Discussion: Big Data Risks and Rewards
When you wake in the morning, you may reach for your cell phone to reply to a few text or email messages that you missed overnight. On your drive to work, you may stop to refuel your car. Upon your arrival, you might swipe a key card at the door to gain entrance to the facility. And before finally reaching your workstation, you may stop by the cafeteria to purchase a coffee.
From the moment you wake, you are in fact a data-generation machine. Each use of your phone, every transaction you make using a debit or credit card, even your entrance to your place of work, creates data. It begs the question: How much data do you generate each day? Many studies have been conducted on this, and the numbers are staggering: Estimates suggest that nearly 1 million bytes of data are generated every second for every person on earth.
As the volume of data increases, information professionals have looked for ways to use big data—large, complex sets of data that require specialized approaches to use effectively. Big data has the potential for significant rewards—and significant risks—to healthcare. In this Discussion, you will consider these risks and rewards.
To Prepare:
· Review the Resources and reflect on the web article Big Data Means Big Potential, Challenges for Nurse Execs.
· Reflect on your own experience with complex health information access and management and consider potential challenges and risks you may have experienced or observed.
Post a description of at least one potential benefit of using big data as part of a clinical system and explain why. Then, describe at least one potential challenge or risk of using big data as part of a clinical system and explain why. Propose at least one strategy you have experienced, observed, or researched that may effectively mitigate the challenges or risks of using big data you described. Be specific and provide examples.
Assignment: The Impact of Standardized Nursing Terminology
Among the Resources in this module is the Rutherford (2008) article Standardized Nursing Language: What Does It Mean for Nursing Practice? In this article, the author recounts a visit to a local hospital to view the recent implementation of a new coding system.
During the visit, one of the nurses commented to her, “We document our care using standardized nursing languages but we don’t fully understand why we do” (Rutherford, 2008, para. 1).
How would you respond to a comment such as this one?
To Prepare:
· Review the concepts of informatics as presented in the Resources, particularly Rutherford, M. (2008) Standardized Nursing Language: What Does It Mean for Nursing Practice?
· Reflect on the role of a nurse leader as a knowledge worker.
· Consider how knowledge may be informed by data that is collected/accessed.
The Assignment:
In a 2- to 3-page paper, address the following:
· Explain how you would inform this nurse (and others) of the importance of standardized nursing terminologies.
· Describe the benefits and challenges of implementing standardized nursing terminologies in nursing practice. Be specific and provide examples.
· Be sure to support your paper with peer-reviewed research on standardized nursing terminologies that you consulted from the Walden Library.
Expert Solution Preview
In the discussion on big data risks and rewards, a potential benefit of using big data as part of a clinical system is the ability to identify patterns and trends in large amounts of healthcare data. By analyzing extensive datasets, healthcare professionals can gain valuable insights and make evidence-based decisions that can improve patient outcomes and population health. For example, big data analytics can be used to identify disease outbreaks, assess the effectiveness of treatment interventions, and develop personalized medicine approaches.
However, there are also potential challenges and risks associated with using big data in a clinical system. One challenge is the protection and privacy of patient information. With a vast amount of data being collected and stored, there is an increased risk of data breaches and unauthorized access to sensitive patient data. Another challenge is the complexity of analyzing and interpreting big data. It requires specialized skills and resources to manage and analyze large datasets effectively. Furthermore, there may be concerns about data quality and accuracy, as errors or biases in the data can lead to incorrect conclusions and decisions.
To mitigate these challenges and risks, one strategy is to ensure strict data governance and security measures. This includes employing robust encryption techniques, access controls, and anonymization procedures to protect patient privacy and ensure compliance with relevant regulations, such as HIPAA. Regular audits and risk assessments can also help identify vulnerabilities and take appropriate actions to mitigate them.
Another strategy is to invest in data analytics training and resources for healthcare professionals. By equipping them with the necessary skills and tools, they can effectively navigate and analyze big data, ensuring accurate and meaningful results. Collaboration between healthcare professionals, data scientists, and informaticians can also facilitate the interpretation and translation of big data insights into actionable clinical practice guidelines.
In the assignment on the impact of standardized nursing terminology, it is important to inform the nurse (and others) of the importance of standardized nursing terminologies. Standardized nursing terminologies provide a common language that allows for consistent documentation and communication of nursing care across different healthcare settings. They facilitate accurate and comprehensive data collection, sharing, and analysis, ultimately improving patient care quality and safety.
To explain the importance of standardized nursing terminologies, one approach could be to highlight the role they play in enhancing communication and collaboration among healthcare professionals. By using standardized terminologies, nurses can effectively articulate their assessments, interventions, and outcomes, leading to better coordination and continuity of care. For example, when all nurses use the same terms to document patient assessments, it becomes easier for other healthcare providers to interpret and act on that information.
Furthermore, standardized nursing terminologies support evidence-based practice and research. They allow for the aggregation and analysis of data from multiple sources, enabling the identification of trends, outcomes, and effective interventions. Researchers can use standardized terminologies to compare and combine data across studies, leading to stronger evidence for nursing interventions.
In terms of benefits and challenges of implementing standardized nursing terminologies, one benefit is improved patient safety. By using standardized terminologies, nurses can accurately document and communicate patient care, reducing the risk of errors and improving healthcare outcomes. Another benefit is enhanced interoperability, as standardized terminologies enable seamless data sharing and integration between different electronic health record systems.
However, there are also challenges in implementing standardized nursing terminologies. One challenge is the initial investment required for education and training of nurses on these terminologies. It takes time and resources to ensure that nurses understand and are proficient in using standardized terminologies correctly. Another challenge is the potential resistance to change, as nurses may be accustomed to their own documentation practices and may be resistant to adopting new terminologies. In such cases, leadership support and organizational culture that emphasizes the value and benefits of standardized terminologies can help overcome resistance.
In conclusion, big data has the potential to bring significant benefits to healthcare, including improved decision-making and patient outcomes. However, it also presents challenges and risks, such as data privacy and analysis complexity. Mitigation strategies include strong data governance, security measures, and investing in training and collaboration. Standardized nursing terminologies are crucial for ensuring accurate and consistent documentation and communication of nursing care. They support effective collaboration, evidence-based practice, and improved patient safety. However, challenges in implementation exist, including the initial investment and resistance to change. Education, leadership support, and organizational culture can help address these challenges.
