Abstract
Digital representations are critical in the context of remote care, where nurses and patients interact at a distance through digital means. Based on an empirical study of nurses’ work in remote care, we propose a model to depict how nurses and patients collaboratively form and interact through digital representations, and we show that when knowledge is gained through patient-generated digital data, novel reflective loops are introduced. We identify a multiloop dynamic of understanding through and reflecting on digital representations. We show how nurses work to generate and understand representations of patients and reflectively improve these processes. At the same time, we show how patients take active parts in forming and using representations, guided by the nurses who coach them. By discussing our findings in light of existent literature, we offer the notion of representational configurations, point to the crucial role of reflective loops, and extend Information Systems’ theorizing on representationality.
Recommended Citation
Kempton, Alexander Moltubakk and Grisot, Miria, "Real Person, Digital Patient: Representations and Reflective Practices in Remote Care" (2019). AMCIS 2019 Proceedings. 21.
https://aisel.aisnet.org/amcis2019/healthcare_it/healthcare_it/21
Real Person, Digital Patient: Representations and Reflective Practices in Remote Care
Digital representations are critical in the context of remote care, where nurses and patients interact at a distance through digital means. Based on an empirical study of nurses’ work in remote care, we propose a model to depict how nurses and patients collaboratively form and interact through digital representations, and we show that when knowledge is gained through patient-generated digital data, novel reflective loops are introduced. We identify a multiloop dynamic of understanding through and reflecting on digital representations. We show how nurses work to generate and understand representations of patients and reflectively improve these processes. At the same time, we show how patients take active parts in forming and using representations, guided by the nurses who coach them. By discussing our findings in light of existent literature, we offer the notion of representational configurations, point to the crucial role of reflective loops, and extend Information Systems’ theorizing on representationality.