Today, an increasing number of healthcare providers are embracing technology. These organizations are abandoning traditional approaches as they recognize the immense benefits that the adoption of technology presents. One of the elements in the delivery of care that has particularly been impacted by new technology is the management of health records. Previously, practitioners had to rely on paper-based systems to keep records. Now, technology has made it possible for these records to be managed through electronic equipment (Ciampa & Revels, 2012). The result of the adoption of technology in the management of patient health records has been a general improvement in patient outcomes and an enhanced capacity to deliver care. In this paper, the implementation of information technology (IT) systems in health facilities is explored. Some of the issues that the paper explores are the factors that are impeding the adoption of technology and the role that legislation has played in enhancing the implementation of information technology systems.
Factors responsible for reluctance in adoption of electrical records
It has been noted with concern that there are some organizations and practitioners who have failed to embrace modern technology. Despite the overwhelming evidence regarding the benefits of technology, these organizations have been reluctant in adopting electronic medical records. A number of factors are responsible for this reality. One, the adoption of electronic medical record systems requires that organizations invest huge amounts of time and resources (Ajami & Bagheri-Tadi, 2013). Many physicians are overwhelmed by their workload and they are simply unable to set aside some time to familiarize themselves with IT systems. Furthermore, the cost of implementing an electronic records management system is usually high. Since most healthcare providers are cash-strapped, implementing the electronic system is not a priority.
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The fact that there are many practitioners who lack the technical skills needed to interact with the electronic systems is another factor that is to blame for the reluctance by organizations to adopt these systems (Ajami & Bagheri-Tadi, 2013). For one to fully utilize the electronic records system, they must possess certain technical skills. If one lacks these skills, they will simply be unable to adopt the system. Concerns regarding privacy and security are the other issue that is responsible for the reluctance by healthcare organizations to embrace electronic records management systems (Ajami & Bagheri-Tadi, 2013). These systems are vulnerable to attacks that could compromise the safety and privacy of patient records. Many practitioners fear that should an attack occur, the records may find their way into the hands of unscrupulous and malicious individuals. This fear is valid and well founded. Recently, computer systems around the globe suffered a ransomware attack. Healthcare organizations are among those whose systems were targeted.
Advantages and disadvantages of adopting HITECH Act
The US government has demonstrated its commitment to improving the delivery of medical services in the country. Evidence for this can be found in the enactment of the Health Information Technology for Information and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act. Enacted in 2009, this Act seeks to encourage healthcare providers to adopt information technology (HHS, 2013). There are a number of advantages that are enjoyed by facilities and practitioners who have adopted the Act. One of the advantages of the adoption of this Act is that it enhances efficiency (Moreno, Peikes & Krilla, 2010). Since the Act promotes the adoption of information technology, it allows organizations to become more efficient by digitizing records. Organizations are able to save costs that would otherwise be spent on manually maintaining patient records. The other advantage enjoyed by practitioners and organizations which adopt this Act is that they are able to enhance the quality of services that they deliver to patients (Moreno, Peikes & Krilla, 2010). The HITECH Act has provided organizations with an incentive to improve quality of care. By embracing information technology, practitioners and organizations are able to collaborate with other actors in the medical profession. This collaboration results in an improvement in patient outcomes.
The advantages of adopting the HITECH Act are not limited to cost reductions and improvements in patient outcomes. The other advantage that has been realized by practitioners and organizations that are implementing the provisions of the Act concerns funding. The HITECH Act has a provision that promises bonuses for facilities which meaningfully implement information technology (Monegain, 2010). On the other hand, organizations which fail to adopt information technology face fines. The promise of bonuses and federal funding has encouraged facilities to abandon old systems and embrace modern technology. While these facilities have benefited, the greatest gainers are patients whose outcomes have vastly improved.
The adoption of the HITECH Act has undoubtedly allowed medical facilities to enjoy numerous benefits. However, this Act has also presented a number of challenges and disadvantages. An increase in costs of operating is one of the disadvantages that the organizations which have adopted the Act have had to contend with (Monegain, 2010). It has been noted that the primary aim of the Act is to promote the integration of information technology into the delivery of care. As organizations strive to integrate IT, they have incurred huge amounts. They have had to purchase computer equipment and hire technicians to operate these equipment. In addition to the high cost of implementing the provisions of the Act, the adopters of the Act have also been locked in agreements with vendors. It is feared that the Act is forcing facilities to remain faithful for vendors (Hudock & Wagner, 2009). This makes it very difficult for the facilities to abandon vendors who fail to deliver effective electronic systems. Attempts by the facilities to abandon the vendors can prove very costly.
The high cost of implementing the provisions of the HITECH Act has been identified as among the disadvantages faced by facilities that choose to adopt this act. There are a number of measures that can be implemented to address this challenge. Investing in data analytics and management is among these measures. It has been noted that the high cost of care in the US is primarily the result of waste. It is advised that to reduce costs, organizations need to embrace data analytics (Brown, n.d). This measure allows organizations to obtain critical insights about their patients while keeping costs low. The other challenge that the adoption of HITECH Act poses regards locking facilities into agreements with vendors. To address this challenge, organizations need to carry out due diligence and exercise caution in their dealings with vendors.
Workflow process and improving service delivery
Workflow processes refer to the procedures implemented by healthcare organizations for the accomplishment of certain tasks (Cain & Haque, 2008). For the most part, these processes facilitate service delivery. However, the processes can also get in the way of delivering services. One of the elements of the workflow process that must be done away with to enhance service delivery is obtaining authorization. In most healthcare organizations, practitioners need to obtain permission from their seniors. It is important to obtain authorization to ensure accountability and to safeguard the health of patients. However, this requirement hinders service delivery. Too much time is wasted as practitioners wait for feedback from their superiors regarding whether they can proceed with a given task. The elimination of this element of the workflow process will provide practitioners with the autonomy they need to deliver quality care. Additionally, doing away with the need to obtain authorization will reduce the amount of time required to provide care.
Impact of federal initiatives on standards of healthcare
It has been stated earlier that the US government wishes to improve the quality of care. The government has implemented a number of initiatives that are aimed at ensuring that Americans receive the best possible quality of care. The HITECH Act is among these initiatives. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and the Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Act (PSQIA) are other initiatives that seek to protect patient privacy, safety and confidentiality. For the most part, these initiatives have achieved their aims. For example, the PSQIA Act encourages practitioners to report any concerns they have regarding the safety of their patients (“How the Patient Safety”. 2015). The HIPAA Act requires medical professionals to uphold the privacy of their patients. The Act also contains a provision that calls on practitioners to protect patient confidentiality (“How the Patient Safety”. 2015). Overall, the different government initiatives have improved the standards of healthcare. Today, practitioners are more committed to patient safety, privacy and confidentiality thanks to the government initiatives.
Advantages of applying IT system and new IT developments
From the discussion this far, it is evident that the implementation of IT systems delivers many gains for healthcare organizations. One of the fundamental advantages of applying IT systems is cost reduction (Fogel & Kvedar, 2016). Healthcare organizations that have adopted modern information technology have witnessed a significant reduction in the cost of operating. Improvement in patient outcomes is another advantage. Thanks to information technology, the quality of service received by patients has improved. Patients wait for shorter periods and receive the full commitment of practitioners. Enhanced safety and privacy of patient information is the third advantage (Powell-Cope, Nelson & Patterson, 2008). While it is true that electronic systems are susceptible to attacks, they are more secure than traditional paper-based systems. Moving into the future, it can be expected that more and more healthcare providers will embrace information technology. With time, the practitioners and organizations that are reluctant to adopt IT will begin to recognize the many benefits that they are set to enjoy. Over the next two decades, it is also likely the cost of adopting information technology will drop. This prediction is based on the fact that the cost of technology tends to decrease with time.
In conclusion, information technology has revolutionized the delivery of care. Today, thousands of healthcare providers have integrated information technology into their operations. While it is true that these providers have incurred huge costs, the benefits that they have enjoyed justify these costs. The American government receives credit for the transformation of the healthcare industry. This government has implemented initiatives that seek to promote the adoption of information technology. As the government continues to work with the players in the healthcare industry, Americans should expect to see information technology being adopted by more medical organizations.
References
Ajami, S. & Bagheri-Tadi. (2013). Barriers for Adopting Electronic Health Records (EHRs) by Physicians. Acta Informatica Medica, 21 (2), 129-134.
Brown, B. (n.d). How Analytics will Lower Waste and Reduce Costs for the Healthcare Industry. Retrieved 15th May 2017 from https://www.healthcatalyst.com/healthcare-analytics-reduce-costs
Cain, C. & Haque, S. (2008). Chapter 31. Organizational Workflow and its Impacts on Work Quality. In Hughes, R. D. Patient Safety and Quality: An Evidence-Based Handbook For Nurses . Rockville, MD: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.
Ciampa, M. & Revels, M. (2012). Introduction to Healthcare Information Technology. Boston: Cengage Learning.
Fogel, A. L. & Kvedar, J. C. (2016). Simple Digital Technologies can Reduce Health Care Costs. Retrieved 15th May 2017 from https://hbr.org/2016/11/simple-digital-technologies-can-reduce-health-care-costs
How the Patient Safety Rule Ties into HIPAA Regulations. (2015). Retrieved 15th May 2017 From http://healthitsecurity.com/news/how-the-patient-safety-rule-ties-into-hipaa-regulations
Hudock, R. & Wagner, P. (2009). Analysis of the HITECH Act’s Incentives to Facilitate Adoption of Health Information Technology. Retrieved 15th May 2017 from http://www.ebglaw.com/content/uploads/2014/06/28043_ClientAlertHITECH.pdf
Monegain, B. (2010). HITECH Act ‘Lit a Fire’ under Health Systems. Retrieved 15th May 2017
From http://www.healthcareitnews.com/news/hitech-act-lit-fire-under-health-systems
Moreno, L., Peikes, D. & Krilla, A. (2010). Necessary but not Sufficient: The HITECH Act and Health Information Technology’s Potential to Build Medical Homes. Retrieved 15th May 2017 from https://pcmh.ahrq.gov/page/necessary-not-sufficient-hitech-act-and-health-information-technology%E2%80%99s-potential-build-medical
Powell-Cope, G., Nelson, A. L. & Patterson, E. S. (2008). Chapter 50. Patient Care Technology And Safety. In Hughes, R. D. Patient Safety and Quality: An Evidence-Based Handbook For Nurses . Rockville, MD: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.
U.S Department of Health and Human Services. (HHS). (2013). HITECH Act Enforcement Interim Rule. Retrieved 15th May 2017 from https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-professionals/special-topics/HITECH-act-enforcement-interim-final-rule/index.html?language=es
