Human life is considered very vital hence the need to protect and save it from any harm, illnesses, and conditions. The existence of healthcare facilities has played a prominent role in ensuring that the goal of saving lives is met. Healthcare facilities include all places that provide medical treatment like clinics, hospitals, maternal care centers, psychiatric centers and outpatient centers that cater for various defined illnesses and conditions. Considering the advancement of the technologies, different industries, and their operations have been impacted immensely. As for healthcare, a lot has changed which as observed has facilitated efficiency. On the contrary, not all health facilities have embraced Information Technology Systems in their operations for various reasons.
Despite the positive impact of electronic medical records, many healthcare facilities have been reluctant in making use of the available information technology systems within their operation. Some of the key reasons that contribute to the reluctance of implementing electronic medical recording include the expenses incurred in installing and servicing the systems. Some health facilities are not financially capable of catering for the costs of Electronic Health Records because of the small or no Return on Investment within a short period of using it. On the other hand, experts have identified that the concerns of patients’ privacy and confidentiality are among the key barriers to implementing or installing electronic medical records systems. The core responsibilities of the electronic medical records are to ensure that healthcare information of patients is traced from time primary to monitor their progress which promotes care continuity, and research. The available long-term health records are also used in education and practice of other healthcare practitioners for further understanding of the condition in question. Such practices with the use of the electronic health records impact the exposure of patients’ health information most of which are confidential. According to Sima Ajami and Razieh Arab-Chadegani (2013), the concern for lack of medical informatics practitioners, system technicians, and software professional contributes to the lack of interest in making use of the electronic medical records in most health facilities. The fear of system breakdown, programming errors and few qualified software vendors adds to the reluctance of health facilities to make use of the electronic medical records in their operations.
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Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Impact on Patient’s Medical Records
HIPAA is an Act that was implemented by Congress around 1996 purposely to hinder medical practitioners from sharing health information of their patients. As highlighted by the editors of ‘Beyond the HIPAA Privacy Rule,’ Nass, Levit, and Gostin (2009), the HIPAA promotes privacy which on the other hand, ensures that values like personal autonomy, individuality, respect, and dignity are put into consideration. Considering the growth and transformation of the digital error, the HIPAA provides patients with authority to have total control over their personal health information. Moreover, patients have the liberty to make their own decisions from the information forwarded to health practitioners.
The Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (HITECH) is legislation that was implemented purposely to encourage health facilities to make use of information technology in recording health data of their patients. As a result health facilities have been in a position to earn incentives from the government that entices health care centers into installing electronic health records. The HITECH Act promotes the need to expand an individual’s knowledge in information technology, hence ensuring that health professionals have the mandate to learn and stay conversant with the technology required in electronic health recordings. On the other hand, the lack of making use of the EHR’s by medical professionals lead to a future levying of penalties. According to Margaret Rouse and Scot Petersen (2014), health facilities and physicians who have to implement HITECH are required to have thoroughly assessed the security risks of HIPAA without compromising its privacy and confidentiality rules. The ability to be in a position to understand the requirements of both HITECH and HIPAA gives medical practitioners the chance to stay knowledgeable of the systems implemented in their facilities making it easier for them to operate it. Physicians and health facilities, on the other hand, are encouraged to efficiently deliver their services due to the strict rules enforced in case of inability to abide.
Some of the disadvantages that health practitioners face as mentioned earlier include the penalties incurred due to inability to implement HITECH. In most instances, healthcare facilities lack updated software that can allow encryption of standard which is suitable to HITECH’s requirements. Hence, it hinders physicians and health facilities alike to implement HITECH and thus compromises their dignity and responsibilities. Some rules that HITECH highlights and restrains physicians from performing efficiently includes the requirements of all institutions making use of EHR to ensure that they have a patient’s health records of at least three years that provides diagnosis, laboratory tests & results, and treatment. Such rules leave out many facilities and physician and categorizing them as illegible (Ajami and ArabChadegani, 2013).
In order for health practitioners to avoid the penalties subjected on them, they should ensure that their health facilities have implemented the HITECH Act and are making use of electronic health records for efficiency and embracing of information technology. Furthermore, it will be easier for them to involve critical stakeholders who will come handy to ensure that the right systems are installed. As for the physicians and professional involved in informatics, they can further their studies on information technology to sharpen their skills in case of computer breakdowns or software crash.
Health Organizations Workflow
Workflow is the organizational process that is used to ensure defined activities are accomplished in a particular manner within a specified period. Health organizational workflows are designed to promote efficiency within the health centers. The typical workflow processes in most of the health facilities include check-in, record retrieval, triage, diagnosis, care documentation, labs and procedures, check-outs and record storage. In order for the patient to get medical attention, they must respond to an invitation, an appointment or individually visit a health facility. Their details are then keyed into the system giving the physicians an opportunity to retrieve the health history of the individuals.
A critical step that helps in gaging the well-being of the patient is by taking them through triage. It is this step that initial tests like the patient’s priority levels and pertinent essential signs are made. A definite diagnosis can be achieved through further examinations and assessment of the patient’s history. The physician is then required to document every step analyzed. Clarified care documentation is then written in which various other processes may be recommended depending on the condition of the patient. The other procedures mostly include lab tests, x-rays, scans and finally the prescribed medication among others. A regular flow is maintained through excellent communication between departments and practitioners which eases the need for the patient to keep explaining themselves to each professional. All the recommended tests and procedures are then followed allowing the patient to finalize with their treatment. They can then acquire their prescribed medication from the pharmacist. Finally, the patient is at liberty to check-out, and the authorized physicians can access the medical record of the patient which is automatically saved in the system after the patient was checked out.
From the workflow process outlined, none of the operations are legible to be removed from the steps for purposes of improving the services. The core reason as to why is the fact that each method defines and lays a foundation for the next while the previous step helps in deciding how and what will be conducted to the patients by the physicians.
Impact of Federal Initiative
It is evident that the efforts applied by the federal government in ensuring that information systems are used played a significant role in improving the efficiency of healthcare services and protecting patients’ information. For instance, the HITECH Act has promoted accuracy in the documentation and recording of patient’s information which positively impacts the services provided. Moreover, HIPAA ensures that unauthorized individuals have no access to patients’ medical for reasons of promoting confidentiality and privacy.
The fundamental advantages of applying IT systems within healthcare organizations have helped in the correct data interpretation of the information recorded. Besides efficiency, physicians are in a position to make a correct patient diagnosis which helps in offering the right medication playing a role in life-saving. The protocols in the health organizations are defined making it easier for each department to collaborate as expected. According to Jess White (2015), some of the technologies expected in two decades include connectivity of medical devices that will be supposed to transmit relevant information from computers and tools that are networked. On the other hand, patients will be in a position to monitor their progress of the various conditions they are in. Considering the rate at which technology is advancing, it is clear that to facilitate and enhance privacy and confidentiality in the health environment, cloud storage of information will be implemented to secure vital information from unauthorized accessibility and alteration.
Cloud technology has been the most used form of information technology by most industries, and its impact is tremendous. The healthcare industry, on the other hand, can benefit from the use of cloud technology to counter the fear of loss of vital information in case of a computer crash or software malfunction. Furthermore, physicians will be in a position to closely interact with their patient contributing to care continuity and follow up on their progress. The goal of life-saving would be enhanced and the services improved tremendously for the good of both medical professions and patient alike with the incorporation of all other health stakeholders.
Conclusion
The implementation of information technology systems in health organization has impacted on the operations within the centers that have ensured efficiency. Electronic health records have contributed to correct diagnosis which is influenced by the correct storage of information that is readily shared among relevant departments and professionals. While the advantages of making use of information systems are immense, many healthcare facilities have fears of embracing the technology. Among the reasons for the barriers of making use of IT systems include the initial expenses incurred and incompetence in technology knowledge. The advancement of technology is continuously transforming, creating a possibility of new changes in the operations of healthcare organizations for the good of its stakeholders. Among the flaws that can be mitigated by the use of technology to boost efficiency in the health, industry includes the need to train medical professions on how to operate information systems in their organization for ease in running all errands.
References
Ajami, S. and ArabChadegani, R. (2013). Barriers to implement Electronic Health Records (EHRs): Materia Socio Medica , 25(3), p.213.
Cresswell, K., Bates, D. and Sheikh, A. (2013). Ten key considerations for the successful implementation and adoption of large-scale health information technology: Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association , 20(e1), pp.e9-e13.
Nass, S., Levit, L., & Gostin, L. (2009). Beyond the HIPAA Privacy Rule: Enhancing Privacy, Improving Health Through Research. Washington D.C: National Academies Press.
Rouse, M., & Petersen, S. (2014, December). HITECH Act . Retrieved October 16, 2014, from TechTarget: http://searchhealthit.techtarget.com/definition/HITECH-Act
White, J. (2015, August 6). 5 technology trends that will affect hospital care . Retrieved October 17, 2017, from HealthCare Business Tech: http://www.healthcarebusinesstech.com/technology-future-hospitals/
