I vividly remember the first interview I conducted for Health Management Technology. It was with Rick Drass, Manager of Information Systems at Sarasota Memorial Health Care System in Sarasota, FL. I wanted to learn how he and his staff protected their hospital’s IT infrastructure in the event of a disaster such as a hurricane. It was a strong interview, but today I realize that some of Drass’ most important comments never made it to print.
“Technology does no good in healthcare if it does not create a sense of normalcy for patients. Our job is to pick the best technologies that can help us to create normalcy quickly and effectively,” Drass said.
Technology is a necessity for our hospitals so that tasks large and small, such as providing power, communications, patient monitoring and information collection, can be performed. I get it. Without these functions working properly, our 21st century care would be nowhere near as productive, let alone comfortable or convenient. Simple enough. Actually, I now know my initial understanding of Drass’ words was far too simple.
Over the past Fourth of July weekend, my mother-in-law was in a serious car accident where she suffered a broken femur and a fractured pelvis. She has endured months of complicated surgeries and grueling rehab sessions since the crash. Throughout her treatment, technology has been a dominate factor in her moment-to-moment living; a tremendous change from her normal life before the accident.
At first, all the hospital technology was jarring to her. The noises and lights scared her, and they were a constant distraction. She was always worried that “the battery will die.” (There is no battery, Mom. It’s plugged into the wall.) After a bit of time, however, she became accustomed to most of the equipment. It was no longer frightening, but some pieces were a nuisance. She felt they “give the wrong information.” (No, Mom. It’s just telling you things you don’t want to hear.) Or they forced her to stay in bed. (It’s not the machines keeping you in bed, Mom. You have a broken pelvis.)
Today, the technology has become normal; her new normal. It’s no longer difficult for her to operate. (No, Jason. You are pushing the wrong buttons. Give it to me.) It’s something she now actually enjoys. (I can’t wait for tomorrow. I’m getting a new gadget!)
Some of the changes in my mother-in-law’s attitudes toward technology are due to the sheer repetition of its use during her care. However, after witnessing first-hand her treatment, I am now much more aware of the conscious “patient-friendly” design elements that were created within some of her equipment and how they helped to facilitate her new and positive perceptions of her care – which, in turn, improve her rate of recovery.
While I am certain that very, very few of you are as myopic as I was when I first spoke with Rick Drass, I do want to encourage you all to reconsider how you define the role of technology in healthcare. Don’t just think about it once as you turn this page looking for another feature. Think about it constantly. Don’t just think of it in theoretical terms or as if you are preparing for a meeting with administrators. Think as if your planning would one day care for a member of your family. When you approach it this way, cloudy issues instantly clarify, and normalcy is all you seek to achieve.
