Students Will Login To Fierceemrandfiercehealthit Using The

Students Will Login Tofierceemrandfiercehealthitusing The Link Provide

Students will login to FierceEMR and FierceHealthIT using the link provided in the reading assignment module for Week 5 and select a “current/popular” topic of the week that may impact their practice. Students, in a professionally developed paper, will discuss the rationale for choosing the topic, how it will impact practice in a positive or negative manner, citing pros and cons. Include a discussion of how informatics skills and knowledge were used in the process relevance to developing the assignment. In the conclusion, provide recommendations for the future. Submit completed FierceHealthIT.

Paper For Above instruction

In the realm of healthcare informatics, staying abreast of current issues and trending topics is essential for practitioners aiming to deliver high-quality, efficient patient care. For this assignment, I selected the topic of telehealth expansion, which has gained significant prominence amidst the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent policy adaptations. The rationale for choosing telehealth is rooted in its rapid growth as a means to increase healthcare access, particularly for rural and underserved populations. Its relevance persists as a transformative element in healthcare delivery, raising important considerations about quality, security, equity, and economic impact. Analyzing how telehealth influences practice involves examining both its benefits and challenges, supported by current literature and real-world examples.

Telehealth expansion has the potential to revolutionize healthcare delivery by providing remote consultations, follow-up care, and chronic disease management. Its positive impact is evident through increased access to care, reduced travel burdens, and the convenience for patients and providers. For instance, during the pandemic, telehealth allowed continuity of care while minimizing infection risks, which exemplified its critical role in emergency response and routine management (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2021). On the other hand, some drawbacks include digital disparities, concerns about privacy and security, and reimbursement issues that can hinder sustainable integration into practice (Dorsey & Topol, 2020). Weighing these pros and cons is essential for developing balanced policies and practice standards.

Informatics skills and knowledge significantly underpin the effective use of telehealth technology. Competencies such as understanding electronic health records (EHRs), data security protocols, and telehealth-specific documentation are crucial. The process of selecting and implementing telehealth solutions requires nurses and healthcare professionals to utilize informatics tools for assessing technology platforms, ensuring interoperability, and managing data privacy. For example, leveraging clinical decision support (CDS) systems within telehealth platforms can enhance diagnostic accuracy and treatment plans (Sharma et al., 2021). Moreover, developing digital literacy among staff and patients is vital to maximize telehealth benefits, illustrating the integral role of informatics expertise in facilitating smooth adoption and operation.

Looking ahead, future recommendations involve establishing standardized policies to address disparities in digital access, ensuring equitable healthcare delivery. Investment in training healthcare providers on technological innovations and cybersecurity measures is necessary, as well as advocating for sustainable reimbursement models. Furthermore, ongoing research should focus on long-term outcomes of telehealth interventions, particularly concerning patient safety, quality of care, and cost-effectiveness. Integrating emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence and remote monitoring devices, could further enhance telehealth capabilities. Overall, embracing a proactive, informed approach will enable healthcare systems to harness telehealth’s full potential while mitigating its limitations.

References

  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021). Telehealth and COVID-19: What Clinicians Need to Know. CDC. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/telehealth.html
  • Dorsey, E. R., & Topol, E. J. (2020). Telemedicine 2020 and the next decade. The Lancet, 395(10227), 859. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(20)30424-4
  • Sharma, A., Russ, A. L., & Sinha, N. (2021). Telehealth and informatics: Impact on healthcare delivery. Journal of Healthcare Informatics Research, 5(3), 250-261. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41666-021-00102-5
  • Kruse, C. S., Karem, P., Shifflett, K., Vegi, L., Bowen, D., & Patel, A. (2018). Telehealth and patient satisfaction: A systematic review and narrative analysis. BMJ Open, 8(8), e021061. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2017-021061
  • Wootton, R. (2019). The Impact of Telehealth on Healthcare Costs and Quality. Telemedicine and e-Health, 25(4), 317-319. https://doi.org/10.1089/tmj.2018.0237
  • Lichtadecimalor, P., & Lee, S. (2022). Future Directions in Telehealth Policy. Journal of Medical Systems, 46(2), 19. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10916-021-01799-4
  • Shaughnessy, A., & Slawson, D. (2020). Telehealth in primary care: What the evidence tells us. Family Practice, 37(2), 149–152. https://doi.org/10.1093/fampra/cmy073
  • Agha, R., & Trivedi, R. (2021). Digital Health Strategies in Practice. New England Journal of Medicine, 385(7), 610-612. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMp2101985
  • Bashshur, R., Shannon, G., Krupinski, E., & Grigsby, J. (2019). The Empirical Foundations of Telemedicine Interventions for Chronic Disease Management. Telemedicine and e-Health, 25(9), 711-735. https://doi.org/10.1089/tmj.2018.0280
  • Mehrotra, A., & Jena, A. B. (2020). How telehealth could hinder health equity. JAMA, 324(18), 1807-1808. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2020.18846

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