course material

1. Advances in Health informatics and telemedicine are providing greater
access to healthcare resources
Advances in Health informatics and telemedicine are providing greater access to healthcare
resourcesDemonstrate the ability to critically review a prepared position statement,
analysing its content from both a theoretical and clinical perspective.Using the following
framework will help in providing a structured critique of the position statementFramework
(guide only)1. Is the position statement structured? Does it have an introduction and a
conclusionthat clearly states the position?2. Does the position statement relate to the
topic?3. Does the position statement demonstrate adequately the links to the National
Competency Standards for Registered Nurse?4. Are the references used to support the
position statement current and credible (i.e. evidence), why or why not?5. Do you think the
author eliminated any important information (i.e. evidence) instating their position? If so,
please refer to these evidence sources in your critique.6. Remember when giving feedback it
must be constructive regardless of whether it ispositive or negative feedback.Remember
that the critique will be assessed against the criterion referenced rubric:Interpretation:
Extensively critiques the content and Insightfully analyses the position taken. Identifies
inconsistences (if any) in the position statementAnalysis & Evaluation: Thoroughly analyses
assumptions in relation to NMBA competencies for clinical practice, discriminates rationally
using reasonable judgment, provides extensive information in support of position or offers
alternative viewEvidence: Provides extensive evidence in support of the position statement
or provides clarifying evidence if required in support of alternative views. All evidence is
from credible sourcesReferencing: Accurate use of APA referencing style in all instances. A
range of in-text citations has been usedPosition Statement: “ Advances in Health informatics
and telemedicine are providing greater access to healthcare resources” .The Australian
Institute of Health and Welfare [AIHW] (2013) stated that residents in rural areas have
shorter lives and higher levels of illness and disease risk factors than those in major cities.
Some areas in Australia are disadvantaged in accessing goods and services, educational and
employment opportunities and have lower incomes (AIHW, 2013). The number of medical
practitioners in remote/rural regions is less than the number of employed medical
practitioners in the major cities. In rural areas, there is around 148 fulltime equivalent
medical practitioners per 100,000 in population compared to 335 full time equivalent
medical practitioners per 100,000 in population in major cities (AIHW, 2008). The major
cities have a better ratio of medical practitioner available to them than fellow rural

2. residents. The New South Wales rural doctors network [RDN] (2012) outlined that the
Australian government was introducing an approach in improving health services to rural
area which involved a trial of advances in health informatics and telemedicine funded by
The Australian Department of Health and Ageing from 1rst July 2010 to 30th June 2011. It
can be argued that advances in Health informatics and telemedicine are providing greater
access to healthcare resources. This will be shown by defining Health informatics and
telemedicine, the benefit for the stakeholders particularly those who live in rural areas, as
well as looking at the possible disadvantages.Health Informatics also can be defined as
multi-disciplinary teams that manage the information including collection, storage,
retrieval, communication and optimal use of health related data (Graham, as cited in
Hovenga, Kidd, Garde & Cossio, 2010). Further more, health informatics involves
Information Technology 2 [IT] in problem solving and decision-making assuring the highest
quality health care in all basic and applied areas of biomedical sciences (Graham, as cited in
Hovenga, Kidd, Garde & Cossio, 2010). The Australasian College of Health Informatics
[ACHI] (2014), an Australasian health informatics professional body, defines it as the use of
health information tools and techniques, not only computer skills, but to support clinical
care, health service administration, education and research. It can be said that health
informatics process allows information to be collected and entered to the system and stored
in a place where it is accessible to the users. The information management in health
informatics allows the users to have access to download or retrieve the information from
the system (Department of Health, 2012).An electronic record of the patients’ information
is kept allowing nurses and other health care team members to follow the care of the
patients regardless where they are (Olesen, 2012). Sustainable health information helps the
patients get continuity and best possible quality of care (Olesen, 2012). The electronic
record allows other health care team members to access current records and promotes
collaborative support for therapeutic intervention. This activity NMBA (2013) domain 3,
provision and coordination of care, of national competency standards for the registered
nurse point 6.4 states “ collaborative supports the therapeutic interventions of other health
team members” . The use of advanced health informatics supports the collaborative
therapeutic interventions.However, According to the Australian Law Reform commission
(n.d.), there is privacy regulation in handling health information in Australia, the Privacy Act
1988. The Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (2012) outlined that written or
verbal consent must be obtained prior to use of the telehealth system for patients. It can be
an issue when outsiders have access to the health informatics system without 3
authorization or hackers can breach privacy laws. As health information is entered into the
system, the users, such as nurses, medical practitioners, allied health and other professional
members with access authority are able to use the data to support clinical care. Therefore,
the design of the health informatics model has to consider and maintain the patients’
privacy. The nurses using health informatics should maintain patient’ s privacy and
confidentiality as mentioned in the Nursing and Midwifery Board Australia [NMBA]
competency standard in collaborative and therapeutic care point 10.2, which is maintaining
confidentiality in discussion about an individual/group’ s need and progress and point 10.4
“ demonstrate awareness of changes to policy and guidelines“ (NMBA, 2013). Maintaining

3. patients’ privacy is part of the legal obligation for the nurses and other health care team
members to comply with the policy and guidelines.World Health Organization [WHO]
(2010) described telemedicine as a method of providing health care services for people who
live away from the centre of health care support providers by using information and
communication technology for clinical care practice. Telemedicine is greatly beneficial
when the patients and the care providers are separated by distance (WHO, 2010). People
who live in remote areas or who live in an area with a lack of health care providers can gain
advantages from this type of care. The Australian Government provided resources for the
resident to be involved the system and provided funding for telehealth (Department of
Health, 2012). The Department of Health (2012) stated the purpose of telehealth program is
to support telemedicine, medical education and health education in Australia. Telemedicine
enables the transmission of voice, data, images and information to reduce the need to travel
across long distances for the patients and the health care professionals.Evidence shows how
informatics management can benefit the health sector. The trial held by RDN conducted in
2011 and 2012 showed an increase in the number services to aboriginal patients by 143%
or 14,727 services provided within 12 months (RDN, 2012). The management of data can be
done electronically within real time. An Internet networks allow the users to access the
information thus removing the distance barrier. The stakeholders in the rural areas have
access effectively to information from major cities. For example nurses can update the
patient information through the health informatics system and the other healthcare team
members can update patients’ current health status. In the traditional system information
has to be presented as a hard copy and delivered to the user manually or face to face.
Informatics Technology [IT] can solve a lot of the distance barrier issues to delivery of
information in rural areas.In addition, telemedicine gives significant advantages in storing
and forwarding health information allowing remote health monitoring and the ability to
conduct real time interactive activities (RDN, 2012). The ability to store and forward the
information in telemedicine allowing pathology and imaging result from rural area to be
transferred electronically to a radiologist or other medical experts in major cities. Another
benefit of telemedicine is allowing real time interaction such as teleconsultation or
education and case conferencing. During the telemedicine trial, RDN (2012) claimed that
they conducted Holter/ambulatory electrocardiogram monitoring for patients in rural
areas. This technique saves the journey to the major cities to attend cardiac monitoring.RDN
(2012) outlined some issues in implementing telemedicine using health informatics, such as
technology set-up, platform and cost limitation, Medicare funding, resistance by staff and
patients. Telemedicine requires specific setting to 5 allow data transmitting between both
sides. RDN (2012) claimed that to set up telemedicine required IT support offices for both
end and this can be a human resource issue in rural areas. The cost to run the telemedicine
is relatively high. RDN (2012) stated that the cost to run telemedicine is $117.00 per hour.
The high cost to run might affect overall healthcare fees. RDN (2012) stated that private
specialists were less likely to use telemedicine incorporating health informatics, as they
have limited access to get a rebate on the telemedicine fee from the Medicare rebate
system.The nurses’ role in telemedicine is significant to support in the provision of health
care for the Australian government telehealth project (Bryce, 2013). In addition Lorentz

4. (2008) stated that from the commencement of telemedicine, the nurses efficiently and
effectively delivered care for patients in rural area. However, the growing technology
requires the nurses and other health care team members involved in telemedicine to update
their skills and be competent in using required technologies (Lorenz, 2008). This activity
reflects NMBA standard 4.2 “ participates in professional development to enhance nursing
practice” . The nurses should update the knowledge in conjunction with current health care
development.The patients in rural areas gain great benefit from telemedicine. One example,
Jonsson & willman (2008), conducted a study in implementing telenursing home healthcare,
suggested that the patients felt positive toward the virtual communication to complement
their health care. In addition Jonsson & Willman (2008) stated that the nurses claimed that
they utilized their time better in providing health care for patients in rural area. Therefore,
the implementation of health informatics and telemedicine should be supported in the
health care system in Australia. The residents in rural areas are able to reduce distance
travel requirements to attend medical appointments in 6 major cities.In conclusion, the
evidences shows health informatics with appropriate innovation is providing great support
in improving health care and health outcomes. Health informatics in conjunction with
telemedicine provide significant advantages in storing and forwarding health information
as well as increased speed in processing information. The patients in rural areas and with
the greatest distance barriers greatly benefit from telemedicines in that is can reduce costs
for them due to transport issues, enable them to get quicker diagnosis, access to highly
qualified specialists and information that is more quickly available. Specifically indigenous
health seems to have gained a lot from this system. There are some issues associated that
need to be monitored. The privacy of patients should be protected in the health informatics
system to comply with the law. The health care professionals need to be continuously
updating their knowledge, skills and competencies required to effectively use the system.
Overall the positive benefits of Health informatics and telemedicines provide the broader
communities with greater access to healthcare resources and for outweigh the possible
disadvantages.References:Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine, A. (2012).
ACRRM Telehealth Guidelines. Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine, Brisbane,
pp. 1-12.Australian Law Reform Commission. (n.d.). Regulating Privacy. Retrieved
September 30, 2014, from
http://www.alrc.gov.au/publications/4.%20Regulating%20Privacy/alrc’ spreference
principles-based-regulation.Bryce, J. (2013). Let’ s talk telehealth [Electronic version].
Australian Nursing Journal, 20 (7). Retrieved October 3, 2014, from
http://go.galegroup.com.ezproxy1.acu.edu.au/ps/i.do?action=interpret&id=GA
LE%7CA318492819&v=2.1&u=acuni&it=r&p=AONE&sw=w&authCount=1Department of
Health. (2012). Telehealth. Retrieved October 4, 2014, from
http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/e-
healthtelehealth.Hovenga, E., J., S., Kidd, M., R., Garde, S., Cossio, C., H., L. (2010). Health
informatics: an overview. EBL catalogue. Retrieved September 30, 2014, from Ebrary
database.Lorentz M (2008) Telenursing and home healthcare. Home Healthcare Nurse,
26(4), 237 243.Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia. (2013). National competency
standards for registered nurse. Retrieved October 3, 2014, from

5. http://www.nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au/Codes-GuidelinesStatements/Codes
Guidelines.aspx.Olesen, K. (2012). Informatics: An essential role for nurses [Electronic
version]. Australian Nursing Journal, 20 (3), retrieved October 4, 2014 from
http://search.informit.com.au.ezproxy1.acu.edu.au/documentSummary;
res=IELAPA;dn=704502252506294The Australasian College of Health Informatics. (2014).
Health informatics overview. Retrieved September 30, 2014, from
http://www.achi.org.au/Health_Informatics_and_Nursing_Informatics_Resou rces.htmThe
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. (2013). Rural health. Retrieved September 29,
2014, from http://www.aihw.gov.au/rural-health/.The Australian Institute of Health and
Welfare (2008). Rural, regional and remote health: Indicators of health system
performance. Retrieved September 29, 2014, from
http://www.aihw.gov.au/WorkArea/DownloadAsset.aspx?id=6442459852.The New South
Wales rural doctors network (2012). NSW rural doctors network: Annual report 2011 –
2012. Retrieved September 30, 2014, from
http://www.nswrdn.com.au/site/index.cfm?display=78980.World Health Organization.
(2010). Telemedicine opportunities and development in member states. Retrieved
September 30, 2014, from
http://whqlibdoc.who.int/publications/2010/9789241564144_eng.pdf.