Module 1 (in the right place this time)

Well...its my own fault but I accidently posted my comments to my personal blog. Actually.....I didn't read page two and therefore did not fulfill the assignment before today. Good thing I go back and check things off ! I wish I could cut and paste my info- but it does not work that way from a blog site. I m going to answer the questions again so I don't get the big "incomplete" on the assignment...but I really hate blogging if you want to know the truth. Frankly, I wonder how people have all the time on their hands to keep these things updated all the time (I guess it must be a priority for some). I think I might enjoy it later when life is less busy.

I am an FNP employed by IHC in the Physician Division. I currently work Expresscare (runny noses, otitis media, strep throaters and UTI's...you get the picture). I previously was the Clinical Director for the Intermountain Comprehensive Wound Care Center (also IHC), and was trained in Hyperbaric Medicine before that. In these various postions, I had the opportunity to evaluate some software programs for data/patient management. I think that there is a significant amount of time and effort that can be saved by utilizing data managment tools (computerized) appropriately. QI efforts, care management, and other significant aspects of nursing care are simplified by these tools. Graduate level nurses need to have a basic knowledge of how to use and apply these systems to move to a more advanced level of practice.
My clinical area uses a database shared by 5 sites with templates for documetation of pt care and coding (ICD-9). We have some standardization because of this, but variability still exists in clinical practice (diagnosis and treatment in particular). I think that we will need to integrate our system within the context of IHC's larger patient data networks so that we can retrieve vital information in a more timely fashion. We also need to be able to get information out to primary care providers more seamlessly so there is a great opportunity here for new and innovative ways to integrate and improve our practice model.