Using Technology to Facilitate Mobility, Communication, and Relationships
One leadership skill set that is increasingly recognized as critical for nurses in the 21st century is the ability to use technology which facilitates mobility as well as relationships, interactions, and operational processes (Huston, 2014). This skill set is predicted to become even more critical in the approaching decade. One goal identified in the Healthy People 2020 initiatives is use of health communication strategies and health information technology (IT) to improve population health outcomes and health care quality, and to achieve health equity (Healthy People 2020, 2012). Healthy People 2020 suggests that communication and health IT that supports shared decision making between patients and providers can result in social support networks. In addition, health IT can deliver accurate, accessible, and actionable health information that is targeted or tailored; facilitate meaningful use of health IT; and promote exchange of health information among healthcare and public health professionals. Finally, well developed health IT can enable quick and informed action to health risks and public health emergencies; increase health literacy skills; provide new opportunities to connect with culturally diverse and hard-to-reach populations; and provide sound principles in the design of programs and interventions that result in healthier behaviors (Healthy People 2020, 2012). Nurses will need the skills to use IT at the advanced level required to support these goals.