Encompassed within the boundaries of this research paper, I will outline the rationale of constructing and implementing a publicly accessible patient portal for a healthcare organization. I will examine the utility, purpose and the technology requirements. Furthermore I will identify key employee involvement and the project tasks to make it operational and conclude with the highly probable benefits that the organization can expect to profit from its use. Despite all of the challenges presented in this paper, the benefits of this project has the potential to provide the organization a substantial return on investment (ROI) as highlighted by Heath Bell when he articulated, “portals are expected to be a key conduit for engaging patients in their care and getting them important health care information as quickly as possible” (Bell. 2012) Portals Portal Portals In its simplest form, the basic concept of a patient portal is that it is a website, that has some form of security embedded into the process, which allows identified users (patients) access to some level of their health information via the Internet. This access is controlled by authentication methods and the information is personal health data that is being hosted and/or managed by the organization (via a database). The amount or level of information that the user has accessed due is strictly set by the organization and access control through software applications that assure authentication, authorization and accountability. In a 2013 article, Gary Hamilton discuss the advantages of patient portals and state that they, “present many workflow efficiencies for providers, offer empowering tools for patient engagement and facilitate meaningful and relevant information excha... ... middle of paper ... ...are and/or preventative care.” (HealthIT. 2013) My conclusions In summary the benefits or employing or deploying a patient portal clearly out weigh the concerns of the delaying the project. When correctly implemented and properly deployed the organizational advantages can be: • -Reduction in routine administrative paperwork • -Secure electronic communication with patients • -Directed medical advice to patient’s needs or conditions • -Revenue opportunity for online patient payments • -Addressing Meaningful Use & Stage 2 requirements Along with the facilities gains here are the potential benefits for the patients: • -Faster access to personal health information • -Patient autonomy to self scheduled appointments & follow-up care • -Patient direct access to lab results • -Quicker access to specialty referrals • -Access to request routine prescription refills
As the evolution of healthcare from paper documentation to electronic documentation and ordering, the security of patient information is becoming more difficult to maintain. Electronic healthcare records (EHR), telenursing, Computer Physician Order Entry (CPOE) are a major part of the future of medicine. Social media also plays a role in the security of patient formation. Compromising data in the information age is as easy as pressing a send button. New technology presents new challenges to maintaining patient privacy. The topic for this annotated bibliography is the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Nursing informatics role is imperative to assist in the creation and maintenance of the ease of the programs and maintain regulations compliant to HIPAA. As a nurse, most documentation and order entry is done electronically and is important to understand the core concepts of HIPAA regarding electronic healthcare records. Using keywords HIPAA and informatics, the author chose these resources from scholarly journals, peer reviewed articles, and print based articles and text books. These sources provide how and when to share patient information, guidelines and regulation d of HIPAA, and the implementation in relation to electronic future of nursing.
Jha, A. K., Burke, M. F., DesRoches, C., Joshi M. S., Kralovec P. D., Campbell E. G., & Buntin M. B. (2011). Progress Toward Meaningful Use: Hospitals’ Adoption of Electronic Health Records. The American Journal of Managed Care, 17, 117-123
When the context of an integrated and interconnected platform comes up, the first question that arises is how the platform maintains and protects the privacy of its users. The case of E-Health is similar. E-Health means keeping the medical records of the patients over the
“An electronic health record (EHR) is a digital version of a patient’s paper chart. EHRs are real-time, patient-centered records that make information available instantly and securely to authorized users.” (healthit.gov) The EHR mandate was created “to share information with other health care providers and organizations – such as laboratories, specialists, medical imaging facilities, pharmacies, emergency facilities, and school and workplace clinics – so they contain information from all clinicians involved in a patient’s care.” ("Providers & Professionals | HealthIT.gov", n.d., p. 1) The process has proved to be quite challenging for providers. As an incentive, the government began issuing payments to those providers who “meaningfully use certified electronic health record (EHR) technology.” (hhs.gov) There are three stages that providers must progress through in order to receive theses financial incentives. Stage one is the initial stage and is met with the creation and implementation of the HER in the business. Stage two “increases health information exchange between providers.” ("United States Department of Health and Human Services | HHS.gov", n.d., p. 1) Stage three will be the continuation and expansion of the “meaningful use objectives.” ("United States Department of Health and Human Services | HHS.gov", n.d., p. 1) The hospital, where I work, initiated the HER mandate many years ago. In this paper, I will discuss the progression and the challenges that my hospital encountered while implementing the EHR mandate.
Patient portal is a Web-based access point which enables physicians and patients to chat and exchange health details remotely, adds an extra element for the continued handling of the patient's care. Although portals cannot substitute a face-to-face visit, they have got a lot of advantages, these are generally developed to improve patient's involvement in his or her care, portals help monitoring test results as well as health records and can also improve a regular doctor-patient discussion. Moreover, portals are effective in reducing expensive paperwork by functioning as online billing and pay centers.
Online patient portals are being utilized at health care offices and hospitals across the country. A patient portal is a secured website in which patients can email their providers, view and pay bills, request appointments, research health topics, review personal information, complete medical forms, and update their profiles and contact information (Ellis). In addition, some patient portals offer health monitoring tools, such as food diaries, body mass index calculators, depression screenings, and personalized plans to help patients quit smoking or lose weight (“The Doctor Will E-Mail You Now”). These portals provide a new method for patients to stay connected to their health care professionals ...
Nirel, N., Rosen, B., Sharon, A., Blondhiem, O., Sherf, M., Smuel, H., et al. (2010). The impact of an integrated hospital-community medical informaiton system on quality and service utilization in hospital departments. International Journal of Medical Informatics , 79, pp. 649-657.
Unfortunately, the quality of health care in America is flawed. Information technology (IT) offers the potential to address the industry’s most pressing dilemmas: care fragmentation, medical errors, and rising costs. The leading example of this is the electronic health record (EHR). An EHR, as explained by HealthIT.gov (n.d.), is a digital version of a patient’s paper chart. It includes, but is not limited to, medical history, diagnoses, medications, and treatment plans. The EHR, then, serves as a resource that aids clinicians in decision-making by providing comprehensive patient information.
290). Throughout numerous healthcare organizations, e-Health techniques are regarded as vital to the delivery of quality, patient-centred health care. The e -technology can improve patient-physician relationships, to guide aimed questions for greater understanding of health conditions and better management of the health disorders. As per The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services e-Health initiatives will help the health care industry deliver higher quality care and reduce costs. Among the limitations and shortcomings of E-health are the chances of impersonality, e-Health applications might not be user-friendly and commonly available. Patients also need to develop confidence in E-health. Concerns about privacy and security of information have slowed the development of this initiative (McGonigle & Garver Mastrian, 2015, p. 290). It is critical to assure the security of health-related medical records. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) is the main Federal laws that protects patient’s health information. The Law requires the organizations that manage health information to have policies and safeguards to protect health information saved on paper or
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 present environments for healthcare organizations contain many forces demanding unprecedented levels of change. These forces include changing demographics, increased customer outlook, increased competition, and strengthen governmental pressure. Meeting these challenges will require healthcare organizations to go through fundamental changes and to continuously inquire about new behavior to produce future value. Healthcare is an information-intensive process. Pressures for management in information technology are increasing as healthcare organizations feature to lower costs, improve quality, and increase access to care. Healthcare organizations have developed better and more complex. Information technology must keep up with the dual effects of organizational complication and continuous progress in medical technology. The literature review will discuss how health care organizations can provide effective care by the intellectual use of information.
...s in the health industry. It is set to change the way doctors and patient’s access information as it will make information more available in a clear and efficient way.
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.
The purpose of the Electronic Health Record is to provide a comprehensive, standardized and universal digital version of a patient 's health records. The availability of a patient 's digital health record provides health information and data for critical thinking and evidence based decision-making, aggregates patient data for quality assurance and research. The Electronic Health Record has been, "identified as a strategy for effectively and efficiently coordinating and maintaining documentation of patients health histories and as a secure method of providing more informed clinical decision making" (MNA, 2006).
...to be more involved with their care and be able to understand the care that is being provided to them because they can help update medical histories, insurance information, and medications through portals from their homes. Allowing the patient to be in control of their own health and the care they are receiving.