Telehealth technology is rapidly evolving with the potential to use video capability to promote health to individuals in rural and underserved populations (Hall & McGraw, 2014). Use of telehealth technology for breastfeeding is an area of promise that could help meet the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (ODPHP), Healthy People.gov (n.d.) objective of 25.5% of infants that are exclusively breastfeeding by six months. The purpose of this paper is to analyze: the impact of videoconferencing technology for breastfeeding support; the regulatory and ethical implications of videoconferencing; how the data is communicated in nursing practice; and the clinical and administrative controls required for the videoconferencing technology.
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Although the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative, a ten-step process, that was launched by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in 1991 to protect, promote, and support optimal breastfeeding practices, there is still much work to be done (World Health Organization, n.d.). Because breastfeeding may not be well established following discharge from the hospital, videoconferencing technology can have both a direct and indirect impact on patient care by fostering a need for evidence-based practices to be developed to offer continuing support, confidence, and education to mothers. Many mothers lack support, live in rural or underserved areas and have access to care issues which can deter a mother’s goal to continue breastfeeding. Lactation consultants can use videoconferencing technology to enhance nursing care to these mothers by using a computer, laptop, tablet, or phone with Skype (as this is free) and a webcam, which can allow the mother to be an active participant in handling and positioning her baby to instill confidence right from her own home, a local Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) clinic, or a provider office, which would use strong passwords and internet-based …show more content…
Rojjanasrirat et al. (2012) discuss to date no studies in the United States have evaluated videoconferencing for reliability or efficacy for breastfeeding support; however, outside of the United States two studies have shown telehealth technology for breastfeeding to be a valuable tool. To ensure positive outcomes and provide a safe practice environment for videoconferencing, further studies such as systematic reviews and meta-analysis coupled with a framework such as the Iowa Model of Evidence-Based Practice to Promote Quality of Care need to be done to establish and implement evidence-based guidelines to be used in the clinical setting (Grove, et al., 2015). Evidence-based guidelines will need to incorporate competency maintenance with computer and software applications, informed consent, and how to ensure the privacy and security of personal information for the mother and baby using the technology in whichever setting the technology is being used such as the provider office, hospital, or from
Although the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative, a ten-step process, that was launched by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in 1991 to protect, promote, and support optimal breastfeeding practices, there is still much work to be done (World Health Organization, n.d.). Because breastfeeding may not be well established following discharge from the hospital, videoconferencing technology can have both a direct and indirect impact on patient care by fostering a need for evidence-based practices to be developed to offer continuing support, confidence, and education to mothers. Many mothers lack support, live in rural or underserved areas and have access to care issues which can deter a mother’s goal to continue breastfeeding. Lactation consultants can use videoconferencing technology to enhance nursing care to these mothers by using a computer, laptop, tablet, or phone with Skype (as this is free) and a webcam, which can allow the mother to be an active participant in handling and positioning her baby to instill confidence right from her own home, a local Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) clinic, or a provider office, which would use strong passwords and internet-based …show more content…
Rojjanasrirat et al. (2012) discuss to date no studies in the United States have evaluated videoconferencing for reliability or efficacy for breastfeeding support; however, outside of the United States two studies have shown telehealth technology for breastfeeding to be a valuable tool. To ensure positive outcomes and provide a safe practice environment for videoconferencing, further studies such as systematic reviews and meta-analysis coupled with a framework such as the Iowa Model of Evidence-Based Practice to Promote Quality of Care need to be done to establish and implement evidence-based guidelines to be used in the clinical setting (Grove, et al., 2015). Evidence-based guidelines will need to incorporate competency maintenance with computer and software applications, informed consent, and how to ensure the privacy and security of personal information for the mother and baby using the technology in whichever setting the technology is being used such as the provider office, hospital, or from