At its most extreme, the type of technology that is most distancing is the type of automated voice phone system that is the first point of contact for many patients between themselves and their insurance companies. I have witnessed patients waiting to discover if a procedure is covered, if a doctor is in-network, or an answer as to what laboratory their blood work should be sent. Other technologies, like electronic recordkeeping can be helpful, but can also distance the nurse from the patient if it is used as a substitute for thorough face-to-face interviews. And some technologies can bring nurse and patient closer together, like those that facilitate efficiency or enable the patient to contact a healthcare provider while being cared for at home.

One of the reasons I have chosen a career in nursing is that I do not feel comfortable making a living behind a computer, and not...
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