Name: De Guzman, Cameron Josh B.

Section: 2BSN-A
BIOETHICS

Read the module/hand out uploaded and do some research. Respond to the following questions using on
your own thoughts and cite properly in justifying your answer.

1. How to maximize the use of technology in healthcare?

Technology has brought a variety of remarkable improvements to the health system over the
years. A variety of cures have been developed and beneficial improvements in treatment and care
have been made. With continuous enhancements and updates, it is important to understand where
we are currently in terms of advantageous healthcare technologies. Due to strict regulations and
the sensitive nature of medical information, the industry has proceeded with caution.
Nevertheless, the field has made significant strides that have redefined how physicians practice
medicine and patients receive treatment.

Previously, the hospitals and clinics that have introduced electronic health record (EHR)
programs have grown. According to the PwC Health Research Institute, only 9 percent of these
facilities used EHRs 10 years ago, compared to about 90 percent today. A broad variety of other
emerging innovations has contributed to developments in the healthcare industry. Some of which
are:
o Increased medical connectivity. Digital platforms have redefined the social
sphere, and new technologies have made it easier than ever for physicians to
connect to share information. New apps have entered the market that allows
physicians to post recent findings and initiate conversations on their mobile
devices, which reduces the time needed to get in touch.

o Computers provide input on medical decisions. As computer systems become

more advanced, they are quickly becoming a great tool for health professionals.
Computers can now provide input on X-rays and similar diagnostic tools to help
industry companies more timely and informed decisions. The same would be true
when it comes to drug development and establishing the best route for the
treatment of patients. Machines gather and analyze data in real-time, providing a
second opinion to health care professionals.

o New utility for 3D printing. Although the introduction of 3D printing has had an
impact on several industries, it has been especially beneficial to the health care
industry. Physicians can print synthetic skin, implants, and prosthetics for a low
price. They can also create practical practice templates.

o More online and mobile educational opportunities. Aspiring health care

practitioners, particularly nurses, find it easier to pursue their education by taking
online courses. Remote access to medical training has also made it possible for
doctors to develop and expand their expertise in more isolated regions of the
country. The increased ability to access education in formerly secluded regions of
the world equates to more health care opportunities for people who truly need
them.
o Advancements in robotics and nanotechnology. Such recent advances include
surgical robots and nano-devices, in addition to laser technologies. By the use of
these techniques, doctors have been able to improve their precision and obtain
access to previously inaccessible locations. One nanorobot, for example, will
potentially swim through fluids in the body, including the bloodstream and the
surface of the skin.

o Easily Accessible Medical Information It has become increasingly common for

people suffering from questionable symptoms to immediately consult the internet
for an answer to their ailments. This is great for easing worries or providing
answers when your medical provider may not be readily available. It can also save
you money by avoiding unnecessary doctor visits. However, looking up your
symptoms online can lead to anxiety and panic over a simple illness, as your
symptoms may be present for several different sicknesses. In these instances, it is
important to consult your doctor for a professional diagnosis.

o A Larger Presence on Social Media Physicians, hospitals, and clinics have

made it a standard practice to create an avenue for the public through social media
sites. This not only grants them a larger audience but allows people an easy way
to reach out for information from them. They can offer advice or information
specific to their practice, educating followers far and wide. Another great perk
from this is that past patients can leave feedback or a review of the service they
received at the specific medical facility or with a specific doctor. This can greatly
help potential patients narrow down a doctor or facility that they feel could best
serve their needs.

o Better treatments, equipment, and medicine It is no secret that as we move

further into the age of technology, several benefits emerging. Many would
consider that improved healthcare is the greatest result to come from technology.
Better equipment has allowed doctors to provide more comprehensive care. Better
treatments have increased the quality of life of some different people suffering
from long-term illnesses. And better medicine has completely wiped out the fear
of some life-threatening illnesses of the past. It has also helped speed up research,
as well as connect medical researchers from around the world. This has allowed
the focus to be narrowed and the manpower to multiplied in finding answers to
certain medical mysteries. Procedures have been improved as well. For example,
a medical spa in San Mateo County uses state-of-the-art technology for plastic
surgery. The scope of qualified technicians and physicians has largely increased,
allowing more options with safe results. All of these things are due to improved
technology.

o Faster Results It used to take weeks or even a month to get the results of medical
testing. With improved technology, it is now possible to get results as soon as the
lab is finished with your sample. Many hospitals and clinics offer web portals,
allowing you to access your results within hours or days. This is incredibly
 helpful in easily anxiety and providing the answers you seek. These web portals
also allow you to access your past medical records, giving you a chance to keep
track of appointments, medical issues, and billing. It is a great way to add
convenience to the patient.

o Improved Relationships with Patients Doctors can easily access a patient’s

records, allowing them to provide better, in-depth knowledge about each patient’s
medical past and care. Patient files used to line the halls of practices, creating
large amounts of paperwork, and eliminating the possibility of finding years-past
medical records. Now, technology has allowed medical records to be transcribed
online, easily available to both doctor and patient. Patients can feel more
comfortable with their doctor when he understands their complete health picture.

o It Helps to Predict Outbreak Since many people search online for answers once
they begin to feel under the weather, that data adds up to create a larger picture
specific to that query. Yearly flu outbreaks are a great example of this. Locations
can be determined from online searches and a database can be created that shows
the rise in possible cases as well as the spread of the illness. This can be an
important step in preparing for outbreaks as well as predicting the outlook for the
flu season in future years.

2. Among the ethical issues presented, which of them can directly impact health care in the
Philippines?

Strong moral standards are needed for healthcare. These standards are falling in the
context of health or medical ethics the position of applied ethics concerns the moral choice
applied to medical procedures and policies. Some examples that may imply in health care in the
Philippines are:

Reconciling patient care decisions with financial management. Where in the

problem is on the balance of capital allocations of healthcare administrators and the
patient's need and the budget revenue. Healthcare employees accountable for healthcare
finance management decisions may be in a position to discuss, for example, if a drug
requires to be prescribed or whether an imaging test needs to be performed. Numerous
patient suffers from their illness due to incapability to continue the healthcare in the
hospital because of high prices in the lab works and facility. Also, many patients signed a
waiver when the hospital can not give any healthcare anymore due to lack of money or
high debt.

Safeguarding patient privacy when using population on health data. The

digitalization of medical records has tremendous advantages. Electronic Health Records
(EHRs) offer a consolidated, shared record of the patient's full medical history; facilitate
the integration of workflows for healthcare providers, and activate advanced medical
evaluation tools. Since they keep vast volumes of very sensitive data, they, therefore,
bear the burden of a loss of privacy. Safeguarding confidential records is a central
responsibility of health care providers, and the federal regulations regulating the
dissemination of private information specifically governs the processing of sensitive
 patient health information, but the area of public health complicates the privacy of
patients. Health population is a study of the health effects of large numbers of
individuals. Here in the Philippines not all hospitals and clinics do not yet have and apply
Electronic Health Records, which may result in a slow prognosis and additional history
for the patient. It is also an advantage to up-to-date and complete information about
patients at the point of care, and enabling quick access to patient records for more
coordinated, efficient care. But since the EHR can also be expensive for both the future
patients and for the hospital and not all Filipinos can afford these high prices upgrade.

Devising Ethical responses to pandemics and other widespread medical

emergencies. According to Bacarra A., The “Ethics Guidelines on COVID-19 Crisis-
Level Hospital Care” contains the following sections:
● Principles- Elaborates the ethical elements from which the rest of the document is
based.
● Admission triage- Provides guidelines on patient admission and the type of care to be
provided to the patient
● Communication of care- Focuses on ensuring communication of care to the patients’
families
● Therapeutic interventions- Provides guidelines on the use of available alternative
therapeutic interventions for the treatment
● ICU allocation- Provides guidelines on patient admission to the ICU and its processes
● Care for non-COVID-19 patients- Provides guidelines on providing care for non-
COVID-19 patients
● Information management- Elaborates on the information healthcare providers may
attain and discloses
● Research- Provides guidelines on researching in the time of the pandemic
● Personnel rights and obligations- Provides guidelines on healthcare worker rights and
obligations
● Working committees- Elaborates tasks of committees within hospitals and the
establishment of the patient liaison committee
● Post mortem care- Provides guidelines on post-mortem care of suspected and
confirmed COVID-19 case

3. As a nurse, in the capacity of our role, how will you address the challenges posted by technology in the
delivery of health care?

In the nursing sector, technology enables RNs to increase performance and connect more
efficiently. Although some nurses are opposed to modern technology, arguing that it takes human contact
away from the bedside, a poll of 600 nurses indicates that 82% agree that technology has a positive effect
on patient care. The advances in information technology and new devices have improved the quality of
life for patients and healthcare professionals alike.
Improved Accessibility. Electronic Health Records (EHRs) have transformed the room for healthcare
information technology. The electronic health record is a digital version of the medical records of a
patient. It can contain progress reports, suppliers, issues, drugs, laboratory data, etc. EHRs can enhance
patient safety by enhancing the quality and clarity of medical records and making details readily available
to healthcare providers.
Decreased Human Error
New technology will reduce the risk of human error. Nurses who work long hours or have under-staffed
departments are at greater risk of making mistakes. Routine treatments are streamlined by new medical
technology. For example, automatic IV pumps may calculate the dose of drug given to patients. This
provides a smoother method for changing the volume of drip and the dose. EHRs also help with
decreasing mistakes at the bedside. Since the data is readily available, EHRs can help reduce duplication
of tests or delays in treatment.
Positive Impact on Nursing Shortage
Nursing shortage was a factor in the lack of nurses in the U.S. Extended mental and physical fatigue can
cause nurses to feel stretched thin, resulting in nurses leaving their practice settings. Emerging telehealth
technology will continue to reduce the pressure on nursing, as fewer nurses are required to deliver
sufficient care. Telehealth also offers nurses the ability to access regional regions which are defined as
having a health provider shortage. This covers regions in rural areas where there is a lack of a sufficient
number of healthcare professionals; telehealth aims to overcome these gaps by delivering remote services
to patients efficiently.