Technology like a radiant core continues to spread its beams in all directions. Every field of human endeavor and existence has experienced the impact of its touch.
Like every element of change, technology has encountered its fair share of resistance in different fields.
From the healthcare industry, Konko Janet Senami highlighted some of the factors stalling the effect of technology in that field.
In a recent conversation with TechCity, Konko mentioned “the patients” first when asked about “the Barriers to widespread adoption of healthcare technology.
According to her, “most patients are not ready for change”, “They have a fixed mindset”
They prefer the old way of doing things and will often question anything new.
For example, they prefer the old paper cards and manually searching a pile for their folders, to a smart card that can access their medical history from a computer folder with a swipe.
She also mentioned illiteracy as a barrier.
A literate patient is more likely to embrace new technological innovations, access them and use them .
An illiterate patient on the other hand needs much persuasion for acceptance and thereafter, much teaching on how to access and utilize the provision like the telemedicine,etc
Other factors mentioned in the conversation include
-infrastructure,
-Electricity
-Finances and
-Workload on the personnel. e g, a nurse to 10 patients
To improve patients’ education and engagement, Konko Janet pointed out Telemedicine as one sure way.
According to Konko, there are patients who don’t want to go through the process of coming to the hospital, join a queue to see the doctor. , etc.
Such patients prefer to access the doctor or nurse via phone calls. They make their complaints over the phone and get their diagnosis and prescription over the phone conversation. They would only visit the hospital if the doctor says so.
Konko also applauded the Social Media platforms as an effective tool.
She explained that “there are some professionals that use their social media platform to help mothers and communities”
According to her, mothers can reach out to them with complaints for their babies and get medical advice and instructions.
Konko Janet Senami is an experienced Registered nurse and Pediatric nurse who has a history of working in the hospital & health care industry.
She is skilled in Nursing Management, Medication Administration, Medical-Surgical, Basic Life Support (BLS), and Direct Patient Care,with focus on Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing from Lagos State College of Nursing .