Evaluating the Application of Online Healthcare Technology Solutions in Public Health Departments
Disciplines
Public Health and Community Nursing
Abstract (300 words maximum)
Public health departments serve diverse populations and demographics. With diverse needs and large territories, new ways are needed to better serve their communities. Studies have shown public health sector employees feel there is a need to incorporate newer methods of care and outreach. The recent epidemic also highlights the risk of sharing waiting rooms when ill. Since covid there has been a significant increase in the use of technology to connect patients and healthcare workers. The literature shows that patients can be effectively seen and treated via telehealth, especially more vulnerable populations. Studies show how online triaging provides patients the information to evaluate the severity of their symptoms to see if they need to seek treatment, then allowing them to schedule an appointment online, freeing up healthcare workers to treat the more severe cases. The purpose of this project is to evaluate the effect of using technology such as online triaging, scheduling, and telehealth on productivity and overall patient outcome compared to the first come, first serve style currently used. It analyzes some of the main populations being served by public health departments and evaluates the use of these technologies in this setting. Public health centers will be equipped with online scheduling portals, the ability for patients to be seen virtually, and an online triaging system that will allow patients to evaluate their symptoms and provide a recommendation on a telehealth vs in-person visit. The effectiveness will be measured by the number of patients seen per week, how often a patient triaged for telehealth needed an in-person visit, how crowded per day the waiting rooms are on average, and the number of walk-in patients with an infectious disease compared to those with an appointment.
Academic department under which the project should be listed
Nursing
Primary Investigator (PI) Name
Evah Wangungu
Additional Faculty
Christie Emerson, Nursing, cemerson@kennesaw.edu
Evaluating the Application of Online Healthcare Technology Solutions in Public Health Departments
Public health departments serve diverse populations and demographics. With diverse needs and large territories, new ways are needed to better serve their communities. Studies have shown public health sector employees feel there is a need to incorporate newer methods of care and outreach. The recent epidemic also highlights the risk of sharing waiting rooms when ill. Since covid there has been a significant increase in the use of technology to connect patients and healthcare workers. The literature shows that patients can be effectively seen and treated via telehealth, especially more vulnerable populations. Studies show how online triaging provides patients the information to evaluate the severity of their symptoms to see if they need to seek treatment, then allowing them to schedule an appointment online, freeing up healthcare workers to treat the more severe cases. The purpose of this project is to evaluate the effect of using technology such as online triaging, scheduling, and telehealth on productivity and overall patient outcome compared to the first come, first serve style currently used. It analyzes some of the main populations being served by public health departments and evaluates the use of these technologies in this setting. Public health centers will be equipped with online scheduling portals, the ability for patients to be seen virtually, and an online triaging system that will allow patients to evaluate their symptoms and provide a recommendation on a telehealth vs in-person visit. The effectiveness will be measured by the number of patients seen per week, how often a patient triaged for telehealth needed an in-person visit, how crowded per day the waiting rooms are on average, and the number of walk-in patients with an infectious disease compared to those with an appointment.