Critical Factors In Implementing An IT System In Health ✓ Solved

Critical Factors In Implementing An It System In Health

Provide at least three (3) various reasons why some health care organizations have been reluctant to implement electronic medical records. Discuss the essential manner in which the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) impacts patient’s medical records. Determine the main advantages and disadvantages of the adoption of The HITECH (the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health) Act for health care professionals. Next, suggest one (1) strategy that the medical staff members could use in order to mitigate the main disadvantages in question.

Review the typical workflow processes within health organizations, and decide the single most significant process that the health organization must eliminate in order to improve the service. Provide a rationale to support your response. Analyze the primary ways in which the key federal initiatives impact the standards of health care information for patient privacy, safety, and confidentiality. Specify the fundamental advantages of applying an IT system within health care organizations. Predict new IT developments in the health care industry for the next two (2) decades. Justify your response.

Use at least three (3) quality academic resources in this assignment. Note: Wikipedia and similar type Websites do not qualify as academic resources. Your assignment must follow these formatting guidelines: Be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides; citations and references must follow APA or school-specific format. Check with your professor for any additional instructions.

Include a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student’s name, the professor’s name, the course title, and the date. The cover page and the reference page are not included in the required assignment page length. The specific course learning outcomes associated with this assignment are: Examine the impact technologies have on health care information systems. Examine the systems development life cycle of a custom application and the selection of proprietary systems. Use technology and information resources to research issues in health information systems.

Write clearly and concisely about health information systems using proper writing mechanics. Grading for this assignment will be based on answer quality, logic / organization of the paper, and language and writing skills, using the following rubric found here.

Sample Paper For Above instruction

Introduction

Implementing an effective health information technology (HIT) system is critical to modern healthcare delivery. Despite its benefits, many healthcare organizations exhibit reluctance in adopting electronic medical records (EMRs), stemming from various challenges and concerns. This paper explores the reasons behind this hesitance, the impacts of key legislation like HIPAA and the HITECH Act, workflow process considerations, and future directions in health IT over the next two decades.

Reasons for Reluctance to Implement EMRs

Healthcare organizations, particularly smaller or resource-constrained ones, often hesitate to adopt EMRs due to several significant barriers. Firstly, high implementation costs represent a substantial financial burden. As noted by Menachemi and Collum (2011), the initial investment for hardware, software, staff training, and system maintenance is considerable, often deterring organizations from transitioning.

Secondly, resistance to change among healthcare providers is a common obstacle. Healthcare professionals may be accustomed to paper-based records and skeptical about the efficiency or usability of new systems, as highlighted by Greenhalgh et al. (2017). This resistance can slow adoption and implementation.

Thirdly, concerns regarding data security and patient privacy also contribute to reluctance. Organizations worry about potential breaches, especially considering the sensitive nature of health data. These fears are compounded by complex regulatory compliance requirements such as HIPAA, which impose strict standards but also heighten concerns about liability and data protection (Kruse et al., 2017).

Impact of HIPAA on Patient Medical Records

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), enacted in 1996, fundamentally shapes how patient medical records are managed and protected. HIPAA establishes national standards to safeguard sensitive patient information, mandating confidentiality, integrity, and availability of electronic health data (U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, 2020).

HIPAA's Privacy Rule restricts the use and disclosure of protected health information (PHI), requiring healthcare providers and organizations to implement safeguards and obtain patient consent where appropriate. This ensures patient control over their medical records, fostering trust and confidentiality (McLeod, 2019).

Furthermore, HIPAA's Security Rule mandates administrative, physical, and technical safeguards. These include encryption, access controls, and audit controls to prevent unauthorized access, thus directly impacting how medical records are stored, transmitted, and accessed (Rinehart-Thompson & Aynes, 2017).

Compliance with HIPAA is essential not only for legal protection but also for maintaining the integrity and trustworthiness of healthcare data management systems.

Advantages and Disadvantages of the HITECH Act

The HITECH Act, enacted in 2009, aimed to stimulate the adoption of health IT systems, particularly EMRs. Among its notable advantages is the provision of financial incentives through meaningful use programs, which encouraged healthcare providers to adopt and effectively utilize electronic records (Buntin et al., 2011). This led to increased interoperability, improved clinical decision-making, and enhanced patient safety.

However, there are notable disadvantages as well. The rapid push for adoption sometimes resulted in incomplete implementations, with systems lacking interoperability and user-friendliness (Adler-Milstein et al., 2014). Additionally, the increased administrative burden related to documentation and compliance with regulations can lead to clinician burnout and reduced time for patient care (Shanafelt et al., 2016).

To mitigate these disadvantages, one effective strategy for medical staff is ongoing training and support, aimed at optimizing system use and reducing resistance. Continuous education ensures users are comfortable, proficient, and able to leverage the full benefits of health IT systems.

Workflow Processes and Improvement Strategies

Within healthcare organizations, various workflow processes—such as patient intake, documentation, medication administration, and billing—are integral to operational effectiveness. Among these, the medication reconciliation process is often identified as a crucial pain point because errors here can lead to adverse drug events (Helmons et al., 2014).

Eliminating redundant or unnecessary steps in documentation and streamlining communication between providers could significantly improve patient safety and service efficiency. Implementing automated medication reconciliation through electronic systems ensures real-time updates and reduces errors (Tam et al., 2017).

The most significant process to eliminate is redundant manual charting, which causes delays and increases the risk of errors. Replacing paper-based notes with integrated electronic records facilitates faster data sharing, minimizes transcription errors, and enhances continuity of care. This improves overall service delivery and patient outcomes.

Impact of Federal Initiatives on Healthcare Data Standards

Federal initiatives like HIPAA, HITECH, and the ONC's Nationwide Health Information Network (NHIN) shape standards for health care information by emphasizing interoperability, security, and privacy. These initiatives promote consistent data formats, secure data exchange protocols, and user authentication standards, ensuring cohesive information flow across systems (Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, 2019).

These standards significantly enhance patient privacy and safety by establishing clear guidelines for data access and transmission. They also support the development of certified electronic health record (EHR) systems compliant with federal requirements, fostering trust among consumers and providers alike.

Ultimately, these initiatives contribute to a unified, secure, and efficient health information ecosystem that enhances care quality and safety.

Advantages of Implementing IT Systems in Healthcare

Adopting IT systems in healthcare yields numerous benefits. Primarily, it improves clinical efficiency by enabling rapid access to comprehensive patient information, thus facilitating timely decision-making (Boonstra & Broekhuis, 2010). It enhances data accuracy and reduces medical errors through electronic prescribing and alerts (Kaelber & Jha, 2008).

IT systems also promote improved health outcomes by supporting clinical guidelines and decision support tools. Furthermore, they facilitate better coordination and communication among multidisciplinary teams, leading to integrated care delivery (Goddard et al., 2018).

From an operational standpoint, IT enables streamlined billing, coding, and administrative processes, reducing costs and increasing organizational efficiency. It also provides valuable data for research and quality improvement initiatives, continuously enhancing healthcare services (Häyrinen et al., 2008).

Future IT Developments in Healthcare

Looking ahead to the next two decades, several emerging IT trends are poised to revolutionize healthcare. Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) will significantly enhance diagnostic accuracy, personalize treatment plans, and predict disease outbreaks (Topol, 2019).

Telemedicine and remote monitoring will become ubiquitous, expanding access to care, especially in rural and underserved areas (Emani, 2020). Blockchain technology promises to improve data security, interoperability, and patient control over medical information (Agbo et al., 2019).

Furthermore, the integration of Internet of Things (IoT) devices and wearable technologies will enable continuous health monitoring and proactive intervention. These advancements will collectively lead to more personalized, efficient, and preventive healthcare models (Duch et al., 2020).

By leveraging these technological innovations, future healthcare systems will become more patient-centric, data-driven, and accessible.

References

• Adler-Milstein, J., DesRoches, C., Kralovec, P., et al. (2014). Electronic health record adoption in US hospitals: Progress continues, but challenges persist. Health Affairs, 33(7), 1244-1250.
• Agbo, C. C., Mahmoud, Q. H., & Eklund, J. M. (2019). Blockchain technology in healthcare: A comprehensive review and directions for future research. Applied Sciences, 9(9), 1736.
• Boonstra, A., & Broekhuis, M. (2010). Barriers to the acceptance of electronic medical records by physicians: A literature review. Hospital Management & Health Services, 34(3), 135-150.
• Buntin, M. B., Burke, M. F., Young, S. K., et al. (2011). The benefits of health information technology: A review of the recent literature shows predominantly positive results. Health Affairs, 30(3), 464-471.
• Duch, T., Priego, D., & García, A. A. (2020). Internet of Things in healthcare: Applications, challenges, and future directions. Sensors, 20(11), 3123.
• Goddard, M., Mannion, R., & Konteh, F. (2018). Healthcare quality and improvement in practice. BMC Health Services Research, 18, 410.
• Greenhalgh, T., Wherton, J., Papoutsi, C., et al. (2017). Beyond adoption: A new framework for theorizing and evaluating nonadoption, abandonment, and challenges to the scale-up, spread, and sustainability of health and care technologies. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 19(11), e367.
• Häyrinen, K., Saranto, K., & Nykänen, P. (2008). Definition, structure, content, use and impacts of electronic health records: A review of the research literature. International Journal of Medical Informatics, 77(5), 291-304.
• Helmons, P. J., et al. (2014). Implementation of medication reconciliation in hospitals: A systematic review. European Journal of Hospital Pharmacy, 21(2), 219-224.
• Kruse, C. S., et al. (2017). Data security in healthcare organizations: A systematic review. Journal of Medical Systems, 41(5), 182.
• McLeod, A. (2019). HIPAA privacy rule: How it protects patients and providers. Journal of Healthcare Management, 64(2), 115-122.
• Menachemi, N., & Collum, T. H. (2011). Benefits and drawbacks of electronic health record systems. Risk Management and Healthcare Policy, 4, 47-55.
• Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology. (2019). Connecting health and care for better population health. Retrieved from https://www.healthit.gov
• Rinehart-Thompson, L., & Aynes, A. (2017). HIPAA compliance and information security in healthcare. Journal of Healthcare Risk Management, 37(4), 4-11.
• Shanafelt, T., et al. (2016). Electronic health record-related burnout: Challenges and opportunities. Journal of Patient Safety and Risk Management, 21(12), 489-491.
• Topol, E. J. (2019). Deep medicine: How artificial intelligence can make healthcare human again. Basic Books.
• U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. (2020). Summary of the HIPAA privacy rule. Retrieved from https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-professionals/privacy/laws-regulations/index.html
• Tam, J., et al. (2017). Improving medication reconciliation with electronic health records: A systematic review. Journal of Hospital Medicine, 12(3), 183-189.