Direct communication in healthcare can take place through social media such as Skype, zoom, and video conferencing. Traditional forms of communication, such as the telephone, notes, and letters, can continue to be used to share information between healthcare providers and patients. For example, doctors and patients can text and message each other. It is imperative that social media messages are used to reduce the time required to gain insight into the patient’s condition and general well-being.
The use of communication tools on social media should not make indirect communication obsolete. In cases of technological resistance and lack of access to social networks, health providers must communicate face-to-face with patients and their families. Sometimes it can be easier and faster to communicate with patients through other means, such as third parties. Doctors and patients may communicate through third parties, such as nurses, personal caregivers, family members, and relatives of patients who may not be able to communicate. In other cases, it may be advantageous for family or caregivers to inform patients of their condition. A spouse or parent can show empathy by relaying negative news to patients.
As a small island developing nation, Trinidad and Tobago faces serious health challenges that can be minimized through appropriate investment in social media technology. The main challenges include a shortage of ambulances, a shortage of beds, and an acute shortage of highly specialized medical knowledge and practice. Three other acute problems are overcrowding in hospitals, limited availability of biomedical technology, and shortages of drugs. These problems are compounded by traffic congestion resulting from poor road infrastructure. Health and infrastructure challenges often combine to negatively affect the quality of healthcare for patients with limited access to healthcare facilities.
This document proposes that the quality of patient care for less seriously ill patients can be improved by adopting social media tools that will allow physicians and other healthcare providers to see and hear their patients in remote locations, such as health centers. specialized care and patient residences. The primary intent of using social media is to reduce overcrowding, improve access to medical care, promote effective pain management, and reduce patient death or mortality. Many patients can be discharged from the hospital and cared for in private and nursing homes where providers can monitor and evaluate their progress via Skype, video conferencing, zoom, or other appropriate technology.
The state can promote technological advancement and innovation to make social media tools widely accessible, highly reliable, and highly efficient. Investment in innovation should lead to the introduction of local media technology that can enhance the phenomenon of multiple users at the same time. For example, doctors, pharmacists, nurses, and other healthcare providers should be able to interact simultaneously to ensure that patients receive the best care. The physician will retain the role of primary provider, but should be able to follow the advice of other providers who may spend more time communicating with patients. Finally, after healthcare providers have reached a consensus position on the way forward, patients and their families can be brought in to ensure that the agreed treatment plan is explained and understood. The patient will become the biggest beneficiary of a collaborative approach among healthcare providers. You will receive faster and more efficient care from a multidisciplinary team of healthcare providers.
Technology should allow patient surveillance in a virtual environment that should reduce the time and dangers of bringing weak and incapacitated patients to a hospital or care facility. Additionally, providers can provide safe and efficient care to patients in remote locations. It also means that hospitalized patients would benefit from more direct contact with healthcare providers who would have more time to spend with them. One advantage that cannot be stressed is the learning that will be expanded from evidence-based practice. Healthcare professionals can learn from each other and develop innovative collaborative approaches to healthcare. Patients will receive constant instructions or advice from healthcare professionals. The use of social media technology in healthcare will also allow patients to have sessions with healthcare providers on an individual basis. The use of electronic medical records will greatly improve patient care. Healthcare providers will be able to access patient information more quickly and easily, thus reducing the time required to serve patients.
Technological advance must be accompanied by a cultural change. The biggest change, the acceptance of technology, should ensure that resistance to technology is reduced. The change should generate significant advances in the education of patients so that they are more responsible for their health in general. Patient empowerment programs should be implemented to provide greater patient self-efficacy. In other words, patients must be able to partially diagnose, monitor, and evaluate changes in their physical and mental health. They must be able to detect significant health changes and be able to relate them to factors such as diet, changes in their physical environment, and general increases in emotional, mental, and psychological stress. The overall goal is to enable physicians to make faster and more accurate diagnoses of patients’ health problems.
This document acknowledges the limitation of social media technology, such as technological glitches or glitches. However, this challenge can be overcome by having the staff to respond quickly. More importantly, this document intends that systemic problems such as a shortage of beds and ambulances will be significantly reduced through the use of social media technology to serve patients who do not require hospitalization or critical care.