HW Assignment 23: 4 Pages With Notes You Must Use At Least 3 ✓ Solved

Hw Assignment 23 4 Pages With Note You Must Use At Least 3 Scholarly

HW assignment pages with Note: You must use at least 3 scholarly references APA format Apply business principles to the management of the healthcare organization Apply ethical and legal principles to the management of a healthcare organization Evaluate uses for various technology applications in the healthcare business. The use of health information technology (HIT) has increased dramatically over the past decade, resulting in the federal government enacting several pieces of legislation such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996 and the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act of 2009. Continuing to build on your proposal for a healthcare facility from Weeks 1 and 2, you are assigned to research and discuss the following: Discuss the financial and health benefits that can be realized by implementing an electronic health record (EHR). Research and explain the estimated cost of implementing an EHR and the estimated cost of managing an EHR over the long run. Discuss current security concerns surrounding HIT and the EHR. Discuss how electronic health records can be used for decision-making and problem-solving. Choose 1 piece of federal legislation (e.g., HIPAA, HITECH Act, Meaningful Use), and discuss the requirements that legislation imposes on the use of HIT and the EHR. Note: You must use at least 3 scholarly references.

Sample Paper For Above instruction

Introduction

The rapid advancement and adoption of health information technology (HIT), particularly electronic health records (EHRs), have transformed healthcare management. Government legislation such as HIPAA and HITECH has played a pivotal role in shaping the landscape of health data management. This paper discusses the benefits of EHR implementation, associated costs, security concerns, applications in decision-making, and an analysis of federal legislation impacting HIT use, emphasizing compliance and ethical considerations.

Benefits of Implementing Electronic Health Records

Implementing EHRs offers numerous financial and health benefits. Financially, EHRs reduce paperwork, streamline billing processes, minimize duplicate testing, and improve billing accuracy, leading to cost savings (Buntin et al., 2011). From a healthcare perspective, EHRs enhance patient safety through improved medication reconciliation and reduce medical errors by providing comprehensive, real-time patient data (Sinsky et al., 2014). Additionally, EHRs facilitate better coordination among healthcare providers, leading to improved health outcomes and patient satisfaction (Zaidi et al., 2018).

Costs of Implementing and Managing EHRs

The initial investment in EHRs can be significant, involving costs for software acquisition or development, hardware infrastructure, staff training, and system customization. According to Cresswell et al. (2013), the average startup costs for EHR implementation range from $15,000 to $70,000 per provider, depending on the practice size. Ongoing management costs include software updates, system maintenance, security measures, and continuous staff training—estimated at approximately 15-20% of initial costs annually (HIMSS Analytics, 2020). The total cost varies depending on the organization's size, scope, and existing IT infrastructure.

Security Concerns Surrounding HIT and EHR

As digital health records become more prevalent, security concerns intensify. Data breaches pose significant threats, risking patient privacy and exposing sensitive health information (Kruse et al., 2017). Challenges include unauthorized access, phishing attacks, malware, and system vulnerabilities. Ensuring data integrity and confidentiality requires robust cybersecurity protocols, regular audits, encryption, and compliance with legal standards such as HIPAA (HHS, 2003). Healthcare organizations must balance accessibility with security to prevent data breaches while maintaining usability.

Use of EHRs in Decision-Making and Problem-Solving

EHRs serve as essential tools for clinical decision support, providing alerts for potential adverse drug interactions, allergy warnings, and evidence-based guidelines. Data analytics derived from EHRs can identify trends, predict patient outcomes, and support population health management (FitzHenry et al., 2018). These capabilities support healthcare providers in making informed decisions, optimizing treatment plans, and addressing public health challenges efficiently.

Federal Legislation: The HITECH Act

The HITECH Act of 2009 incentivized the adoption of EHRs and set standards to improve their meaningful use. The legislation requires healthcare providers to demonstrate "meaningful use" of EHRs by ensuring patient engagement, data privacy, and security, as well as improved clinical outcomes (Blumenthal & Tavenner, 2010). The act established the certification process for EHR technology, promoting interoperability, data sharing, and security measures. Compliance with HITECH also involves adherence to HIPAA provisions, including breach notification requirements and the safeguarding of protected health information (PHI) (U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, 2010).

Conclusion

The integration of EHRs in healthcare organizations yields significant benefits but requires careful consideration of costs, security measures, and legal obligations. Federal legislation like the HITECH Act guides the responsible use of HIT, promoting interoperability and protecting patient privacy. As technology advances, healthcare providers must balance innovation with legal compliance and ethical responsibility to enhance patient care effectively.

References

  • Blumenthal, D., & Tavenner, M. (2010). The" meaningful use" regulation for electronic health records. New England Journal of Medicine, 363(6), 501-504.
  • Buntin, M. B., Burke, M. F., Hoaglin, M. C., & Blumenthal, D. (2011). The benefits of health information technology: A review of the recent literature shows predominantly positive results. Health Affairs, 30(3), 464-471.
  • Cresswell, K. M., Price, N., & Frank, J. (2013). Evaluating health information system implementations: A literature review. International Journal of Medical Informatics, 82(12), e38-e48.
  • FitzHenry, F., Schmitt, B., & Sipe, S. (2018). Data analytics and decision support in electronic health records: Opportunities and challenges. Healthcare, 6(2), 52.
  • HIMSS Analytics. (2020). EHR adoption and cost analysis report. Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society.
  • HHS. (2003). Standards for privacy of individually identifiable health information. Federal Register, 68(83), 24892-24998.
  • Kruse, C. S., et al. (2017). Data breaches and patient privacy in healthcare: A systematic review. Medical Informatics and Decision Making, 17(1), 1-12.
  • Sinsky, J., et al. (2014). Effect of an EHR on clinical decision-making and safety. Journal of Healthcare Information Management, 28(2), 24-31.
  • U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. (2010). HITECH Act overview. https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-professionals/special-topics/hitech-and-hipaa/index.html.
  • Zaidi, M., et al. (2018). Impact of electronic health records on healthcare quality and safety. Journal of Medical Systems, 42(11), 192.