Specific IT system applications in health services delivery fall
into four main areas: 1. Clinical information systems 2.
Administrative information systems 3. Decision support
systems 4. Internet and eHealth Choose one of the above and
discuss at least one influence of the system on healthcare
delivery. Support your ideas with the literature.
IT system applications include clinical information systems,
administrative information systems, decision support systems, and
internet and eHealth systems.Of these four, the one that I feel has the
largest direct impact on healthcare delivery is the clinical information
systems. Clinical information systems are computer-based systems that
collect, store, manipulate, and make available information that is
important to the healthcare delivery process. (Charles, 2018) The
benefits of clinical information systems include reducing medical errors,
improving clinical decision making, and providing access to patient health
information in one location. Access to patient information from one
location makes a big impact on healthcare delivery. With EHRs, most of,
if not all the data that can help a provider make the best care decision is
in one place, easily accessible in real time.This allows healthcare
providers to deliver better, more educated healthcare.EHRs make data
accessible to physicians, nurses, and pharmacists, as well as other
caregivers who can better perform their jobs with the information about a
patient that is contained in their electronic health record.Healthcare
delivery includes all the functions of the healthcare system that move a
patient through the process from seeking care to receiving a diagnosis to
treatment for conditions to maintaining their health. When a patient
makes an appointment for care, the facility they are going to visit
schedules and appointment and then attempts to get authorization for the
visit from the patient’s insurance company. When a patient visits the
provider, the provider can see the patient’s medical history and use this,
while the patient is sitting right there, to determine a course of treatment if
they find anything wrong. If a test is needed, the provider can order it, as
well as review prior tests to ensure they order the correct one. Once
ordered, the office can again request authorization and submit clinical
documentation to an insurance company to justify exams and
procedures.If any medication is needed, the provider and the pharmacist
can use the clinical information system to ensure that there are no
conflicts with the patient taking it. If a patient wants a second opinion
about their condition, the new provider will be able review all the
documented patient results and details to help them make an educated
decision of care. These processes are made possible because of the
advances in technology and how the advances have created the clinical
information systems we have to use in healthcare delivery today.
References
Charles, M. (2018, May 22).What is Clinical Informatics? - definition from
whatis.com. SearchHealthIT. Retrieved April 12, 2022,
fromhttps://www.techtarget.com/searchhealthit/definition/clinical-
informatics
Technology diffusion has been accompanied by issues of cost,
safety, benefit, and risk. Federal legislation has aimed at
addressing these concerns. Which do you consider to be the
most important area for focus? Support your ideas with
rationales from the literature.
Technology diffusion refers to the spread of technology into the
healthcare field once it is developed. With innovation and the creation of
new technology, healthcare delivery is impacted.Along with diffusion, or
spread of use, the costs from, safety of, benefits from, and risks of the
technology are present as well.Federal legislation has been created to
address these concerns.The topic of concern that I believe is the most
important to focus on is patient safety.For example, the Choose Home
Care Act of 2021 is intended to expand Medicare coverage for seniors
when they leave a hospital stay by giving them the choice to go home for
the follow up instead of to a skilled nursing facility. (Wicklund, 2021)
While this sounds great in theory, my fear is that the safety of those
patients will be compromised with monitoring and telehealth services
outside of a facility setting where it could be better managed. Telehealth
has many uses; I just think this is not one and will negatively impact
patient safety.The technology is there to make these services work,
unfortunately I do not think our healthcare system is equipped to protect
patient safety standards yet with some of the services being proposed to
occur outside of a facility.There will have to be strict guidelines and
legislation passed to protect all parties if these plans move forward to
reality. The technology is there, they system is just not able to protect
patient safety until further guidelines are established.
References:
Wicklund, E. (2021, August 2).New bill would expand home health options,
including Remote Patient Monitoring, for seniors. mHealthIntelligence.
Retrieved April 14, 2022, fromhttps://mhealthintelligence.com/news/new-bill-
would-expand-home-health-options-including-remote-patient-monitoring-for-
seniors
