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9-2 Final Project: Health Information Technology Recommendations
HIM 500
SNHU
August 7,2022
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Health informatics refers to the domain within the health care setting where information
technology is integrated for acquiring, managing, and analyzing health-related data. The history
of the health informatics landscape spans numerous decades. The concept of medical or health
informatics emerged around the 1950s. During the initial phase, the application of electronic
digital computers in health care was restricted (Masic, 2020). However, in the 21st century, the
rapid advancement of technology has revolutionized the health informatics domain to a
significant extent. The 1960s can be considered to be a revolutionary phase since information
technology elements started to make their presence in the health landscape (Gibson et al.,
2015). It has led to the integration of technology at diverse levels, such as storing health
information pertaining to patients, making timely and informed decisions based on real-time
availability of information.
In recent times, a large number of health care facilities have shifted from manual
management of health care data and information to the automated management process. For
example, the prevalence of electronic health records (EHR) has gained popularity since it
enables organizations to streamline the workflow of physicians and use relevant and
comprehensive health data to improve the quality of care that is delivered to patients (Benefits
of EHRs. HealthIT.gov, 2017).
Guidelines for the use of technology
While using technology in the health information management domain, it is vital to
abide by necessary guidelines and requirements. For instance, it is vital to ensure that the
confidentiality and privacy of the patients do not get compromised because of the
implementation of technology in the health care setting (Bani et al., 2020). In the context of
Featherfall Medical Center, the technology that is in place is out of date. Thus, it is vital to
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replace the same with an updated technological system where high emphasis can be laid on the
confidentiality and privacy of patients. Additionally, it is necessary to offer training
opportunities to the staff members so that they can familiarize themselves with the new digital
system and optimally use it to carry out their roles and responsibilities.
Standard technologies used in health information management
The standard technologies that are currently used in the field of health information
management include electronic health records (EHR), telemedicine, wearable gadgets, and
patient portals. The concept of EHR has simplified the ability of health care professionals to
store, collect and use patient medical information and make well-informed health decisions.
The concept of telemedicine has simplified the communication and engagement between
healthcare service providers and service users by facilitating interaction using phone calls,
emails, video conferencing, etc.
In recent times, the popularity of wearable gadgets has emerged since it enables patients
to keep a tab on their vital health indicators such as heart rate, blood pressure, etc. The use of
such innovative gadgets also helps health care professionals to get real-time insight into the
health status of patients. It is argued that the popularity of wearable gadgets has surged owing
to the rapid development of the telecommunications system (Vijayalakshmi et al., 2018). This
is because it enables seamless data transmission between patients and physicians. Patient
portals are another useful technology in the field of HIM, which gives patients access to their
medical history, treatment approaches as well as medication details. c c
Interaction with the technology of diverse roles
In Featherfall Medical Center, diverse roles would have to interact with digital
technologies to effectively carry out their functions. For instance, the team members from the
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clinical, administrative as well as health information management would use the electronic
health records. They must be given proper training so that they can acquaint themselves with
EHR and understand its application for accurately collecting and storing data while making key
patient-related decisions. The clinicians, including the nurses and doctors and nurses, will be
responsible for capturing personal health information (PHI) promptly. The information
captured in the EHR system will guide the administrative staff while working on the billing
activity. It will create an opportunity for the staff to utilize technology and function in a
collaborative manner to enhance the quality of delivered health care services.
Evaluation of new health information systems
The proper evaluation of the new health information systems in the Featherfall Medical
Center is critical to ensure that it serves the intended purpose. For evaluating the innovative
concept, auditing and monitoring activities must be conducted on a periodical basis.
Additionally, weekly reports must be generated to identify any variances or errors while using
the new system. The feedback of the staff must be taken, and their performance must be
checked to identify whether they have adapted to the new technology effectively or not
(Zanaboni et al., 2018).
Health Regulations and Laws Ramifications
While integrating new technologies in health care institutions, it is essential settings to have
high awareness of the latest technologies so that they can be adopted for improving
organizational efficiency and ensuring legal compliance. The lack of appropriate adherence
could lead to serious consequences for Featherfall.
Impact of violations on finances
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The Featherfall Medical Center was recently involved in violations relating to technology. The
non-adherence to technology-related health regulations and laws may have an adverse impact
on its finances. For example, if these issues are not addressed, it could have to pay fines and
penalties. Due to the inappropriate use of technology by the health care organization, its
patients could sue it in the court of law, and it would have to pay compensation to them if it is
proven guilty. In case the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability (HIPAA) Rules are
violated, it would bear financial losses due to the imposition of high civil or criminal penalties
(What happens if you break HIPAA rules? 2022 update. HIPAA Journal, 2022). In addition to
these financial consequences, the word-of-mouth relating to the current state of technology of
the facility could deter potential patients from seeking its health care services and its
profitability and revenue generation capacity could be adversely affected.
Impact of violations on daily operations
The inability to address the violations of technology-related health regulations and laws could
significantly impact the daily operations of Featherfall. The staff would not be able to make the
appropriate use of technologies that are in place. This could have an adverse implication on
their performance as well as the productivity of the health care professionals and other staff
members of the center. The lack of proper training of the personnel could also have a negative
impact on how they leverage technology while delivering care to the patients and
communicating with each other regarding the care and treatment plans. The clinical staff of the
organization, including the doctors and nurses, would continue to face issues relating to record-
keeping matters. Similarly, the administrative staff of the facility would encounter complexities
relating to communication and interaction in the work setting. The inability to make strategic
use of technology in the health care setting can hamper the ability of the staff members to
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perform diverse roles while carrying out their day-to-day operations. Thus, the quality of the
daily operations could be diminished due to the violation of relevant IT-related rules and
regulations (What happens if you break HIPAA rules? 2022 update. HIPAA Journal, 2022).
Impact of violations on the security of health information
Violations relating to technology-related laws and regulations by Featherfall and its inability to
address these concerns could give rise to grave security concerns. Currently, the staff lacks the
necessary skills relating to the use of technology while performing their roles and
responsibilities. For instance, the clinical staff faces issues relating to record-keeping activities.
The existence of the issue for a persistent period could increase cybersecurity risks and threats.
Moreover, the continuous use of inappropriate technology in the health care domain could give
rise to the online vulnerability that could be exploited by cybercriminals and online hackers.
These individuals or groups with malicious intent could compromise the safety, privacy and
confidentiality of the patients of Featherfall Medical Center. Due to the non-adherence to
suitable regulations and laws, the personal health information (PHI) of the health care service
users could be at risk, and their privacy and confidentiality could be threatened (Clarke, 2016).
Technology System recommendations
A technology recommendation has been made for Featherfall Medical Center so that its current
needs can be optimally met and it can deliver quality services for its patients.
Needs of the various roles of the organization in the new technology
In the health care facility, the new technology solution will play a diverse range of roles. One
of the main roles revolves around the adoption of an ethical approach while addressing the
technical expectations of the entity. For example, the security and confidentiality of sensitive
Personal Health Information (PHI) is vital. Similarly, adherence to relevant laws and legislation
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such as HIPAA Act is necessary so that proper security will be in place by the facility while
using the new technology (Office for Civil Rights. HHS.gov, 2022). The new technology
solution must be based on the CIA triad so that confidentiality, integrity and availability can be
given top-most priority to ensure cybersecurity.
Regulations and Laws
The new technology solution that has been recommended for Featherfall is Alert (Admission
Discharge and Transfer (ADT)). It follows the Uniform Hospital Discharge Data Set
(UHDDS), which would ensure that appropriate regulations are followed while discharging
patients. Even though currently it does not meet HIPAA requirements, it has several measures
in place like password protection and multiple levels of security that can enhance the safety of
PHI.
Alignment with the needs of the staff members
As per the input of the staff members, the ADT solution is apt in the health care context of
Featherfall Medical Center. Adequate training would be offered to the staff members so that
they could be familiarized with the new solution and carry out their respective roles and
responsibilities by leveraging the new technology. By using the solution, the staff would have
real-time insight into the transfer and discharge of patients. The availability of admission lists,
discharge lists and transfer lists can enable the staff to efficiently meet the health needs of
patients.
Ethical management
In the health care setting, the adoption of ethical practices is of paramount importance. Some
of the key ethical principles that must be adopted include autonomy, justice and beneficence
(Kemparaj & Kadalur, 2018). The solution that has been chosen can help the health care
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facility deliver value ethically. For instance, the availability of multiple layers and security and
password protection options can ensure that the privacy and security of patients are given high
priority.
Financial resources
The proper use of financial resources is essential so that the new technology solution can be
introduced without giving rise to any kind of financial burden for Featherfall. The software and
hardware components must be carefully selected and invested in so that they can be used for
long0term in the organization. Similarly, emphasis must be laid on the quality of staff training
so that the possibility of cybersecurity risks can be reduced. While making the financial
investment decision, a comprehensive cost-benefit analysis must be conducted so that Alert
will be aligned with the goals and objectives of the facility (Wernz et al., 2014).
Monitoring the new health information system
The new health information system can be monitored by the organization by taking into
account several performance indicators such as errors by staff, improvement in treatment rate
in the facility etc. Such elements can shed light on the effectiveness of the new digital solution
in Featherfall. Additionally, feedback from the staff can be taken to identify whether they are
comfortable with the health information system or not.
Investing time to implement the system
Featherfall Medical Center must effectively invest its time into the implementation of the new
health information technology system. As it could bring about a major change, proper
communication with stakeholders like the staff and patients is vital to capture their expectations
of the new system. Accordingly, suitable functionalities can be included prior to the
implementation of the new innovative solution. In addition to investing time, it is necessary to
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invest effort and showcase commitment so that the new solution can be strategically deployed
within the facility. The proper introduction of the new innovative system is vital so that the
facility can efficiently deliver care solutions to the patients while ensuring compliance with the
appropriate legal requirements and standards.
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ehrs
Bani Issa, W., Al Akour, I., Ibrahim, A., Almarzouqi, A., Abbas, S., Hisham, F., & Griffiths, J.
(2020). Privacy, confidentiality, security and patient safety concerns about electronic
health records. International Nursing Review, 67(2), 218-230.
Gibson, C. J., Dixon, B. E., & Abrams, K. (2015). Convergent evolution of health information
management and health informatics. Applied clinical informatics, 6(01), 163-184.
Masic, I. (2020). The History of Medical Informatics Development-an Overview. medicine,
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Vijayalakshmi, K., Uma, S., Bhuvanya, R., & Suresh, A. (2018). A demand for wearable
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Zanaboni, P., Ngangue, P., Mbemba, G. I. C., Schopf, T. R., Bergmo, T. S., & Gagnon, M. P.
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hipaa-rules/
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Kemparaj, V. M., & Kadalur, U. G. (2018). Understanding the principles of ethics in health
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Wernz, C., Zhang, H., & Phusavat, K. (2014). International study of technology investment
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