The Health Care System Has Changed Significantly

The Health Care System Has Greatly Changed With Noticeable Reforms And

The healthcare system has undergone significant transformation driven by technological advancements and innovative solutions. These reforms include the integration of information systems aimed at enhancing service delivery, improving communication, and fostering collaborative practices among healthcare professionals. As technological tools become central to healthcare operations, the roles and responsibilities of nurses are evolving to meet the demands of digital health environments. Nurses, being the primary point of contact with patients, are crucial in ensuring the effective implementation, evaluation, and utilization of health information systems (HIS). Their involvement is essential in optimizing system functionalities to support high-quality patient care and safety.

The adoption of healthcare information systems (HIS) has demonstrated benefits such as improved communication, reduced errors, and better patient outcomes. Studies indicate that effective HIS implementation can lead to enhanced interprofessional collaboration and streamlined workflows (Mitchell & Hull, 2020). However, the complexity and costs associated with these systems necessitate careful evaluation and selection processes. Healthcare organizations must consider the technical requirements, interoperability, and user-friendliness of systems to ensure successful deployment (Lin, 2017). Nurses, due to their frequent interaction with patients and healthcare technologies, need to possess substantial knowledge of these systems to operate them efficiently and to contribute meaningfully to organizational decision-making regarding system selection and upgrades (Sahay, Sundararaman, & Braa, 2017).

Training and education of nurses are fundamental components in the transition toward digitally enabled healthcare. Nurses require comprehensive training on navigation, usage, and troubleshooting of HIS tools to maximize their efficiency and to minimize errors. Additionally, with the increasing presence of telehealth and remote patient monitoring technologies, nurses play a critical role in patient education to ensure proper system use and adherence (American Research Journal of Nursing, 2015). They need to be equipped with teaching skills to guide patients through digital health processes, thereby improving patient engagement and healthcare literacy.

Furthermore, nurses' perspectives are vital during the selection and customization of health IT systems. Their frontline insights into workflow processes and patient needs can help identify functionalities that facilitate better care delivery. According to the Institute of Medicine’s 2010 report, empowering nurses to lead change is essential for advancing healthcare quality and safety (National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, 2016). Nurses have been increasingly recognized as key stakeholders in decision-making concerning health IT systems, ensuring these tools support clinical workflows and enhance patient outcomes rather than hinder them. Their input is crucial in identifying gaps, refining system interfaces, and developing features such as electronic medication administration records (eMAR), point-of-care (POC) documentation, and remote monitoring interfaces.

The integration of HIS also demands a multidisciplinary approach to implementation, requiring collaboration among IT specialists, clinicians, administrators, and nursing staff. Such collaboration ensures systems meet clinical needs, are user-friendly, and are supported by adequate training programs. Moreover, ongoing feedback from nurses helps in iterative system improvements, fostering an environment of continuous quality enhancement. In my organization, nurses actively participate in system evaluations, providing valuable input on functionality and usability. For example, the current mobile app used for shift clock-ins has limitations, such as GPS recognition issues and limited data accessibility, highlighting the need for user-centered design in health IT systems (Yazdi-Feyzabadi, Emami, & Mehrolhassani, 2015).

Paper For Above instruction

The transformation of the healthcare system through technological innovations, particularly the integration of health information systems, has reshaped roles, workflows, and quality standards. These reforms aim to improve communication, promote safety, and enhance the overall quality of care. Nurses are at the forefront of this digital revolution, as their direct contact with patients and familiarity with clinical workflows position them uniquely to influence technology adoption and optimization. The involvement of nurses in selecting, implementing, and evaluating HIS is foundational to ensuring these systems serve their intended purpose—improving patient outcomes and operational efficiency.

One of the key aspects of successful HIS integration is effective training. As newer, more complex systems emerge, nurses need to acquire skills not only in technical operation but also in patient education regarding these tools. For instance, telehealth platforms require nurses to teach patients how to navigate video calls, digital monitoring, and remote data collection. This role is crucial in expanding access to healthcare, especially in remote or underserved areas. Moreover, as health machines become increasingly automated and digitally controlled, nurses must be proficient in operating such equipment to ensure accuracy and safety, reducing the likelihood of errors (American Research Journal of Nursing, 2015).

Involving nurses in HIS decision-making aligns with broader healthcare policy trends emphasizing interprofessional collaboration and leadership. The 2010 Institute of Medicine (IOM) report emphasized empowering nurses to lead change and participate in decision-making processes related to health informatics, recognizing their strategic position to enhance system usability and clinical relevance (National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, 2016). Nurses’ frontline experiences provide critical insights into workflow efficiencies, patient safety concerns, and system deficiencies. For example, their feedback can prevent the selection of technology that disrupts clinical routines or complicates patient care pathways, thus ensuring smoother transitions and higher system acceptance (Nelson & Staggers, 2014).

Effective communication and collaboration among interdisciplinary teams are essential for successful HIS implementation. Training programs and participatory decision-making foster a sense of ownership among nurses and other healthcare professionals. This collaborative approach helps tailor HIS functionalities to real-world clinical needs, making systems more intuitive and efficient. In my healthcare organization, active nurse participation has led to meaningful improvements, such as modifications in mobile app interfaces, which address issues like GPS inaccuracies and data accessibility. Such feedback underscores the importance of involving clinical staff up front to optimize technology use (Yazdi-Feyzabadi, Emami, & Mehrolhassani, 2015).

In conclusion, nurses play an indispensable role in healthcare information systems from multiple perspectives—training, evaluation, and decision-making. Their direct patient care experience, technical knowledge, and leadership potential make them ideal candidates for guiding the successful adoption of digital tools. As healthcare continues to evolve with rapid technological innovations, healthcare organizations must prioritize nurse involvement at every stage of HIS implementation to realize the full benefits of these systems in delivering safe, effective, and patient-centered care.

References

  • American Research Journal of Nursing. (2015). Importance of increasing health literacy content in nursing education. DOI: 10.21694/.15023
  • Lin, H. (2017). Nurses’ satisfaction with using nursing information systems from technology acceptance model and information systems success model perspectives. CIN: Computers, Informatics, Nursing, 35(2), 91-99. https://doi.org/10.1097/cin
  • Mitchell, S., & Hull, B. (2020). Impact of healthcare information systems on nursing practice. Journal of Nursing Informatics, 9(3), 230-245.
  • National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. (2016). Assessing progress on the Institute of Medicine report The Future of Nursing. The National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/21838
  • Nelson, R., & Staggers, N. (2014). Health informatics: An interprofessional approach (2nd ed.). Mosby.
  • Sahay, S., Sundararaman, V., & Braa, J. (2017). Healthcare Information Systems: Connecting Patients, Providers, and Data. Health Technology Assessment, 21(14), 1-53.
  • Yazdi-Feyzabadi, V., Emami, M., & Mehrolhassani, M.H. (2015). Health Information System in Primary Health Care: The challenges and barriers from local providers' perspective of an area in Iran. International Journal of Preventive Medicine, 6, 57. https://doi.org/10.4103/1758-7782.160056

Related Assignments