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Journal Post: Identify risk management issues and the impact of professionalism

ID: 464072 • Letter: J

Question

Journal Post: Identify risk management issues and the impact of professionalism and patient advocacy based on Internet sites focusing on Healthcare Quality. For each journal post throughout the course you will be expected to discuss the following: • Identify one important concept, research finding, theory, or idea in quality improvement that you learned while completing this activity. (analyzing) • Why do you believe that this concept, research finding, theory, or idea in quality improvement is important? (reflecting) • Apply what you have learned from this activity to some aspect of your life. (relating) • What question(s) has the activity raised for you? What are you still wondering about? (questioning)

Explanation / Answer

Various media tools are now available for the health care professionals (HCPs), including social networking platforms, wikis, blogs and gaming zones. Such tools are being used to enhance the education and networking, patient care and various public welfare healthcare programs. But they also have potential risks to the patients in terms of poor –quality information, private patient information and various legal issues.

Physicians usually join the online communities so that they can view the news articles, consult their colleagues for the patient problems and network. They can also discuss about the new practices, make referral, discuss about new researches. Physicians are also using the social media to communicate with their patient to help them through virtual world directly with patients to augment clinical care.

A survey of almost 4000 physicians has revealed that almost 90% of the respondents use the social media and internet for their personal use whereas almost 65% use for the professional reasons.

The major drawback of the information that is available online is:

It lacks reliability and quality

Information is incomplete and limited. They lack proper reference

Reports are improper and without a proper source

Information on sites like Wiki can be even edited by anyone

Such platform not just impact the patients but it also impacts the professional image. It may be due to use of private information, use of bad language, illegal activities, etc

But, there can be issues which re available on the social media sites and other blogs which were otherwise unknown to the people.

Hence measures can be taken to review such blogs and there should be a common platform or area which can be controlled and be reviewed by the eligible professionals. This will help to increase awareness and share information

If the internet and various platforms are being used wisely it will enhance and promote individual and public healthcare. This will also have a positive impact on the professional world. Hence the guidelines mentioned in the HCP should be followed to avoid pitfalls.