Healthcare Information Technology Trends Essay Paper
Throughout history, technological advancements have appeared for one purpose before finding applications elsewhere that lead to spikes in its usage and development. The internet, for example, was originally developed to share research before becoming a staple of work and entertainment. But technology—new and repurposed—will undoubtedly continue to be a driver of healthcare information. Informaticists often stay tuned to trends to monitor what the next new technology will be or how the next new idea for applying existing technology can benefit outcomes.
In this Discussion, you will reflect on your healthcare organization’s use of technology and offer a technology trend you observe in your environment.
To Prepare:
• Reflect on the Resources related to digital information tools and technologies.
• Consider your healthcare organization’s use of healthcare technologies to manage and distribute information.
• Reflect on current and potential future trends, such as use of social media and mobile applications/telehealth, Internet of Things (IoT)-enabled asset tracking, or expert systems/artificial intelligence, and how they may impact nursing practice and healthcare delivery.
Post a brief description of general healthcare technology trends, particularly related to data/information you have observed in use in your healthcare organization or nursing practice. Describe any potential challenges or risks that may be inherent in the technologies associated with these trends you described. Then, describe at least one potential benefit and one potential risk associated with data safety, legislation, and patient care for the technologies you described. Next, explain which healthcare technology trends you believe are most promising for impacting healthcare technology in nursing practice and explain why. Describe whether this promise will contribute to improvements in patient care outcomes, efficiencies, or data management. Be specific and provide examples.

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Health care information technology trends

Since the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinic Health (HITECH) Act was enacted in 2009, health information technology has increasingly become more prevalent in the US healthcare industry. In fact, this is perhaps the largest government initiative that has seen widespread use of electronic health records (EHR) in medical facilities (McGonigle & Mastrian, 2017). At my facility, EHR has become an important aspect of health care delivery, making use of communication technologies to facilitate computer mediated information management. The systems is termed ‘Health Information System’ and is managed by a dedicated information technology department for the purposes of ensuring that protected health information is up to date, secure and accessible to authorized persons. Healthcare Information Technology Trends Essay Paper   The system has introduced key health care support functionalities that include facilitating information exchange, computerized data entry, and enabling clinical decision support systems. With these functionalities, the system has presented some unique advantages. Firstly, it has improved clinical outcomes through reducing medical errors and improving quality of care. Secondly, it has improved organizational outcomes through offering operational and financial benefits. Thirdly, it has improved societal outcomes through reducing cost of care, improving population health and improving the ability to conduct research (DiAngi, Longhurst & Payne, 2016; Evans, 2016). Although the system presents benefits that enhance its value, it also introduces some concerns that reduce its value. Firstly, it is associated with high upfront acquisition costs since laying down the computer-based system attracts high costs for the equipment and personnel. When compared to the traditional paper-based system. Secondly, it attracts a high ongoing maintenance cost for the equipment. Thirdly, it can result in loss of productivity when medical personnel spend time in learning how to use the system and disrupt the existing workflows. Besides that, there are privacy and security concerns since the information security is not guaranteed (Palabindala, Pamarthy & Jonnalagadda, 2016; Lyles, Schillinger & Sarkar, 2015). The implication is that advances in EHR will see the identified concerns being addressed so as to improve the system functionality and value.

Healthcare Information Technology Trends: Sample 1

Recently, more and more patients have expressed the desire to take on a more active role in managing their health. Advancements in electronic technologies have allowed patients to assume a more proactive role in overseeing their health in an outpatient setting by granting access to their electronic health record (EHR) through a patient portal (McGonigle & Mastrian, 2018). The organization where I currently work utilizes a patient portal system called MyChart. MyChart enables patients with the functionality to securely access their medical records online. Online patient portals are web-based healthcare technologies that are increasing in popularity to deliver medical information to patients in a reliable, accurate, prompt, convenient, and secure manner (Redelmeier & Kraus, 2018). However, despite MyChart’s utility for patients in an outpatient setting, the current layout of the portal is not conducive for patients when applied to an inpatient setting.

Building a portal system that blends inpatient and outpatient health information flawlessly can be a difficult and challenging task. For patient portals to function appropriately, the design is key; therefore, extreme detail needs to take place during the building of the software with ample input from a patient’s perspective (Stone, 2017). Another barrier to implementing bedside patient portals is cost. Providing access to patient portals during hospitalization can be costly for organizations because in addition to paying for software, they must supply patients with the devices to access the portal, such as a tablet or other electronic device (Stone, 2017).

Combining personalized patient portals with other patient-centered care modalities in an inpatient setting can reduce the number of adverse events and increase patient satisfaction. Dykes et al. (2017) conducted a study that resulted in a decrease in adverse events and improved patient satisfaction after implementing web-based technology that kept patients and caregivers involved in care planning during hospitalization in an intensive care unit.

A potential risk that can hinder patient care is if the patient portal is too complicated to navigate which can discourage patients from using the web-based technology. Another risk that can impede patient care is if the portal presents an overabundance of unnecessary or obscure data and information that overwhelms the patient or caregiver. Information overload can cause anxiety, misinterpretation, and weaken communication between the healthcare provider and patient.

The most promising healthcare technology trend that can have the biggest impact in nursing practice is a well-designed patient portal system that has the capability to integrate and communicate patient data across multiple platforms.  Patient portals can provide the patient with a personal profile of the nurse currently caring for them, which can strengthen the patient-nurse relationship. Patients can use the portal to assist nurses in developing their plan of care and trend progress. Links for educational material and support groups can be accessed on the patient portal and bolster any educational teaching provided by the nurse. Bedside patient portals can increase communication, enhance the nurse-patient relationship, and facilitate more effective nursing care during hospitalization. Patient portal systems can provide both, patient and caregivers, with the ability to engage in healthcare decisions and improve continuity of care that upholds even after discharge from the hospital.

Main Post: Sample 2

With advancement in the technology used in healthcare, patient care outcomes and experiences are expected to improve as well (McGonigle & Mastrian, 2017). My organization has fully transitioned to the digital versions of charting, the Electronic Health Records (EHR) and Electronic Medical Records (EMR). The EMR we are currently using is EPIC which is very user-friendly and customizable to suit the healthcare professional needs. One useful feature of EPIC that we utilize is when a patient is discharged; a website is given for them to access information about their admission.

The website is given upon discharge printed together with their discharge instructions. One significant benefit of this is the right to access their health information for the admission at any time after release. It is limited though; it is only a summary of the care given and received and doesn’t include laboratory data or diagnostic results. I believe limiting it this way will protect medical information. Thus, if patients wanted a copy of their medical treatments and outcomes, they can request them from the medical records department for a printed copy. A potential risk is still with the patient’s privacy of information since it is on a piece of paper which can be lost, and the website is specific to the patient, if a patient is not internet savvy and had somebody else help them access it, information is not safe, only if permitted family members are involved.

Another option for our patients to gain access to their health information is through an application on their phones. An app on the phone requires them to log in with credentials and connection is encrypted for security. In the global study conducted by Skiba (2017), 52% of patients used internet sites to access information, 38% used mobile devices, and 19% used wearable devices. The app is connected to our EHR and patients can view their labs and current prescriptions. Another benefit also is the ability to schedule their appointment and even email the doctor regarding health issues. Just like any application software, there will be some learning to be done to be able to use the software on the phone. Having the older population as our major patients, they were hesitant to adopt the technology themselves and leave the responsibility to their caregivers.

Healthcare Information Technology Trends Essay Paper