K102 EMTMA 06

Write a 1500-word essay. Choose two concepts from the list below, all drawn from K102, and
discuss why they are important in the provision of health and social care.

 Formal care services

 Bronfenbrenner’s ecological theory
 Ethics, values and principles for practice
 Innovations in technology
 Adjusting to transitions and change

This essay will be discussing why innovations in technology, and ethics, values and principles
for practice are important in the provision of health and social care in adults. Digital health
innovations aim to improve people’s health and wellbeing, efficiency, and accuracy.
Professionals can acquire patient’s records more effectively, and service users may have more
control over their own health. Ethics can be defined as moral principles considering what is
right or wrong, whereas values are deemed as fundamental beliefs of what is good and right.
Ethics, values, and principles ensure patients are treated with dignity and respect. Professionals
also have ethical responsibilities to demonstrate cultural competence towards service users.
Arguments will be evidenced using examples from module materials on why these concepts are
important in adults' health and social care services.

The first key point is that digital technologies can place service users in charge of their health.
The ‘24 app’ (The Open University, 2023a) can improve patient’s confidence in managing
symptoms, enhance their quality of life, while offering increased flexibility for patients. Case
study Sarah used the app which helped her manage her mental health condition by remote
therapy. This means she can use the app at any time, with shorter therapy appointments. This
form of digital technology demonstrates how important it is to Sarah, as it allows her quicker
access to psychological services. Without using the app, she may encounter longer waiting
periods which could see her condition worsen. This digital innovation is also helpful for those
living in rural areas. Travelling to appointments can be difficult due to poor transport links and
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lack of time, therefore much time is saved, and it is more convenient. The digital health delivery
service in Wales (The Open University, 2023b) enables older, frail patients' efficient healthcare
access without needing to travel. This remote healthcare is accessed through online
consultations and skype. Digital innovation is important for older people as it allows them to
attend their appointments without needing to travel, which could distress patients. It also
enables more patient control, with more choice on their healthcare decisions. This entitles a
more equal relationship between patient and professional. Digital innovations like these
promote the self-management and confidence of service users' own conditions, and the
freedom to live more independently. This may reduce associated stresses that come with
healthcare appointments, such as traveling times, cost, accessibility, and length of appointment
times. Other benefits for adult service users who use digital innovations include better self-care
of minor conditions, and improved self-management of chronic ailments. This is because
patients are more confident to research about health. There is also a reduction in loneliness
and isolation in patients. Digital strategies also benefit professionals as well as patients as the
next point explains.

Healthcare providers can access patients’ medical data and history, which provides quality and
efficient care. The eHealth strategy (The Open University, 2023c) in Northern Ireland allows all
healthcare services to share information such as patient data and historical records, providing
better support for adult service users. Sharing patient information digitally can provide more
efficient integrated services which may result in better decisions on patients’ treatment, care,
and prevention. The eHealth strategy allows patients to repeat prescriptions online, arrange GP
appointments, and enables patients to access their own personal records, providing
opportunities for self-care. Innovations such as digital data sharing are important in providing
successful and safe care because without it, health and social care providers may be putting
patients at risk if they do not have access to current and accurate information about them. By
patients allowing professionals to share data, it may also save service users time and the
burden of repeating their sometimes long or complex medical background to each new
healthcare provider. Providers can quickly gain all the required information digitally, which is
much more logical and efficient. When different professionals share an individual's data, they
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may be better able to quicken a diagnosis, obtain second opinions, and suggest the most
effective treatments for them. As the news article suggests (The Open University, 2023d),
communication between professionals can become more streamlined, with improved patient
medical record management. However, there are concerns about protecting patient
confidentiality by sharing such information. Although paper records are more difficult to share
and are still placed within health and social care practices, sharing data digitally may be less
safe and may be more exposed to breach confidentiality. Subsequently, sensitive patient
information could be leaked, which may emotionally damage the patient. Clark and McGee-
Lennon (2011, cited in The Open University, 2023e) consider whether ethical questions will be
raised by changing health and social care through digital innovations, such as observing people
in their homes for example. This leads on to the next point.

Ethics and principles ensure professionals act in patients’ best interests and improve their
outcomes. Patients are to be treated with dignity, respect, and fair decisions. Beauchamp and
Childress’ (1989, cited in The Open University, 2023f) four key principles are used as guidance in
medical ethics; respect for autonomy, non-maleficence, beneficence, and justice. These
principles enable health professionals to make choices while considering moral issues, and
coexist with human rights. It is essential to consider ethical dilemmas of balancing human rights
with someone's best interest. Case study Betty (The Open University, 2023g) demonstrates an
ethical dilemma of professionals considering her human rights with her best interests. Betty's
social worker Gemma worked within medical ethics by acknowledging Betty’s human rights to
independence, and offered a realistic solution. Betty’s autonomy and well-being was respected
by extending her stay at the home. Gemma demonstrated good ethical practice by protecting
Betty from harm and respecting her human rights about making autonomous decisions. Gemma
recognised this healthcare dilemma and formed good decisions based on values, while working
within the governing laws. There will always be ethical conflicts and different moral and
professional opinions on patients’ treatments. These key principles in medical ethics are in
place to resolve any disagreements with effective communication and respect. In this case, a
compromise was reached because medical ethics were implemented in the decision-making by
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Betty the patient, Gemma the provider, and transparency within the provider-patient
relationship. By applying medical ethics, Gemma is trying to protect Betty’s health and well-
being by considering the risks associated with her returning home. She is keeping her dignity,
and respecting her decisions while taking actions which have her best interests a priority. This
demonstrates quality medical care, by solving ethical difficulties which may be typical in
medical practice. By following these principles, it may help prevent unethical practices such as
breach of ethics and negligence. As well as implementing ethical principles in care, there are
other concepts to apply, such as considering cultural diversity.

Providers have ethical responsibilities in considering service users’ cultural diversity, ensuring
they are caused no harm. Professionals should display cultural competence and act in beneficial
ways to service users. Case 1 of a traveller in intensive care is an unusual situation, therefore an
unusual approach was used. Staff caring for the traveller used Beauchamp and Childress (1989)
ethical principles by attempting to keep the travellers’ culture and traditions, while balancing
staff and patients’ medical care and safety (The Open University, 2023h). Example compromises
could be allotted time slots or staggered visits for visitors. Hospitals have a duty to safeguard all
patients, and excessive visitors may violate other patients' privacy. The doctors and nurses in
this circumstance act in their patient’s best interests and provide quality duty of care. This
demonstrates the significance of considering cultural differences, as life’s occurrences can be
complex, and making the right decisions is not always straightforward. There may be better
healthcare outcomes if cultural values are integrated in care planning. It may be beneficial for
healthcare professionals to develop their ability to meet requirements of people with diverse
cultures. Cultural competence relates to the notion of person-centered care, and cojoined with
professional codes of conduct, such as The Code: Professional standards of practice and
behaviour for nurses, midwives, and nursing associates (NMC, 2018, cited in The Open
University, 2023i). These codes embed the principles of equality and diversity and are anti-
discriminatory. O'Donnell et al. (2018, cited in The Open University, 2023j) suggests travellers
and gypsies are susceptible to social exclusion as they experience disadvantage due to missed
services. Therefore, it is professionals’ ethical responsibility to respond to the needs of
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disadvantaged groups to avoid harm. Cultural competence encourages acceptance and

admission of cultural diversity. Competence encourages professionals to learn, assess and apply
appropriate solutions to situations, however culturally complex they may be.

In conclusion, there are positive aspects of using digital innovations in the provision of health
and social care in adults. Overall, decisions are better with improved health outcomes for
patients, and resources are assigned more efficiently. However, there are concerns about how
patient data is used, which may breach patients’ confidentiality. Ethics, values, and principles
for practice are important for adults’ healthcare because they allow professionals to make good
choices dependent on good values, while working within the governing laws. Cultural
competence recognises each patient has a different background and needs. Ethical
considerations enable decisions which are effective, respectful, and equitable. Good ethical
standards may increase patient support as they may acknowledge professionals are acting in
their best interests.

Word count: 1,541.

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References

The Open University (2023a) ‘Block 6, Topic 4: 2 Activity 6.4.2 My 24-hour app’. K102
Introducing Health and Social Care. Available at:
https://learn2.open.ac.uk/mod/oucontent/view.php?id=2057261&section=3 Accessed on
21/07/2023

The Open University (2023b) ‘Block 6, Topic 4: 6 Activity 6.4.8 Going digital across the nations’.
K102 Introducing Health and Social Care. Available at:
https://d1ssu070pg2v9i.cloudfront.net/pex/pex_carnegie2021/2018/11/06101710/Digital-
Inclusion-in-Health-and-Care-in-Wales-%E2%80%93-Full-report-English-version.pdf Accessed on
21/07/2023

The Open University (2023c) ‘Block 6, Topic 5: 2 Digital and technology strategies in the UK’.
K102 Introducing Health and Social Care. Available at:
https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/sites/default/files/publications/dhssps/interactive-ehealth-
strategy.pdf Accessed on 21/07/2023

The Open University (2023d) ‘Block 6, Topic 5: 1 Activity 6.5.1 Weighing up the news’. K102
Introducing Health and Social Care. Available at: https://www.verdict.co.uk/social-care-
technology/ Accessed on 21/07/2023

The Open University (2023e) ‘Block 6, Topic 5: 6 Barriers to transforming care’. K102
Introducing Health and Social Care. Available at:
https://learn2.open.ac.uk/mod/oucontent/view.php?id=2057266&section=7 Accessed on
21/07/2023

The Open University (2023f) ‘Block 3, Topic 5: 1 Defining ethics’. K102 Introducing Health and
Social Care. Available at: https://learn2.open.ac.uk/mod/oucontent/view.php?
id=2057179&section=2 Accessed on 21/07/2023

The Open University (2023g) ‘Block 3, Topic 5: 1.6 Betty – her home situation’. K102 Introducing
Health and Social Care. Available at: https://learn2.open.ac.uk/mod/oucontent/view.php?
id=2057179&section=2.6 Accessed on 21/07/2023
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The Open University (2023h) ‘Block 3, Topic 5: Activity 3.5.8 Reflecting on personal values and
being self-aware as part of competence’. K102 Introducing Health and Social Care. Available at:
https://learn2.open.ac.uk/mod/oucontent/view.php?id=2057179&section=5 Accessed on
21/07/2023

The Open University (2023i) ‘Block 2, Topic 6: 7 Professional values’. K102 Introducing Health
and Social Care. Available at: https://learn2.open.ac.uk/mod/oucontent/view.php?
id=2057153&section=1.7 Accessed on 21/07/2023

The Open University (2023j) ‘Block 5, Topic 4: 7.1 Socially excluded groups’. K102 Introducing
Health and Social Care. Available at: https://learn2.open.ac.uk/mod/oucontent/view.php?
id=2057236&section=8.1 Accessed on 21/07/2023