NURS FPX 4900 Assessment 3 Assessing the Problem Technology Care Coordination and Community Resources Considerations

Name

Capella university

NURS-FPX 4900 Capstone project for Nursing

Prof. Name

Date

Assessing the Problem: Technology, Care Coordination, and Community Resources Considerations

The prolonged and excessive consumption of alcohol characterizes alcoholism. It causes several physical health complications and increases the risk of liver illness, cardiac diseases, and nervous damage (Buchanan & Sinclair, 2020). Alcoholism also known as Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) is the most prevalent cause of dependence globally, affecting around 61 million people. A 2017 report on global alcohol statistics exposed that 18.5% of individuals had been addicted to over 60 grams of alcohol at a single time within 30 days (Tsermpini et al., 2022). This appraisal focuses on the technological challenges faced by Henry, a 38-year-old former smoker grappling with AUD, and the effect of his addiction on his family. Henry has efficiently used technology to coordinate his care and access community resources, significantly recovering his health.

Impact of Healthcare Technology

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), alcoholism ranks as the seventh leading cause of collapse and debility worldwide (Buchanan & Sinclair, 2020). AUD imposes a substantial financial problem. A study of privately insured persons found that patients with cirrhosis resulting from alcoholism generated approximately $5.1 billion in direct healthcare costs.

The average price per person was $44,837 in the first year after diagnosis (Julien et al., 2020). State-of-the-art digital health solutions revolutionize treatment for alcoholism by leveraging smartwatches, wearable devices, and biosensors. These cutting-edge technologies offer inclusive tracking of patients like Henry’s behavior, real-time feedback, and improved monitoring skills. Smartwatches track physiological indicators such as blood alcohol levels and provide medication reminders to enhance health (Martin et al., 2021).

Advantages and Disadvantages of Technology

Healthcare technology has brought about a transformative shift in managing alcoholism, offering both advantages and disadvantages. Telehealth and telemedicine have made remote consultations and therapy sessions more accessible and cost-effective, eliminating travel and reducing costs (Hallgren et al., 2023). Through regular video consultations, patients like Henry can self-report their alcohol intake, while biomarkers like Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) are used to observe drinking habits.

Remote monitoring and timely interventions boost the quality of life for persons like Henry struggling with AUD. Furthermore, numerous apps are personalized for managing alcoholism, offering self-help tools, educational sources, and access to supportive communities (Hallgren et al., 2023).Digital tools track alcohol consumption, monitor abstinence progress, and assess alcoholism management effectiveness.

NURS FPX 4900 Assessment 3 Assessing the Problem Technology Care Coordination and Community Resources Considerations

Evidence-based interventions through digital platforms, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT), and virtual psychotherapy on AUD risks, offer complete support for individuals struggling with AUD (Fast et al., 2023). Patients like Henry derive benefits from technologies that are appropriate, accessible, and used at any time and location. Smartwatches and Electronic Health Records (EHR) record physiological data like BAC, heart rate, and stress, contributing to understanding alcoholism causes and trends (Ebrahimi et al., 2022).

The integration of technology into healthcare has also raised several troubles. Accessibility is an essential challenge for patients like Henry in remote areas, lacking digital devices and internet access, which obstructs the benefits of telehealth services. Language obstacles and cultural preferences obstruct engagement with these solutions, as some persons prefer direct contact with healthcare providers for a personalized experience (Haeny et al., 2021). Moreover, ensuring the privacy and security of EHR and telehealth platforms is vital to maintaining patient privacy. More rigorous compliance with privacy regulations is essential to protect sensitive data, particularly for patients like Henry. Additionally, the rising costs of treatment and resource scarcity pose risks to Henry and his family’s safety and the quality of care (Ebrahimi et al., 2022).

Current Technology Use in Professional Practice 

In my clinical setting, technology has become an integral part of healthcare delivery in managing alcoholism. Healthcare specialists adopt telehealth platforms to consult and monitor patients with AUD remotely. However, despite widespread adoption, challenges like internet connectivity issues and patient unawareness of technology hinder its effectiveness. EHR systems are extensively employed to document patient information, medications, and progress, streamlining care coordination. Utilizing these systems effectively requires comprehensive training and investment in implementation (Vinci et al., 2022).

To overcome these hurdles, nursing staff should be educated on using technology for alcoholism management and adopt culturally sensitive communication strategies. For instance, integrating technology requires a suitable infrastructure, including secure networks, devices, and software, which experience significant setup and maintenance expenses (Vinci et al., 2022). Technological advancements offer innovative solutions for managing AUD, but their unrestricted implementation demands adequate support. Henry and his family’s use of technology-driven interventions, like mobile apps for tracking alcohol consumption and wearable devices for continuous monitoring, is crucial for promoting abstinence. Understanding the navigation of healthcare systems, including reimbursement policies and funding, is essential for sustaining and supporting the use of technology in alcoholism management (Satre et al., 2021). 

Utilization of Care Coordination and Community Resources

Collaboration across disciplines is utmost in managing alcoholism, involving physicians, nurses, psychiatrists, pharmacists, and social workers to create consistent treatment plans. Research highlights the implication of care coordination in primary care settings, leading to improved health outcomes and healthcare systems (Winder et al., 2020). For patients like Henry, this coordination ensures inclusive medical, emotional, and social support tailored to the patient’s unique needs.

Engaging patients and their families in care planning fosters a patient-centered approach, authorizing persons to address their AUD through CBT, pharmacotherapies, and self-care practices. To effectively manage patients like Henry, the healthcare team must ensure clear communication, implement lifestyle adjustments, and regularly monitor through collaborative actions (Winder et al., 2020).

NURS FPX 4900 Assessment 3 Assessing the Problem Technology Care Coordination and Community Resources Considerations

Community resources play a pivotal role in AUD management due to the significant influence of social environments on health and behavior. Patients like Henry can use various community resources to address social isolation and accessibility difficulties, improving support and outcomes. For example, support groups serve as essential community resources. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) proposes crucial support, strategies, and economic aid for alcoholism treatment programs. It promotes patient safety and access to evidence-based interventions (SAMHSA, 2020). Additionally, lifestyle adjustments, seeking counseling from a physician, and CBT can enhance Henry’s well-being.

Community programs provide skill-building opportunities and coping strategies, reinforce social connections, and employ possibilities for self-control. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) serves as a crucial public resource in AUD management, delivering accessible care and support (NIAAA, 2024). Integrating these community resources into Henry’s treatment plan enables a holistic approach to addressing social factors such as stable housing, occupation opportunities, and family dynamics impacting his AUD.

Current Use in Professional Practice Along with Barriers

In my professional setting, collaboration among healthcare professionals, encompassing nurses, social workers, and psychiatrists, is indispensable for optimizing and executing care plans for managing alcoholism. We seamlessly integrate EHR systems to aid data sharing, enhance communication, streamline records, and lessen medication errors. This integration establishes productive communication channels with patients like Henry.

Regular team meetings are organized to conduct thorough evaluations and customize care plans to meet patient needs and preferences (Ebrahimi et al., 2022). Leveraging community resources such as SAMSHA and NIAAA is supreme for reinforcing alcoholism management and furnishing monitoring and vocational training programs to improve health outcomes. Furthermore, nurses play a pivotal role in educating patients like Henry and their families about available community resources, opportunities for access, and the advantages of continuous support beyond clinical locations (NIAAA, 2024; SAMHSA, 2020).

NURS FPX 4900 Assessment 3 Assessing the Problem Technology Care Coordination and Community Resources Considerations

Improving workplace communication and technology is crucial for patients like Henry, who need seamless data sharing for better healthcare. However, our association grapples with resource constraints, including shortages of skilled staff and financial limitations that hinder our ability to provide complete care coordination services for AUD management. Patients like Henry face limited healthcare access and inadequate awareness of available community resources (Avanceña et al., 2021).

Effective AUD management involves implementing CBT, mindfulness-based relapse prevention, and expert guidance. Addressing social and emotional aspects involves participation in support groups, counseling, and self-care practices, which are essential components of alcoholism management. Continuous funding sources are crucial for sustaining community resources, as variations impact the standard of care for persons with alcoholism (Avanceña et al., 2021).

State Board Nursing Practice Standards

The American Nurses Association (ANA) plays a crucial role in guiding alcoholism management and care coordination, providing standards and guidelines to assist nurses in addressing AUD. These guidelines support nurses in organizing care for patients like Henry, emphasizing communication, collaboration, and patient-centered approaches. By advocating for evidence-based practices and interdisciplinary cooperation, the ANA aims to improve patient outcomes in AUD management (ANA, n.d.). The ANA’s commitment to integrating technology supports nurses using behavioral therapies and medicines to deliver safe care and promote community resources. It improves continuity and outcomes for persons like Henry and his family (Tsermpini et al., 2022). 

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) is instrumental in improving accessibility and delivering cost-effective care to patients with alcoholism. ACA provisions, including Medicaid coverage, facilitate access to coordinated care and community-based services, benefiting patients like Henry. ACA promotes alcoholism patients by expanding coverage, providing preventive services, eliminating pre-existing condition discrimination for insurance, and promoting equitable access to healthcare services (Kantawong et al., 2023). Furthermore, integrating technology in healthcare raises distress about confidentiality and safety.

NURS FPX 4900 Assessment 3 Assessing the Problem Technology Care Coordination and Community Resources Considerations

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) safeguards patients’ medical data during AUD management through EHR, telehealth platforms, and digital devices. Upholding HIPAA standards ensures patient privacy, confidentiality, and medical data security, fostering trust and compliance with healthcare regulations (Lee et al., 2023). HIPAA and ANA guidelines ensure patient data security and effective care, promoting trust and compliance and positively impacting Henry and his family’s health outcomes.

The ANA code of ethics creates standard strategies for nursing practice, emphasizing ethical principles such as beneficence, non-maleficence, autonomy, and justice. Nurses adhere to these guidelines to ensure impartial access to coordinated care and community resources for individuals like Henry (Caballeria et al., 2022). Care coordination promotes evidence-based interventions that benefit AUD patients by involving patients in decision-making, illustrated by proven best practices. The ANA and ACA support equal healthcare access for persons like Henry, aligning with principles of justice in alcoholism management. These elements prioritize patient safety and address physical, social, and financial concerns in selecting optimal treatments (Caballeria et al., 2022).

Part Two

Documentation of Practicum Hours

During a productive two-hour practicum with 38-year-old Henry, who is dealing with alcoholism, we concentrated on utilizing technology, coordinating care, and accessing community resources to address his alcohol consumption issues. We customized mobile app solutions and devised a personalized follow-up strategy, incorporating alerts and reminders for medication and appointments. Furthermore, we discovered CBT, lifestyle adjustments, and coping approaches to enhance medication adherence, fostering a complete approach to managing AUD effectively.

Conclusion

The assessment underscores the significance of integrating technology, care management, and public resources in addressing Henry’s alcoholism case. Digital solutions, interdisciplinary collaboration, and community support enhance patient-centered care. This holistic approach acknowledges the multifaceted nature of AUD recovery, encompassing physical, emotional, and social dimensions for individuals like Henry.

References

ANA. (n.d.). Code of ethics for nurses. ANA. https://www.nursingworld.org/practice-policy/nursing-excellence/ethics/code-of-ethics-for-nurses/#:~:text=The%20Code%20of%20Ethics%20for%20Nurses%20with%20Interpretive%20Statements%20(The 

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Buchanan, R., & Sinclair, J. M. A. (2020). Alcohol use disorder and the liver. Addiction, 116(5). https://doi.org/10.1111/add.15204

Caballeria, E., Cabrera, M. T., Oliveró, M., Braddick, F., Gordon, R., Gual, A., Matrai, S., & Pelayo, H. (2022). “Doctor, can I drink an alcohol-free beer?” Low-alcohol and alcohol- free drinks in people with heavy drinking or alcohol use disorders: Systematic review of the literature. Nutrients, 14(19), 3925. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14193925

NURS FPX 4900 Assessment 3 Assessing the Problem Technology Care Coordination and Community Resources Considerations

Ebrahimi, A., Wiil, U. K., Naemi, A., Mansourvar, M., Andersen, K., & Nielsen, A. S. (2022). Identification of clinical factors related to prediction of alcohol use disorder from electronic health records using feature selection methods. BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making, 22(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12911-022-02051-w

Fast, N., Kessel, Humphreys, K., Ward, & Urrestarazu, A. (2023). The evolution of telepsychiatry for substance use disorders during COVID-19: A narrative review. Current Addiction Reports. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40429-023-00480-9

Haeny, A. M., Oluwoye, O., Cruz, R., Iheanacho, T., Jackson, A. B., Fisher, S., Crouch, M., & O’Malley, S. (2021). Drug and alcohol treatment utilization and barriers among Black, American Indian/Alaskan Native, Latine, Asian/Pacific Islander/Native Hawaiian, and White adults: Findings from NESARC-III. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, 108569. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsat.2021.108569

Hallgren, K. A., Galloway, G. P., Witkiewitz, K., Linde, P., Nix, B., & Mendelson, J. (2023). Treatment retention and reductions in Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) during the first 90 days of a telehealth program for alcohol use disorder. The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse, 49(2), 249–259. https://doi.org/10.1080/00952990.2023.2175322

Julien, J., Ayer, T., Bethea, E. D., Tapper, E. B., & Chhatwal, J. (2020). Projected prevalence and mortality associated with alcohol-related liver disease in the USA, 2019–40: A modelling study. The Lancet Public Health, 5(6), e316–e323. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2468-2667(20)30062-1

Lee, A. K., Bobb, J. F., Richards, J. E., Achtmeyer, C. E., Ludman, E., Oliver, M., Caldeiro, R. M., Parrish, R., Lozano, P. M., Lapham, G. T., Williams, E. C., Glass, J. E., & Bradley, K. A. (2023). Integrating alcohol-related prevention and treatment into primary care: A cluster randomized implementation trial. JAMA Internal Medicine, 183(4), 319–328. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamainternmed.2022.7083

Martin, R. E., Alessi, S. M., & Boudreaux, E. D. (2021). Alcohol use disorder in the age of technology: A review of wearable biosensors in alcohol use disorder treatment. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 12. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2021.642813

NURS FPX 4900 Assessment 3 Assessing the Problem Technology Care Coordination and Community Resources Considerations

NIAAA. (2024). NIAAA supports and conducts research on the impact of alcohol use on human health and well-being. Nih.gov. https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/

Satre, D. D., Meacham, M. C., Asarnow, L. D., Fisher, W. S., Fortuna, L. R., & Iturralde, E. (2021). Opportunities to integrate mobile app–based interventions into mental health and substance use disorder treatments services in the wake of COVID-19. American Journal of Health Promotion, 35(8), 1178–1183. https://doi.org/10.1177/08901171211055314

SAMHSA. (2020). SAMHSA – substance abuse and mental health services administration. Samhsa.gov. https://www.samhsa.gov/

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Vinci, C., Hemenway, M., Baban, S. S., Yang, J., Brandon, K. O., Witkiewitz, K., Unrod, M., Brandon, T. H., Wetter, D. W., & Sutton, S. K. (2022). Transition to telehealth: Challenges and benefits of conducting group-based smoking and alcohol treatment virtually. Contemporary Clinical Trials, 114, 106689. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cct.2022.106689

Winder, G. S., Fernandez, A. C., Klevering, K., & Mellinger, J. L. (2020). Confronting the crisis of comorbid alcohol use disorder and alcohol-related liver disease with a novel multidisciplinary clinic. Psychosomatics, 61(3), 238–253. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psym.2019.12.004