the use of such digital technologies these jeopardies can
be eradicated. The app will be aiding such patients like John to get better health
services even staying in a rural and backward region.
The app keeps information like diagnostic imaging reports, pathology reports,
health summary, medication reports, discharge summaries etc. for the doctors or
any pathologist treatment of patient becomes easier with the help of application
Cosgrave, Maple & Hussain, (2018)
There are some barriers which make them reluctant to the use of such digitalized
tools for their health advancement in the nation. The biggest issue is cultural aspect,
people like John having some traditional misconceptions about the app, perception of
data theft is restricting proper use, at the same time in rural areas where people
generally avoid consultation due to lack of time so such tools may incentivize their
outcomes. Age is also an issue when is comes to use of technology. Senility leads to
disbelief in digital tools.
With the help of My Health care record, patient can contact the doctors from any
distance and can get some suggestions, prescriptions too. The app will be providing all
salient information of a patient which ease the task of doctor and can also lead them to
make appropriate clinical decisions.
For ensuring their positive take on the technology some basic requirements are
needed to be sorted out. Such as their biggest concern is data security so with this
regard some strong norms can be introduced. Some other issues such as reliability,
flexibility, customization are also needed to be inculcated so can eradicate potential
perils.
The use of technology ease the tasks like identification of the needs, which
relates to its location and approach of accessibility. The age of such patient is another
severe issue. John is a senile, so he is less likely to use such technology, even due to
age his belief on digitalization is very adverse which is needed to address.

4 Information need to be provided to the patient regarding confidentiality and accessing
personal data
It will be informed to the patient that the information which are being by them for
the purpose of operating the app would be kept secret. Their any personal and health
related information would not be accessed by any unauthorized person or organization.
A range of information shall be provided to him to make sure its reliability in using the
app for owns betterment.
For ensuring the confidentiality and secrecy of the data provided by patients
while using the application, government of Australia has laid down a great strategy for
their well-being. As the theme of the strategy “Safe, seamless, and secure:evolving
health and care to meet the needs of modern Australia” Banks, Joshy, (2019)
The information of patients are kept super confidential as per the law.
Government is working on data protection. This application will be helping in secure
use and transmission of health data, any type of malicious interference would not
take place cause a high level of digital surveillance is also being installed.
In 2018 Australian digital health agency was introduced whose aim is to
enhance the digital health outcomes in the nation. The agency is looking up some new
ways and constantly working on the performance of the applications so can hike the
technological tools in health sector.
A good security system is installed by the authority in order to make the plan more
reliable and can hike the data security measures of nation. So people like John who are
having some misconceptions and are reluctant to use application can go with it.
The data of My heath record will be kept in only Australia, no outsider can use it to
serve any purpose. Many safeguards are there to design a secure system. A separate
group of people is working all the time on data management so can eradicate any form
of maliciousness. So there is no need to get afraid for information this is very safe in the
hands of the government Reeves, Pye, (2018)
The data of a patient can be accessed by healthcare providers like hospital staff
or any specialist pathologist, other people may be family members or friends who are
invited by user to manage its record, which will be nominated representatives, if the

patent is over aged or not in position to use its own application then an authorized
representative will be able to manage and access the information.
Altogether is can be concluded that the data is very much safe and without
permission of the user nobody can access the information. With the progress of time the
application is also getting improved and ensuring better services to the patients. Key
information as visits, tests, records, date scheduled for check up, bills of test, bill of
medication etc. these all information are given to the patient or any authorized person
using the app so can effortlessly carry out the act of medical treatment.
So these all information would be given to John so can believe in the security
notion of the application and can use it for better health and medication services.

REFERENCES
Books and journals
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Awad, A & et.al. (2021). Advances in powder bed fusion 3D printing in drug delivery and
healthcare. Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews. 174. 406-424.
Banks, E., Joshy, G., (2019). Tobacco smoking and risk of 36 cardiovascular disease
subtypes: fatal and non-fatal outcomes in a large prospective Australian
study. BMC medicine. 17(1). 1-18.
Bloomfield, J. G., Crawford, T., & Fisher, M. (2021). Registered nurses understanding
of academic honesty and the perceived relationship to professional conduct:
Findings from a cross-sectional survey conducted in Southeast Asia. Nurse
Education Today. 100. 104794.
Booth, R. G & et.al. (2021). How the nursing profession should adapt for a digital future.
Bmj. 373.
Calder, R., Dunkin, R., (2019). Australian health services: too complex to navigate: a
review of the national reviews of Australia's health service arrangements.
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among early-career nursing and allied health professionals working in rural and
remote Australia-findings from a grounded theory study. Rural and Remote
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Khan, U. R & et.al., 2018. The My Health Record (MyHR) adoption in general practices:
Literature review and future research direction. The International Technology
Management Review. 7(1). pp.81-92.
Li, J. P. O & et.al. (2021). Digital technology, tele-medicine and artificial intelligence in
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Pugh, D., & Scruth, E. (2021). The Role and Practice of CNS in Australia 18. Clinical
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Reeves, D., Pye, S., (2018). The challenge of ageing populations and patient frailty: can
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Online
My Health Record. 2022. [Online]. Available Through:
<https://www.myhealthrecord.gov.au/
Registered nurse standards for practice. 2022. [Online]. Available Through:
<https://www.nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au/codes-guidelines-statements/
professional-standards/registered-nurse-standards-for-practice.aspx>

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