After becoming a major hit for consumers, Microsoft Xbox Kinect is rapidly being applied to an increasing amount of business and health care applications. One particular application is in occupational therapy and physical therapy. Businesses are now partnering with health care organizations to evaluate the use of the Xbox Kinect to see what kinds of […]
Another set of eyes might be watching health care workers. Patients in intensive care need increased supervision; responding to this need, some critical care units are installing cameras in their ICUs. The idea is not to replace health care workers “on the ground,” but to support them. “Tele-ICU” nurses can monitor multiple patients at once […]
A recent study found that robot assisted physical therapy may work better at improving mobility in stroke patients than regular therapy. The study consisted of 20 stroke patients with weaknesses on one side or area of their body and limited mobility. 10 patients worked with occupational therapy techniques as a control group, while the other […]
Improvements in healthcare technology are often met with high praise, but a recent presentation by Marge Funk, RN and nursing researcher at Yale-New Haven Hospital suggests that nurses maintain their caution—and common sense—when adopting new techniques and technologies. When approaching technology, Funk advocates four guidelines to follow. Use technology appropriately. Just because a new technology […]
According to a new study in Australia, occupational therapists have found that portable touch-screen technology via smartphones and etablets is able to help patients with traumatic brain injuries remember daily tasks better than writing down notes in diaries. Researchers believed this was due to a more comfortable or “hip” feeling of using technology in addition […]
Do you keep your screens clean? Or can you write in the dust on your laptop screen? From tablets to smart phones to LCDs and projection screens, we have to set up, manage, and troubleshoot more and more screens at work and in our home. However, screens—especially touch screens—are subject to a lot of grime. […]
With more and more patients searching for health information on the internet, making sure this information is accurate is essential. According to a recent survey, 81% of Americans search the web for health information. Nurses can play an instrumental role in helping patients recognize reputable health information on the internet. Here are some important questions […]
While health technology enhances patient care and improves efficiency, there are also risks in using these devices that all nurses should know. The ECRI Institute, a non-profit that provides research on health care, publishes an annual list of the top 10 health technology hazards to raise awareness in hospitals of technological dangers. The parts of […]