HEALTHCARE INSURANCE APPS

The innovation of technology in healthcare refers to the application of different forms of
technology by the healthcare practitioners when performing their duties. It has also enhanced
how people interact with each other by improving communication as people can now access and
share information easily. It is because of innovation of technology that healthcare practitioners
person their duties in a fast and efficient manner and has also helped to save much time. The use
of mobile device technology has for instance played a great role in how doctors relate to their
patients. Social media sites have become a constant reference for patients who seek to gain
medical information or try to find therapists that can help them with their medical condition
(Gagnon & Sabus, 2015). It is because of this that the use of technology in healthcare is
inevitable in healthcare. It is through social media that doctors and physicians reach more people
and offer their services as more people have become technology-friendly and find it easier to use
social media or their mobile phones from their homes to acquire services that are important to
them. The use of technology is beneficial for the healthcare practice because it also helps to
safeguard the information of patients. When information is recorded in files, it is easier for them
to get lost or destroyed unlike when they are stored using different forms of technology such as
computers. The applications used by healthcare practitioners need to be regularly updated to
ensure that they perform effectively (Lowe, 2014).
The use of technology, however, faces challenges because it is considered by some of the
healthcare practitioners as a risk for patient’s privacy (Gordon et al. 2015). Social media, for
instance, is considered unsafe as people can hack into the systems and access patient data that
should only be available to the physicians or doctors handling the patient. The exchange of
information from one facility to another is also considered risky as an individual may not be
certain that the person on the receiving end is authorized to view the patient’s data. The

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insecurities about patient confidentiality because of the increased use of social media can be
decreased by exercising the correct measures to avoid unauthorized people from accessing
private information. People do not want their medical history to be given or accessed by people
except their doctors or physicians. A patient has the right to sue a health care facility or
practitioner if they feel that their privacy has been violated, and this can significantly damage the
reputation of a hospital. Applications have passwords that the authorized personnel can be given
to ensure that they are the only ones that can access the patient information. Before posting on
social media or handling any form of technology in a health care facility, it is important for an
individual to ensure that they use it carefully to avoid violating the privacy of the patients. Social
media sites such as Facebook or Twitter can build or destroy the reputation of a healthcare
provider. People can search for doctors online and if they have a bad reputation patients will stay
away from the person and discourage other people from seeking their services. A person with a
good reputation online will attract the attention of other people and will mean more business for
the individual. People seek information online, and it is necessary to ensure that the information
they access is accurate.

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References

Gagnon, K., & Sabus, C. (2015). Professionalism in a digital age: Opportunities and
considerations for using social media in healthcare. American Physical Therapy
Association. Vol 95(3). 406-413.
Gordon, C., Rezzadeh, K., Li, A., Vardanian, A., Zelken, J., Shores, J., Sacks, J., Segovia, A., &
Jarrahy, A. (2015). Digital mobile technology facilitates HIPAA-sensitive perioperative
messaging, improves physician-patient communication, and streamlines patient care.
Patient Safety in Surgery. 2015, Vol. 9(1), 1-7.
Lowe, M. (November 2014). Improving the clinical perception of the efficacy of medical apps.
International Journal of Integrated Care (IJIC). 14, 124-125.