Module 6 Question Response

What did you like or dislike about taking an online course?

I like online courses because although there are some deadlines, I am able to work at my own pace. For this same reason, I often put off the work because there are more pressing deadlines. I find that I often learn more about a topic because I do my own learning and research. I am able to use my resources more to learn instead of sitting in a classroom listening to a professor lecture, so I am often apt to remember better what I learn. The online format is especially ideal for this type of class because we learn to better manage the very technology we are learning about.

What topic did you learn the most about and what was your favorite topic?

I think I learned the most about teaching with technology because that really interested me. I like computers and I like using them to learn. In this day and age, kids grow up on computers and they are a natural resource for information retrieval and learning. I like the idea of integrating podcasts, etc to learn, especially since I commute to school and like the idea of not wasting 2 hours of study time daily. The part of the course I enjoyed was the assessment we did of ourselves to find out how we learn best. I thought it was interesting and fun. I did like the blogging as well. It was a fun was to give responses rather than just emailing the teacher.

If you were the instructor, and this being the first course for all DNP and Master students, what would you do the same or different?

If I were the instructor, I would keep the blogging and the other activities I mentioned in question 2. I liked how the tests were open book and unlimited in time because this allowed me to really learn and take my time finding the information instead of simply memorizing it. I liked that there were deadlines, but I might have each module have its own deadline. This might help students complete the work in a more timely manner. One thing I would have appreciated is more feedback on my assignments, especially where I was docked points. A rubic scoring sheet is better than nothing, but it actually tells me close to nothing about what I did wrong and how I might improve. 

Module 5 Question Response

Visit the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality at http://www.ahrq.gov/.  What, if any relationship do you see between the information available on this webpage and regulatory, accreditation, and reimbursement issues and healthcare information system use and design?

The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services AHRQ website is an awesome resource for patients and healthcare providers alike. It is refreshing to have a reliable and trustworthy resource to give to those types of patients who are extremely involved in their own healthcare and are often doing their own research to stay informed. I loved the part titled For Your Health, and I learned a lot reading the information provided there too! There are great articles about choosing quality care including information about how to use the ER wisely, how to choose a good hospital and how to file grievances, or complaints and actually see some action. I would have loved to have known about this site a few months earlier to offer to the family of a patient of mine. The patient was elderly and couldn't take care of herself, but also couldn't be cared for 24/7 by her family. The family was suddenly presented with the responsibility of choosing a nursing home for their loved one, but had no experience in that or where to start. There is a link here to compare nursing homes and a tool to help you choose one that suites you best. These are great resources to help the patients and their families be involved in and informed about their own healthcare. Whenever patients feel like they have an active part in their own care, they feel more empowered and are more likely to want to do their part and help themselves as well. 

These are also great references and sources for healthcare providers. I liked reading about the barcode medication administration. I have worked in a couple of hospitals where this intervention is not yet implemented and a couple where it is. I can say from experience that I feel MUCH safer with the barcode method. 

This website is highly related to regulatory, accreditation, and reimbursement issues. These are issues that patients have a right to know about and should know about. Patients, as well as healthcare workers, who are also in a way consumers at healthcare facilities, should know the measures that their hospital is required to meet in order to gain accreditation. They should know the regulations so as to judge whether they feel their hospital is living up to its requirements. Patients deserve safe care and they deserve to feel like they have a choice in which facility to attend, and once there, that they will receive the best care possible. I think spreading this information, such as the measures required to meet accreditation, to the public and to patients will only encourage the healthcare facilities to improve and progress because there will be more informed people watching their actions. I, personally, am happy to have this as a source now so that I can stay up to date on the same issues.