The value of nurses

Just a quick post today. I have been reading many articles this week dealing with some great telemedicine stories offering services to rural areas in the USA.

One common element throughout all is the role nurses play in the initial assessment of patient data and communicating results to physicians. Isn't it interesting that as far as we have come with providing people with technical health solutions that nurses continue to play such a vital role in health delivery.

I wonder what challenges will face nursing in the future with regards to their need to be technically savvy? Will they need to study IT related courses in the future or will technology be so transparent that no additional knowledge is required to monitor the devices and translate the data?

Will nurses of the future have the same role they do today? I have no idea but one thing is for sure, nursing continues to be one of the most valued and respected professions and long may that continue!

Just a quick note

Firstly, I must apologize for taking so long to post on my blog.

It's been a busy few weeks but that isn't the main reason for not blogging. I haven't been in a good place with my work and I think it had a flow on effect here.

As you know, I work for a Health Department in Australia and whilst I truly love my work and believe strongly in ehealth and telehealth, I find it a constant struggle to get health professionals as interested in it as I am.

After 4 years of slogging hard to make a difference, I am feeling jaded and a bit fed up with Government. It's my first stint working for Government, I've always worked for private enterprise and must admit that I am missing it a little.

I think it must be health in Australia that is backward. I read on a daily basis some of the most amazing stories of 3rd world countries adopting IT to better their health services and countries like the USA and UK are doing some incredible work. Telehealth seems to be alive and well. More over, health professionals in these countries don't seem to have the same fear or apprehension to adopt technical solutions.

I know that some of you have been working in this area for many more years than I have in Australia and are probably thinking that I'm just whinging, which I am! But honestly, why is it so hard for Australian Government departments to just try something different once in a while? Why are we still struggling with one patient record systems? I know, it's bureaucracy. I think people in high places are afraid to take the chance of it failing so just go with the wait and see approach.

That's the situation I am in. Working with people who just want to wait and see. Meanwhile, the opportunities are flying by.

I genuinely want to help people. I want to make a difference. I am beginning to wonder if there are some people involved in Health that don't care as much about those things.

I wish I could work in the US or the UK, maybe I could find an organization that would take a few measured chances and just see where it goes. I guess those days are gone but you can't blame me for dreaming a little!

tags technorati : Health Australia bureaucracy ehealth telehealth