Hospitals now increasingly use computers and information technology to enhance efficiency and competitive performance. Categorically, information technology has increased the speed of collecting and storing the historical information of patients. Many healthcare organizations can now properly and effectively organize the records of patient data in a manner that is easily traceable. Importantly, it is now possible for healthcare organizations to safeguard the confidential information through the use of passwords and encryption so that only the authorized persons have access to stored records. Efficiency in the use of the IT systems requires a huge input of the healthcare officers. This paper analyzes various issues related to the competitiveness and performance effectiveness of the IT systems in the field of healthcare.
Fundamental responsibilities and key characteristics
The management team of an organization is quite essential in the use of the IT systems present to create performance advantages. The healthcare organizations need personnel who can take advantage of the present IT systems to improve processes. The personnel must have the necessary qualities and be ready to take up key responsibilities.
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When it comes to the IT systems within the field of healthcare, there are two important positions of influence. The first one is the Chief Information Officer, CIO whereas the other is Chief Technology Officer, CTO. These two crucial offices have key characteristics and responsibilities within the healthcare organization. Firstly, the Chief Information Officer has the responsibilities of planning and implementing the strategy for use of IT systems. It is the CIO who is responsible for coming up with proper mechanisms for the implementation process. The CIO has to do that which is right for the organization. Depending on the way the CIO performs the planning and implementation processes of the IT systems strategy, the organization may benefit hugely in terms fast operations (Casalino, Gillies, Shortell, Schmitdeil, Bodenheimer, Robinson & Wang, 2003). Therefore, the CIO has a direct responsibility of enhancing the level of productivity within the healthcare organization. Moreover, it is the CIO who is responsible of creating ways in which the rest of the hospital staff can be involved in the development of the IT systems. CIO has the responsibility of ensuring staff members gain the ability using the available IT systems.
On the other hand, the CTO is simply responsible for the development of the IT systems infrastructure within the healthcare organization. It is the CTO who develops the intranet and other communication systems within the healthcare organization. In essence, the CTO is in charge of the engineering section of the IT systems.
The key characteristics of the CIO include staying focused to ensure there is accurate implementation of the IT systems strategy in the hospital. The CTO must be a person who is sensitive to tiny details while working. Both the CIO and CTO are individuals who are quite creative and innovative. Another key characteristic of both the CTO and CIO is that they are critical thinkers and problem-solvers.
It is important to note that the CIO and CTO should utilize their expertise in the IT systems department of the hospitals in order to improve employee productivity and customer satisfaction (Sultz & Young, 2013). In this department, the CIO and CTO should carry out trainings for the employees to ensure they understand the proper functioning of systems. One example of a case where the expertise of the CIO and CTO is applied is in the seminars and workshops to train employees how to use new IT systems introduced in the healthcare organization.
Two (2) developing technologies
The field of healthcare is experiencing drastic evolution with new technologies being introduced to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of operations. Various new technologies have emerged and should be considered in the use of healthcare systems (Sultz & Young, 2013). The trending technologies that should be considered in the use of healthcare systems include Electronic Medical Records and the Therapeutic Consultation Program. There is also the technology of e-prescribing.
The suggested Therapeutic Consultation Program normally has drug utilization reviews, which assist the patients with chronic diseases to get better outcomes hence minimize the cost of treatment. This technology simply ensures the correct medication as prescribed is taken by the patient. It deals with issues such as the correct quantity of the drug, dosage, and times of taking the medication and the duration over which to stay on the treatment (Hersh, 2004). Therefore, this technology is able to lower the number of visits taken by a patient to the hospital as a result of ineffective prescription or even adverse drug interactions. It must be noted that the working of this technology entails use of the history of drug claims identifying those patients who do not follow the treatment guidelines (Sultz & Young, 2013). The rationale behind choosing this emerging technology is that it is quite effective in terms of enhancing patient treatment outcomes and increasing customer satisfaction.
The second emerging technology that is suggested in this paper is the Electronic Health Records. The EHRs keep the data about the historical health of patients for future use. Moreover, this technology is also used to store the profiles of patients who are in the hospital. It has to be considered because it enhances the security of confidential information about patients. Moreover, it makes it possible for the healthcare organizations to store data and patient profiles in an organized and easily retrievable manner (Sultz & Young, 2013). It is easy to make reference to the stored data even after a long period of time. These are the two most important emerging technologies, which must be considered during the use of healthcare systems.
Prevent misuse of information and protect data privacy
It is vital to note that the data and processed information in the hospital is quite sensitive. The ethics of hospital administration require that patient information be kept strictly confidential. Moreover, the hospitals also have secret strategies and plans used to ensure they compete effectively and efficiently within the healthcare industry. Such crucial information must be guarded closely so that it does not leak to the competitors. Patients may also feel highly intruded when their health profiles are released to the public (Sultz & Young, 2013). Therefore, hospitals must ensure they prevent the misuse of information and effectively protect data privacy. Various methods can be used in preventing information misuse and protecting data privacy.
The first most effective method is data encryption. Data encryption is the most effective way of securing information transmitted through network from hackers who may want to intercept it (Sultz & Young, 2013). The information could be about the health profile of patients. The aim of hackers is always to misuse information by changing, erasing, exaggerating or even blocking it while on transmission over a network.
The other important means of protecting data privacy in the hospitals is the use of passwords to restrict the access to such information. When the access to specific patient information is restricted, it implies that only authorized persons who have the created passwords can open it. The passwords used to secure the computer systems in the hospitals must be strong ones. In most cases, password systems involve the use of user ID and PIN number or letters (Sultz & Young, 2013). The PIN number is only known by the user alone. It is a common way of protecting private data from the intrusion by unauthorized people.
One (1) strategy
It is vital to note that many people in healthcare organizations do not understand the proper use of healthcare information systems. The technology introduced in healthcare is quite complex and only experts of IT can use it effectively. However, through good training strategies, it is possible to have a lot of the staff get to understand how the available IT systems are used. This training is quite important because it is only when the users of the deployed technology know effective ways of using it that productivity is enhanced (Sultz & Young, 2013). The staff must be trained so that they can take advantage of the available technology to benefit the organization.
The one strategy chosen is process-based training. Process-based training of the workers involves teaching them how use a given technology during the actual working action. The workers are given their duties and asked to use the technology in the presence of the trainer. The trainer only corrects the worker where he or she goes wrong with the technology. This strategy is chosen because it is a practical way of teaching a healthcare employee the skills of using technology (Sultz & Young, 2013). It makes learning effective and memorable for a long time. The worker is able to gain practical skills of working with a given technological system. This strategy of training is also the best because it enables the learner to seek immediate clarification regarding emerging issues regarding the use of the specific technology. It is a hands-on approach to training on the use of technology systems.
Three (3) best practices
The development of sound IT alignment and strategic planning initiatives is essential in ensuring that there is no misdirection of the resources. It ensures appropriate use of the IT resources in the organization since duplication is avoided. There are specific practices that help in ensuring presence of effective IT alignment and strategic planning initiatives in the hospital. The first practice chosen is establishing the IT steering committee. It is the IT steering committee that comes up with strategic planning initiatives to ensure proper functioning of the information technology systems (Sultz & Young, 2013). It must be noted that this IT steering committee has to operate together with the CIO. Therefore, this committee should make the work of the CIO easier by streamlining issues at hand and apportioning the IT resources efficiently to ensure proper alignment.
The second practice is installing a high-level IT liaison in all the departments. The liaison acts as the assistant to the CIO. The liaisons are placed in every department of the hospital, where they identify gaps and suggest ways of filling them to the CIO. With the liaisons in every department, then the strategic planning initiatives are developed in plenty and there is proper alignment of IT resources.
The third practice selected is distributing the list of underway projects. This update has to be done monthly and the list should always go to every organizational department. The importance of this communication is to ensure there is avoidance of duplication of projects in the hospital. These are the three best practices that help an organization in ensuring effective IT alignment and strategic planning initiatives regarding use healthcare systems.
Conclusion
It is vital to note that the use of healthcare systems in the hospital is necessary. However, the advantage gained from the use of these IT systems in healthcare depends on the personnel in charge of the technologies. They have to ensure everybody within the hospital understands the proper use of the technological systems. Moreover, there must effective management of the IT systems to ensure alignment, productivity, patient satisfaction and speedy processes.
References
Casalino, L., Gillies, R., Shortell, S., Schmitdeil, J., Bodenheimer,T., Robinson, J. & Wang, M. (2003). External incentives, information technology, and organized processes to improve health care quality for patients with chronic diseases. The Journal of American Medicine, 289 (4), 434-441.
Hersh, W. (2004).Health care information technology progress and barriers. The Journal of American Medicine , 292 (18),2273-2274.
Sultz, A.H., & Young, M.K. (2013). Health care USA: Understanding its organization and delivery. (8 th Ed.).Burlington, M.A: Jones & Bartlett Learning.
