NUR3164 Introduction to Nursing Research and Health Informatics
Unit 1 Discussion
The ultimate goal of health informatics is to empower populations, communities, families, and individuals with the opportunity to improve the quality and increase the quantity of their days by maximizing the use of technology in healthcare.  Following your readings, viewing the PPt for this module and viewing a TED talk by Karalee Close:  Will healthcare embrace digital or will we die waiting? Link  (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.
Answer 3 of the following questions and reply to at least one student’s post. Internal citations and references are required. Please make sure at least one student answers each question.
Based on your reading and the link below, each of you are responsible for addressing 3 of the following questions ~ the goal is that you all, as a group, answer all of the questions. 
This first week is heavy on the reading; Unit 1 is really the foundation of informatics and these 5 chapters will be expanded on throughout this course.  There are a choice of 2 discussion questions from each chapter. YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR answering a total of three questions ~ these should be from different chapters.
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. (links to an external site) Explore the AHRQ Health Care Innovations Exchange.  Automation and informatics-based tools could be used to bring resources from this site to the point of care.
Identify an area that health informatics is being integrated into hospital systems; describe the research being done, what is known, what is unknown?
As nurses, we are constantly coming across health informatics, explain how it is integrated into the nursing profession (choose one example ~ feel free to use a personal experience here).
Describe ways in which miscommunications occurs between healthcare providers in a clinical settings and suggest how technology could be used to decrease this miscommunication.
Whenever change occurs, there can be resistance. List and describe at least 2 responses of individuals as described in chapter 2 and how both of these groups should be managed when planning for implementing change into a healthcare institution.
How can health informatics influence and improve evidence-based practice (EBP)?  Using sources, other than just your book, identify and explain how EBP/practice-based evidence (PBE) can influence or possibly replace research studies that develop evidence-based practice.
Most clinical settings now use computers quite comfortably.  Discuss why computerization and health informatics is required if evidence-based practice is to becomes reality in the clinical setting.
Describe the use of one theory (*** COULD YOU GIVE AN EXAMPLE OF ONE THEORY FROM THE READING?)  in evaluation studies, is this theory appropriate for the evaluation of electronic medical records?
Why are program evaluations important in the use of health informatics and electronic medical records?  How is program evaluation different from program research?
Find a source of research or article that explores a technical models such as cloud computing or application service providers.  Give a synopsis of your findings (Be sure to give the reference details for easy review)
How did/do incentive programs, such as Meaningful Use, both positively and negatively impact technical infrastructures in healthcare settings?