Connected Health and the Digital Age of Medicine

Technology Innovations

Telehealth providers like Nanthealth provide a network through which patients, health providers and insurance providers connect and communicatevarious technology innovations are provided to connect patients, providers and insurance providers across the care continuum.These include:NantOS is an integrated cloud-based population management platform which includes patient, provider and payer interactions. It supports commercial and government plans, referrals authorizations, document exchange and claims management

Technology Innovations

Integration of diagnostics with biometric and phenotypic data in large scale, to track patient outcomes and to deliver precision medicineImprovement of clinical decision making through clinical support systemsElectronic medical records is another innovation that facilitates management of patient data.

Technology in health care decision making

Incorporation of technology in health management is majorly through electronic medical records, clinical information systems and non-clinical information systemsElectronic medical records provide data needed for decision making among health providers. It facilitates provider payment mechanisms and reduces paperworkElectronic medical records makes it easy for patient data to be managed and facilitates patient follow upHealthcare providers use information systems to run their health facilities for both clinical and non-clinical purposes. This facilitates budgeting and planning for the future

Technology in health care decision making

Through electronic medical records, insurance providers can track information about patients attended to and the specific services offered. This enables them to pay healthcare providers for services, and to charge patients accordingly.Clinical support and reminder systems facilitate patient management, when utilized by health care providersTechnology facilitates the use of modern diagnostic services in the improvement of patient management and outcomes.Services such as endoscopy and laparascopic surgery that are products of technology improve diagnosis and patient management.

Importance of real-time data on outcome-focused planning

Real time data obtained from patient management in one place can be transmitted electronically to other departments or service providers to facilitate planning With the availability of real-time data, patient outcomes can be discussed.With the use of telehealth services, various parties in health management can communicate easily and this information can be used to plan based on the outcome or the expected outcome.This information is important to the hospital for planning for their utilities, and is relevant to insurance providers who provide pay to health care providers

Importance of real-time data on outcome-focused planning

This information is important to patients in that they are well informed about their condition prior to discharge without need for a next visit.It helps patients to decide their next step of preferred management based on possible outcomes.Insurance providers benefit from real time data in that they are able to approximate how much of the total cost that they can pay for the patient.This real time data enables patients and insurance providers to learn about the prognosis of the condition they have, in case there is need to change the payment plan to suit the specific condition

Impact of technology on future healthcare delivery

Technology will improve the quality of healthcare delivery in the near future. Legibility of handwriting and availability of sufficient patient information will lead to shorter duration of hospital visits and efficient provider payment mechanismsTechnology will improve the safety and efficiency of healthcare delivery as providers have reliable points of care access to the past medical history, lab results, prescriptions and discharge summaries among others. Providers will have a means of generating information needed to support effective care transitions

Impact of technology on future healthcare delivery

Technology will improve the care experience for patients as patients become more engaged in their health and healthcare. This is possible if patients all allowed to access their medical records, which is possible electronically.Better health provider motivation will possibly improve patient outcomes due to clinical support and reminder systems and easy workflow due to legibility of clinical notes and availability of information required for patient management in electronic medical records.

References

May 2013 EHR Incentive Programs Medicaid Incentive Payments Report:CMS Internal Analysis Presented at Health IT Policy Committee Meeting, July 9, 2013Masys D(2002):Effects of Current and Future Information Technologies on the HealthCare Workforce, Health Affairs Vol 21 Issue 5