Health Care Employer Risk Management

With the growing importance of increasing wage rates for employees, many health care organizations are implementing technology such as self-help kiosks to reduce staffing. Describe both an advantage and a disadvantage to this practice and discuss how patients may perceive reductions in dedicated staffing.

Using 200-300 words APA format with at least two references. Sources must be published within the last 5 years. There should be a mix between research and your reflections. Add critical thinking in the posts along with research. Apply the material in a substantial way.

Topic 2 DQ 1

Healthcare, like much of the world, is ever changing. Technology is changing the way we communicate, learn, travel, and entertain. Health kiosks have been introduced and have been quite effective. A study in 2020 found that health kiosks are “promising, cost-effective and multifunctional tools”, they also found that they can “improve health indicators” (Letafat-Nejad, M., 2020).

 

ADVANTAGES

1. Reduced Cost: Nurses can spend time nursing instead of doing administrative work. Cuts the cost of paper.

2. Reduced Patient Wait Time: This cuts out waiting for files to be filed and for writing on forms. It helps patient information go directly to the provider.

3. Less Errors: Patient information can be entered by the patient. They will have the ability to check and see if all information is correct. This information goes directly to the provider,

4. Easier Payment Method: Balances are directly accounted for by the kiosks. Patients are able to see a breakdown of services instead of waiting for a detailed bill.

5. Less Confusion: Patients will be able to know the information given to the healthcare providers. Patients will be able to find the location of physicians easier in the hospital setting.

(TechAdvisory.org, 2016).

 

DISADVANTAGES

1. Privacy and Security: HIPPA violation could easily occur in a multipersonal kiosk. If a patient is entering information in a line, it can easily be seen by other patients (Takyi, 2017).

2. Transactions are Limited: Someone will need to overlook the kiosks to make sure it is running efficiently. Someone also must be available for any questions or concerns.

3. Maintenance: An experienced technician must be on staff to deal with any and all technical issues.

4. Limited Personal Interactions: The User (or patient) will not be in contact with humans unless a problem occurs. It can make the experience impersonal or make it feel like consumer issues do not matter.

(Miranda, 2016).

 

Conclusion

Technology is the way of the future and we all know that to be true. Self-help kiosks do help make the process so much easier for healthcare workers. It takes a very complicated and time consuming step out by having patients enter information directly into the system. For patients, it can be a plus because it is quick and easy for those who have experience with technology. However, it cuts out human interaction. Patients really love to feel heard and know that someone is there to take care of them. Without a dedicated staff member to assist, it feels like the organization is just moving the patients through as quickly as possible and looking at the condition instead of the person. Kiosks also cut out employment for individuals, which in turn, hurts the local economy. The healthcare system should take a page out of grocery and retail store’s playbooks. Self-help kiosks should be an option to individuals and most people would enjoy using them. There should also be an option for patients who want human interaction and would love for providers to hear them.