Computers and the Internet Play an Increasingly Important Role in Health and Social Care. in What Ways Can They Help to Make Care Safer and Better? What Problems Can They Create?

The huge rise in the use of computers and the internet has had a significant impact in health and social care. The use of computers has led to changes in how people’s health and social care records are recorded and stored and the huge growth in internet access has impacted upon the ways in which service users and health and social care professionals obtain and use information . This essay will examine the ways in which the use of computers and the internet can make care safer and better and will also examine the problems that have been created by the growth in the use of computers and the internet. Throughout the essay examples will be drawn from K101, Unit 18 which   features a case study on the electronic Renal Patient View system   (Renal Patient View, 2011), and K101, Unit 19 which focuses on how and why people use the internet to gain information on their health conditions.
With a move away from paper based health and social care records, it has become increasingly common for people’s health and social care records to be stored on computers. This has advantages and disadvantages for service users and health and social care professionals. Unit 18 features a case study on an electronic system for patients with renal problems called Renal Patient View (K101, Unit 18, p.75). Patients with access to the internet have the advantage of being able to access their records at any time. This allows them much better access than they would have with traditional paper records. The Renal Patient View contains information that one would expect to find on a paper record such as patient details, test results and prescribed medicines (Renal Patient view, 2011). However, patients also have the ability to access information that goes beyond that found on a paper record. For example, there are further links to in-depth advice on treatment and diet and links to organisations such as the National Kidney Federation that offers further support (National Kidney Federation, 2011). This...