3 Responses Needed

The healthcare industry has undergone drastic changes in the last decade, which currently seems to be continuing that trend exponentially. With the emergence of the internet, and the technological advances with computers, people everywhere are becoming very comfortable with computer assisted devices integrating every aspect of our daily lives. This very idea has been embraced by the healthcare industry, as we can now see robots delivering medications to inpatient units, robotic surgery becoming standard in many specialties, and most importantly the emergence of electronic healthcare records (EHR)s. This technology has led to a transition from a monetary-driven healthcare system to a quality-driven healthcare system (Nelson, 2016).

           EHRs have revolutionized the healthcare system and patient care. Baker (2016) noted that EHR systems have led to advancements, such as patient portals, which provides a secure way for patient and providers to communicate wirelessly and without an appointment, as well as the ability for healthcare systems to safely and securely transfer patient and files between providers and other facilities with ease. Tavares (2016) noted that due to rising costs and the current air of fiscal responsibility invading healthcare, many organizations see EHRs as a means for allowing patients to take a more active role in their healthcare, thereby allowing the system to be more efficient and cost-saving.

           With the passage of the HITECH Act of 2009, and the implementation of the “meaningful use” incentives, many organizations are looking to efficiency metrics to fulfill some of these requirements (Neumeier, Butler, and Fuqua, 2016). Attaallah, Elzamzamy, Phelps, Ranganthan and Vallejo (2016) noted that one way of using an EHR for fiscal responsibility to fulfill the “meaningful use” incentive program by monitoring operating room metrics in order to assess efficiency, increase revenue through analyzing turn-over room times, and reducing overall expenses. All of these are just a few of the examples of progress to the healthcare field which have come as a result of the use of EHRs. No doubt this is just the beginning of great achievements to come from EHRs.

References

Attaallah, A. F., Elzamzamy, O. M., Phelps, A. L., Ranganthan, P., & Vallejo, M. C.

            (2016). Increasing operating room efficiency through electronic medical

            record analysis. Journal of Perioperative Practice, 26(5), 106-113.

Baker, D. W. (2016). 4 Reasons to Start Focusing on eCQMs. Healthcare Executive,

            31(4), 62-63.

Nelson, R. (2016). Informatics: Empowering ePatients to Drive Health Care

            Reform. Online Journal of Issues in Nursing, 21(3), 2.

            doi:10.3912/OJIN.Vol21No03InfoCol01

Neumeier, H., Butler, M., & Fuqua, R. (2016). EHRs in Long-Term and Acute Care

            Facilities: A Pilot Study. Journal of International Diversity, 2016(3), 110-131.

Tavares J, Oliveira T. Electronic Health Record Patient Portal Adoption by Health

            Care Consumers: An Acceptance Model and Survey. Journal of Medical

            Internet Research [serial online]. March 2016;18(3):36. Available from:

            Library, Information Science & Technology Abstracts with Full Text, Ipswich,

            MA. Accessed November 20, 2016.

Hello Professor, Classmates,

The U.S. health care system definitely has undergone many changes historically. The biggest topic of 2010 is the Affordable Care Act or what is currently known as Obama Care. I think my classmates may have mentioned this previously that the ACA is great for patients and providers by having the ability to have coverage up to age 25. The revenue stream have a continuity process with this change in health care industry. In addition to this children going to college can have health care coverage which is pivotal when children attend colleges.

Ideally we definitely have a great deal of redundancy in health care systems. I feel that the Primary Care and pharmaceutical facilities are complacent in getting bonus payments for substandard service or drug performances. It is pretty peculiar how the redundant practices of giving undeserving health care facilities a bonus habitually to provide health care services. The real redundancy should be more targeted to getting adequate staff and physicians in facilities that are not meeting clients’ needs. Additionally a redundant system should be put in place to police violators of health care services and all affiliates as well. It seems that all too often we hear of big CEO executives of facilities fraud the system and the biggest punishment make deals with health care facilities   The health care system cannot be improved if it is not measured against anything.

References

Davis, G. (2011). The Affordable Care Act. Montana Business Quarterly, 49(3), 8.