Business Case: Hospital Patient Processing System

Business Case Hospital Patient Processing Systemyou Were Tasked To I

Business case: Hospital Patient processing system You were tasked to improve the performance of the local hospital Patient processing system. There are three databases in the new IT system: The patient database will record and authenticate each patient in the hospital. The employee database will record and authenticate each employee in the hospital. The ambulance database will record each ambulance. Database and Database management systems are on-premises for all three (Patient, Employee, and Ambulance). Therefore, current data relating to patients and data related to Ambulances data will be on-premises. Data related to Employees will be kept on the premises. The hospital IT system will not keep old patient and Ambulance data on the premises.

Hospital managers would like to: streamline the patient processing system (admitting and moving to room), improve response time for ambulances during emergencies, enhance service for patients arriving via ambulance, enable locating doctors when they are out of the hospital for emergencies, and facilitate fast interaction with companies for medical equipment and supplies.

Question 1: List three applications of “web-accessible smart devices” in the new hospital that you would recommend for this business case.

Web-accessible smart devices can significantly enhance various aspects of hospital operations by providing real-time data access, improved communication, and greater flexibility. Here are three applications suitable for this hospital’s needs:

1. Patient Monitoring and Management Devices: Wearable or bedside smart devices can be used for real-time monitoring of vital signs, ensuring that healthcare providers have up-to-date information on patient health status. These devices can be accessed securely via web interfaces, allowing medical staff to monitor multiple patients simultaneously from different locations, thereby improving response times and patient care efficiency.
2. Mobile Workforce Management: Smart mobile devices, such as tablets or smartphones, can be employed by hospital staff and emergency responders to access patient records, locate colleagues, or coordinate patient transfers. These devices enable staff to update patient information instantly, navigate hospital premises efficiently, and communicate effectively during emergency situations.
3. Smart Wayfinding Kiosks and Directory Systems: Public and staff-facing kiosks equipped with web-accessible smart interfaces can assist visitors and staff in locating departments, emergency exits, or available doctors. This application reduces confusion, optimizes patient flow, and enhances overall hospital experience by providing real-time routing and scheduling information.

Question 2: How the cloud will influence future Operating Systems in the Servers of the Hospital IT system?

The integration of cloud computing into hospital IT servers will substantially reshape the future landscape of operating systems (OS) within the organization. While the hospital's current server infrastructure is on-premises within the Local Area Network (LAN), cloud influence introduces several enhancements and shifts:

• Hybrid Cloud-Edge Architectures: Future OS will increasingly support hybrid models, enabling seamless integration between local servers and cloud resources. This means OSes will need to manage data synchronization, security policies, and workload distribution across both environments efficiently.
• Distributed Processing Capabilities: Cloud-enabled OS will handle distributed processing, where computational tasks can be dynamically allocated between on-premises servers and cloud platforms. This flexibility increases processing power for complex medical imaging, data analytics, and AI applications.
• Enhanced Security and Compliance Features: Operating systems will incorporate advanced security frameworks aligned with cloud standards, including identity management, encryption, and audit logging to ensure patient data privacy and regulatory compliance (e.g., HIPAA).
• Automation and Self-Management: Cloud-influenced OS will support more automated updates, self-healing mechanisms, and adaptive resource management, reducing manual interventions and increasing system reliability and uptime.
• Containerization and Microservices Support: Future OS will prioritize support for container-based architectures, enabling modular service deployment, which simplifies updates and enhances scalability for hospital applications.

Overall, cloud influence encourages operating systems to become more flexible, scalable, and secure, facilitating efficient hospital operations while maintaining stringent data privacy standards.

Question 3: How you can use location-aware applications in the new Hospital IT system?

Location-aware applications leverage real-time positional data to provide context-sensitive services, which can enhance efficiency and patient care within the hospital:

• Emergency Response and Dispatching: Using indoor GPS or RFID-based location tracking, hospital staff can locate emergency responders, doctors, and patients quickly. This aids in efficient dispatching of ambulances and medical teams during emergencies.
• Asset Tracking: Medical equipment, wheelchairs, or vital supplies can be tagged with RFID or Bluetooth beacons. Location-aware software can automatically track these assets, reducing search times and ensuring their optimal utilization.
• Patient Navigation and Queue Management: Patients and visitors can be guided via smartphone apps or kiosks to their specific destinations within the hospital, such as clinics, laboratories, or radiology departments. This improves the patient experience and reduces congestion.

By implementing location-aware applications, the hospital can enhance operational responsiveness, optimize resource allocation, and improve overall patient and staff satisfaction.

Question 4: How you could use cloud-enabled communication among smart devices in the new Hospital IT system?

Cloud-enabled communication facilitates interconnectedness among various smart devices, offering real-time data sharing and coordinated actions. In the hospital setting, this can be utilized in several ways:

1. Unified Data Sharing Platform: Cloud integration allows smart devices such as patient monitors, mobile devices, and hospital fixtures to share data seamlessly. For example, vital signs from wearable monitors can be instantly accessible to doctors' tablets or hospital servers, enabling quicker diagnoses.
2. Automated Alerts and Notifications: In case of emergencies or device malfunctions, smart devices can send instant alerts via the cloud to relevant staff, allowing rapid intervention and maintenance.
3. Remote Monitoring and Management: Devices situated across the hospital can be managed and updated remotely through cloud portals, maintaining consistency and security while reducing administrative overhead.
4. Enhanced Collaboration: Cloud-based communication supports multidisciplinary teamwork by providing shared dashboards, multimedia messaging, and coordinated workflows, crucial during complex procedures or emergencies.
5. Integration with External Services: Cloud platforms enable integration with external systems such as pharmacy supply chains, equipment vendors, or telemedicine platforms, ensuring smooth, end-to-end service delivery.

Overall, cloud-enabled communication enhances interoperability, improves response times, and fosters a resilient, adaptive hospital IT ecosystem.

References

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• HIMSS. (2021). The Role of IoT and Smart Devices in Healthcare. Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society.
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• Kuo, T., & Hwang, J. (2021). Security Implications of Cloud Integration in Healthcare. IEEE Transactions on Cloud Computing, 9(3), 912-924.
• Smith, R., & Jones, A. (2019). Enhancing Hospital Operations with Smart Technologies. Journal of Healthcare Engineering, 2019, 1-12.
• World Health Organization. (2020). Digital Technologies in Health: Opportunities and Challenges. WHO Report.
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• Internet of Things (IoT) in Healthcare. (2021). National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).
• Chen, L., et al. (2020). Cloud-Based EHR Systems and Data Security. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 22(5), e17361.