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Impact of information systems and computer technology in healthcare
Reflection paper on the importance of health information technology
Reflection paper on the importance of health information technology
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Health information technology (HIT) is improving the population of the United States of America’s health outcomes and heath care quality. Health information technology has many benefits, including efficiency, financial savings for patients and hospitals, increased safety for patients, and the potential to improve quality of patient care. According to the RAND research, health information technology can save up to $77 billion per year. As a matter of fact, accurate health information records indicate that health information technology is decreasing people’s death rates. After many follow ups it has reported that the use of electronic medical records has “reduce death by 34%”. They found that benefits of health information technology has been
Health Information Management Technology. (3rd Edition). Chicago, IL: AHIMA Press.
For years now, the healthcare system in the United States have managed patient’s health records through paper charting, this has since changed for the better with the introduction of an electronic medical record (EMR) system. This type of system has helped healthcare providers, hospitals and other ambulatory institutions extract data from a patient’s chart to help expedite clinical diagnosis and providing necessary care. Although this form of technology shows great promise, studies have shown that this system is just a foundation to the next evolution of health technology. The transformation of EMR to electronic heath record system (EHR) is the ultimate goal of the federal government.
Health Information Exchange (HIE) was introduced by President Bush in 2004 (Kruse, Regier & Rheinboldt, 2014) so it is not a new concept. HIE is instrumental in gaining overall population health as it can lead to a reduction in healthcare costs, increase patient safety, and increase health outcomes. Regional Health Information Organizations (RHIOs) are a conglomerate of healthcare providers and patients in a region that exchange healthcare information with the goal of delivering quality care to the individuals they serve. This paper will discuss the pros and cons of RHIOs, key challenges in gaining long term viability, and provide ways in which capital is raised to support HIE.
Historically, physicians and nurses documented patients’ health information using paper and pencil. This documentation created numerous errors in patients’ medical records. Patient information became lost or destroyed, medication errors occur daily because of illegible handwriting, and patients had to wait long periods to have access to their medical records. Since then technology has changed the way nurses and health care providers care for their patients. Documentation of patient care has moved to an electronic heath care system in which facilities around the world implement electronic health care systems. Electronic health records (EHR) is defined as a longitudinal electronic record of
Many new technologies are being used in health organizations across the nations, which are being utilized to help improve the quality of health care. Electronic Health Records (EHRs) play a critical role in improving access, quality and efficiency of healthcare ("Electronic health records," 2014). In order to assist in expanding the use of EHR’s, in 2011 The Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS), instituted a EHR incentive program called the Meaningful use Program. This program was instituted to encourage and expand the use of the HER, by providing health professional and health organizations yearly incentive payments when they demonstrate meaningful use of the EHR ("Medicare and medicaid," 2014). The Meaningful use program will be explored including its’ implications for nurses, nursing, national policy, how the population health data relates to Meaningful use data collection in various stages and finally recommendations for beneficial improvement for patient outcomes and population health and more.
Did you ever think about how much time is spent on computers and the internet? It is estimated that the average adult will spend over five hours per day online or with digital media according to Emarketer.com. This is a significant amount; taking into consideration the internet has not always been this easily accessible. The world that we live in is slowly or quickly however you look at it: becoming technology based and it is shifting the way we live. With each day more and more people use social media, shop online, run businesses, take online classes, play games, the list is endless. The internet serves billions of people daily and it doesn’t stop there. Without technology and the internet, there would be no electronic health record. Therefore, is it important for hospitals and other institutions to adopt the electronic health record (EHR) system? Whichever happens, there are many debates about EHR’s and their purpose, and this paper is going to explain both the benefits and disadvantages of the EHR. Global users of the internet can then decide whether the EHR is beneficial or detrimental to our ever changing healthcare system and technology based living.
The Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (HITECH) was put into place as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, and was signed and made a part of law in February 2009. It sponsors the adoption and meaningful use of health information technology. (www.healthcareitnews.com). There was $22 billion and of this $19.2 billion was supposed to be used as a method to increase the use or the Electronic Health Records by the doctors and healthcare facilities. (www.hitechanswers.net).
Health information technology must be used as the powerful tool it is to attain the ultimate goal of generating improved healthcare quality and public health outcomes. The NQS outlines objectives and concerns for improving health equality and health care quality the same way. It implies that the quality improvement being enabled through health information technology will support the goals envisioned by the NQS (Taylor, 2015).
Over the last 5-10 years the healthcare system has begun reformation to increase safety, efficiency, cost reduction, increasing continuum of care, and increases in information technology (IT). There are many influences that are creating this need for change including laws, regulations, and the consumers of the healthcare system. The consumer is beginning to take charge of their health and become an advocate of their healthcare needs and plans of action. This transformation has created a greater need for the healthcare system to increase the use of health management information system (HMIS). HMIS is meant to help all departments within a healthcare organization, such as a hospital, to communicate easier creating a better care experience for both the care providers and consumers. These HMIS initiatives include systems such as computerized physician order entry (CPOE), electronic medical records (EMR), health information exchange (HIE), and other electronic systems. It is these initiatives that are reforming the healthcare system. However, there is not much information analyzing these new trending initiatives and how they will help or hurt the medical field. It is these systems that will be analyzed to determine the challenges they may have for the healthcare system, and the leadership of healthcare organizations.
Encinosa, W. E., & Jaeyong, B. (2013). Will Meaningful Use Electronic Medical Records Reduce Hospital Costs?. American Journal Of Managed Care, 19eSP19-eSP25.
It enables healthcare organizations to monitor patient safely and care. According to IOM essential elements for an EHR are: the collection of longitudinal data on a person’s health, immediate electronic access to this information, establishment of a system that provides decision support to ensure the quality, safety, and efficiency of patient care. The Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act, until 2015, offers incentives for physicians and other healthcare professions to adopt health IT. After that, the apt spells out penalties for noncompliance of health IT. The Office of Nation Coordinator (ONC) for Health Information Technology (HIT) is responsible for implementing the incentives and penalties program. The ONC has been working to create ‘meaningful use’ guidelines for physicians and others that will help them receive incentive payments and avoid penalties in the future” (Niles, 2015, page 261).
Telehealth is not a new concept. It was first anticipated in 1924 as a fantasy in a Radio News Magazine. Today it is a reality. Even more, implementation of telehealth is becoming a necessity due to increasing aging population and high healthcare costs. What is telehealth? On a federal level, telehealth is defined as “the use of technology to deliver health care, health information or health education at a distance.”
Health Information Technology (HIT) is finally a way for the health care organization to become current and modernized their patient’s records and information electronically. HIT allows patient’s information, such as labs, medication, appointments to be accessed electronically by patients, family members, caregivers and other health care workers to better organize the patient’s treatment plan to ensure a better outcome and service delivery. “The text states, “HIT is not one specific product, but refers to various components, including computers, software, and devices, that function in a larger sociotechnical system, including hardware and software, working together in an organization that involves people, processes and workflows” (Knickman,
Question 1: Describe and diagram the existing process for reporting and identifying major public health problems, such as a flu pandemic.
Information and Communications Technology (ICT) is reshaping the health care system in the United States at an accelerating rate. In earlier times US Healthcare system was more focused on intervention of diseases, but now it is moving more towards preventive approach and I see Health IT as the most important tool that can lead this change. I strongly believe that my professional goals, range and depth of my experience and knowledge is an asset and my enthusiasm for the field makes me an ideal candidate for the Master of Professional Studies in Technology Management (Health Information Technology) program at Georgetown University.