Digital Nursing and the ‘human touch’

The Association for Perioperative Practice (AfPP) recently held a residential conference on ‘taking the drama out of theatres’, at the University of York, covering a wide range of themes – from the impact of surgical innovations and an insight into implementing robotic surgery, to guidance on staffing to ensure safe and effective theatres. Also high on the agenda was the use of digital technologies to improve care for patients – from the use of apps and wearable technology, to an online tool aimed at improving the patient experience for young patients undergoing surgery.

Digital healthcare is advancing at a rapid pace – bringing both opportunities and challenges, Dr Theofanis Fotis pointed out. A principle lecturer in nursing at the University of Brighton, Dr Fotis outlined a vision for the future of nursing in the new digital era and discussed the impact that the new digital health agenda will have on practice. Some nurses continue to perceive the use of digital health technology as a move away from the ‘human touch’, he observed. However, contrary to this perception, he believes that e-health can be utilised to enhance and extend the nurse’s reach, arguing that it is possible to “get closer to our patients with technology”. 

He explained that digital healthcare is the application of digital and genetic technologies to the delivery of health and healthcare. It reflects the merging of the human genome project, electronic health records, health IT, ‘big data’ and personalised medicine, encompassing eHealth and mHealth.