NONPF 38th Annual Conference

The attendee of this symposium will develop an understanding of: 1. Which technologies are available to DNP/NPs for enhancing healthcare in rural underserved areas 2. How various technology modalities can improve the quality of healthcare provided by DNP/NPs 3. How to develop a DNP/NP educational program that focuses on addressing healthcare needs of underserved and vulnerable populations through technology. The DNP/NP program presented here describes an innovative program that focuses on improving the access and quality of care for vulnerable and underserved populations through technology. Through distance web-based education, DNP/NP students remain in rural areas as they pursue their education and after they graduate. Healthcare Reform has targeted these providers to be the clinicians that will make a difference in addressing the needs of such populations. Based on the DNP Essentials, these providers are being educated to be leaders, change agents, and utilizers of the most current technologies. Technologies that show great promise in healthcare include Electronic Health Records, Clinical Decision Support Systems, Telemedicine, and Social Media. The DNP/NP program presented here provides DNP/NP providers with the knowledge and skills needed to develop, implement and evaluate the use of technology in rural settings. As providers and leaders, they are equipped to truly make a difference in healthcare. During this symposium, the overview will focus on the role of technology in healthcare. Emphasis will be placed on the use of Electronic Health Records, Clinical Decision Support Systems, Social Media, and Telemedicine in optimizing the access and quality of care in rural underserved areas. The first presentation will focus on the educational workshop that was developed to prepare the DNP/NP students with the knowledge and skills needed to develop, implement and evaluate technology focused programs in rural practices. The second presentation will address the projects that the students developed focusing on implementing new technologies in their practices. Specific projects will be presented to illustrate the impact of DNP/NP providers in addressing the healthcare crisis through technology. The third presentation will provide information on the DNP/NP as a leader in the utilization of technology in rural practices. Actual student stories will be presented.