System Information on Home Care Essay Example

System Information on Home Care Essay Example System Information on Home Care Essay System Information on Home Care Essay It has become a trend to surf the Internet in order to gather information about the diseases.   The patient to know more of the disease and the means by which home care can be provided is increasingly using it.   Some amount of this information may helpful, but the Internet is increasing being misused, and a lot of incorrect information is circulating about.  Ã‚   People often consider any information put up on the Internet as valid and tend to follow it (in diagnosing and treating the disease).   However in all cases, the source of information and a discussion with the medical professional is also required to clear all doubts.   Hence, it would be better if we examine this information with some amount of caution (NCI, 2005). Before the information is taken into consideration several points need to be considered including: The organization that operates the website. The organization that sponsors the website. The original source of the data available on the website. The intention of the website. Documentation provided of the information. The ability of the website to update and review the information The process of reviewing and updating. The currency of the information. Originality of the sources Accessibility of the information Accuracy of the information Complete nature of the information Simplicity of the language Disclaimer to demonstrate the limitations, currency, accuracy and authority of the information User-friendliness and easiness in using the website Availability of a search box to search within the website itself Attractive appearance of the website Ability to appeal to the audience Presence of links to suggest extra information to the interested audience Collection of information from the user The assurance of maintaining confidentiality of the user Communication with the users Provision of news letters and emails for the users Compliance with the laws and regulations regarding demonstration of information on the web site Provision of healthcare and ensuring that the patient has a positive outcome is usually ensured by a partnership between the patient and the hospital/physician. People may actually search a disorder and know what it actually is even before they would be consulting a physician.   Once a physician diagnosis the condition, the patient would like to crosscheck with a web site of what the physician said is true.   When the physician suggests a particular treatment for the condition, the patient would search the Internet to gather information of what the outcome of the treatment would be and if there are any advanced treatment offered by other healthcare organizations.   If the physician administers a drug, the patient would surf the Internet to determine if any side effects exist due to the consumption of the drug.   Some patients may also search the Internet to gather information regarding the actual place they would get help in treating a particular condition they are suffering from.   E-health emerged in the year 1997 and in the year 2000, more than 70 million people are using the Internet every year either to gather health information or to search for healthcare provider.   To enable e-health, 4 components are required namely, availability of health information, the presence of the physician and the patient, connectivity and the patient’s information accessibility.   The healthcare providers are putting up information so that patient’s are able to find medical care.   A healthcare provider would try its best to attract patients by putting up health information on its web site that sounds interesting and appealing to the patient.   They would also give information of the physicians and the specialists who would be providing the treatment.   The hospital would get its quality statement across to the patient by having accreditation with several quality control organizations in the US.   Besides, providing information of the servi ces provided and the physician’s available, they would also provide information regarding the cost of the treatment, the various health packages available and the information of diseases diagnostic tests, and treatment procedures.   Usually, elders and the sick would find it difficult to turn to the Internet to get information.   About 50 % of the patients who require information from the Internet get somebody else to do it on their behalf (Shapiro, 2003). Many professionals consider that the Internet would have a strong role on healthcare in at least the next 50 years.   It is also helping to replace the case sheets of the patients with electronic health records.   The information can be feed, stored, processed and accessed on any place from the network of the hospitals (Hollander, 2001). Usually patients, who seek information on the Internet, would be doing it casually and would not follow scientific search criteria.   Most patients would be seeking to view information from commercial websites.   The information presented in such web sites may be such that it promotes a product or service sold by the company.   The medical advice may persuade the patient to go in for that treatment or tests.   Besides, information presented by commercial organizations may not follow a scientific background or evidence-based practice guidelines.   Patients would also be looking for material presented in a simple and easy to follow manner.   The patients would not be looking for credentials of the author or the organization that actually creates such information.   Graphics and the manner in which the information is presented to the patient would also attract the patient and would sound convincing enough to be trusted in.   This needs to be changed as several patients m ay be harmed due to faulty information put in the Internet. On the other hand, the service provider and the physician would be seeking information on the internet to upgrade their medical knowledge and to make sure that they have the intellectual resources that would help answer the patient’s queries.   The Internet itself would be persuading the patient to quiz the doctor about several aspects regarding their treatment.   It would not be right for the physician not to answer these questions, as it would go against the principles of medical ethics.   If the physician is able to answer these queries, then the patient would be having greater amount of confidence and trust in the physician.   The physicians and the service provider would be looking at sources that provide validated and authentic information.   Besides, he would also try to ensure that the information is current and has is evidence-based.   Such information would have good outcomes clinically.   The physician would also be checking the references of the infor mation.   Some of the types of web sites preferred by the physician include governmental organizations, universities, medical libraries, research institutes, etc. Although, there may be a lot of good information existent on the Internet, the potential of a small amount of information to cause harm has resulted in the felt need to exert more caution whilst using the information.   A greater number of instances in which the internet has resulted in harm and damage of the body and the mind is required so that people would be more careful in the future of using such information.   At present instances of harm and damage are very superficially known to us.   People should know that although the chances of harm are low, they are realistic if no proper precautions are exerted whilst using this information.   Usually peer-reviewed journals existent on the Internet do not concentrate on the ill effects or complications of any procedure or drug, but on its efficacy and benefits.   Hence, people consider these benefits and effectiveness first rather than the complications and the side effects.   Some people may also know of the chances of com plications, but consider it to be realistically low.   People who often use the Internet for medical advice and later suffer from certain ill effects or complications may not like to reveal it to others.   They begin to feel guilty and intimidated for using the non-routine means to solve their medical problems.   Hence, a significant number of instances in which people suffer from the ill effects of using medical information remain to be silent (Crocco, 2002).