Introduction to Theory in Healthcare Informatics

Introduction to Theory in Healthcare Informatics

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Introduction to Theory in Healthcare Informatics

Electronic Health Records (EHR) are patients’ information that is created, used, and stored in an electronic version. The technology has made it easier for healthcare practitioners. Initially, records used to be made manually which was tiresome. However, following the digital growth, most hospitals have adopted the use of computers to store patients’ information (Wiser, Durst, & Wickramasinghe, 2018). The approach has further increased the security of patient information. Only the assigned healthcare professionals with login credentials are capable of accessing the files having the records. Unfortunately, there is a negative trend that is cropping in the healthcare sectors using electronic health records. The trend entails medical professionals focusing on their computers for too long than they are supposed. This distracts them from effectively attending to the patients. Computers have been shown to draw people’s attention. This mostly occurs when computer users engage in applications such as games or social media channels. The paper will discuss the use of EHR in hospitals and some types of data that are usually tracked.

Healthcare Providers Focusing on Computer Screens

The habit of healthcare providers focusing excessively on computer screens can be attributed to poor computer designs and the nature of computer charting. In computer designs, the devices can be restricted in a manner that users can only access files such as Microsoft Office for filing data. Hence, the device will not be able to access games and other social channels such as Facebook. Hospitals that use computers that allow users to freely access any site are suffering from a lack of experts to help them in designing the systems. On the other hand, medical facilities can consider that their employees are civilized and they allow them to freely use all applications available on the computers. However, some sites such as Facebook have been shown to affect people’s concentration. The sites allow users to interact with the virtual world where a person is almost fully withdrawn fully the real world. Therefore, the individuals alienate basic activities such as eating, reading, or completing tasks that are assigned to them. Bearing this in mind, healthcare providers are being affected by the computers in the same way.

Patient Care and the Implementation of EHRs

The benefits of EHRs outdo the drawbacks that emanate from the system. It is without a doubt that none of the patients would wish medical facilities to resume use the old system of handling data. The old system led to patients making long queues that would be slowly attended. Additionally, most of their records would be misplaced which made healthcare services complex. Unlike, implementation of EHRs has ensured that patients do not make queues when joining health facilities. Additionally, records are easily retrieved from files. The security of the patients’ information has been beefed up. Hence, it is appropriate to argue that patients are benefitting from the use of EHRs.

Charting in an EHR

Yes, I am convinced that charting in an EHR provides enough details concerning a patient. The systems are designed in a manner that they are capable of focusing on primary information relating to a patient. Besides, the systems are flexible such that healthcare providers can add additional information regarding his/her clients. The flexibility makes the systems efficient in handling patients’ information.

Three Types of Data being Tracked by Organizations

Hebda, Hunter, and Czar (2019) agreed that technology is important in healthcare operations. The three agreed that technology systems have been benefitting both patients and nurses through efficient means of handling data (Hebda, Hunter, & Czar, 2019). One type of data is goal-oriented where an example is Electronic Health Records. Health facilities have enacted a computer system where each patient has a digital record. The record entails the patient’s medical history, demographics, laboratory test results, and allergies among others. The systems have been allowing the sharing of information through secure information systems. The setups are made in such a way that they are modifiable. Hence, physicians are given the opportunity to implement changes according to the data they want to add.

Another type of data is target-driven data. An example is patients’ predictions towards the services offered by healthcare providers. In this case, patients are allowed to rate or give feedbacks concerning health practitioners that serve them. The data is targeted at ensuring that patients receive the best services. Additionally, the data is meant at ensuring that healthcare providers are responsible for the type of services they offer to patients. The services are expected to be of high quality. This pressures the medical practitioners to be dedicated and committed to their work.

The third type of data that is tracked is impact-focused data. In healthcare settings, strategic plans are recorded in a manner that they can be retrieved from the systems. Through the approach, healthcare managers are in a position to analyze demographic groups and the type of treatment the individuals are being offered. Such procedures have helped medical facilities in preparing for a crisis such as chronic diseases outbreak or population growth. Through the data obtained, the specialists will be in a position to understand the effectiveness of the set strategies. They are also in a position to make necessary changes to the strategies that will ensure possible errors are mitigated.

Type of Data Specific to My Practice

While working as a registered nurse, I realized that data on patient care delivery was being tracked. Nurses have the role of offering both acute and non-acute care settings. However, supervision of the nurses has been a problem over the years. This has encouraged laxity in the health sector. To control the situation, a tracking system was introduced that would check patient care offered to clients. The system operates using reports from patients as well as nurses themselves.

Patients were interrogated before leaving health facilities about the type of care they receive. Therefore, they were required to report if they were impressed with the services offered by the nurses. Those with complaints were given the opportunity to elaborate on the situations they were in and why they were not impressed by the services. On the other hand, nurses were forced to be making reports at any time they are changing shifts. In this case, they would give information concerning patients they have attended, those on medications, and patients in critical conditions that will need regular checks.

The information given would be compiled for a period of time. After that, the nurses’ performances would be evaluated and appraised. Nurses whose data was not impressive were given appointments with the committee panels. On the other hand, nurses that had positive results would be promoted to a higher position such as monitoring others.

Importance of the Data Tracking

Tracking of healthcare delivery to patients is beneficial. The initiative ensured that nurses developed positive relationships with patients. In this case, nurses would take their time to understand patients’ needs before attending them. At the same time, nurses would be friendly to patients in order to create positive perceptions in them. Further, the tracking of the data was appropriate since it improved the quality of services offered to patients. It discouraged laxity that was occurring before the system was introduced.

Nurses have been working hard to improve the records that are reported about them. Hence, they observe some of the basic factors such as being punctual at the place of work. Additionally, the practitioners are concerned about the treatment services they offer to their clients. The treatments have to help the patients by reducing pain.

Organization that is Tracking the Data

Washington Hospital Center has been using RTLS technology to track data on healthcare delivery. They also use RFID technology to track the activities that take place in their wards and health facilities. As a result, the employed personnel are required to be keen and dedicated to their activities. Similarly, the tracking system allows the patient to make reviews about the care they receive from the facility.

Ethical Concerns having an Outside Organization Tracking Data

In my opinion, there are ethical concerns about having outside organizations tracking data from a different firm. For instance, facilities are required to keep patient information private and confidential. Hence, patients’ records should not be disclosed to other parties without permission. Bearing this in mind, outside facilities should not access the patient’s records made by another facility. The initiative will be breaching the policy on privacy. However, in extreme cases, licensed firms can be allowed to gather information concerning another medical facility. The type of information that is accessed should be limited. Facilities should be ready to give any information about their resources but not concerning patients. Such an approach will help in maintaining patients’ information secured.

Selected Topic

The topic that is selected involves the Internet of Things (IoT). The topic entails the application of Internet technology in the operation of different sectors across the country. IoT has been applied effectively in medical sectors. This has been observed through the use of electronic devices that enable health facilities to share records. The sharing cannot be successful without the help of the Internet.

From the topic, I came up with a project of identifying the process used by facilities to ensure their technological devices remain updated. It is certain that technology is growing and devices will become obsolete if they are not updated. Therefore, I was concerned with understanding how health facilities ensure their devices remain up-to-date with the new technologies. The project will help our class to appreciate the need to have Internet-enabled devices. Students will enhance their knowledge of their knowledge concerning the manner in which electronic devices operate and link with one another. Personally, the project will boost my understanding in relation to the application of the Internet in medical facilities.

Healthcare Theory

Human/Technology Adaptation Fit (HTAF) theory has been used in defining the need for technology in health facilities (Weigel, Landrum, & Hall, n.d.). The theory is also directly linked to my project. From the theory, we will be able to learn how human beings use technology to improve their performance of activities. In this case, the project will be focused on adaptation technology. Electronic devices used in health facilities have to be adapted to the latest demands in technology. Therefore, they will remain relevant and effective in enhancing work output.

In conclusion, it is clear that technology has improved the delivery of healthcare services. Tracking of health data and delivery of services have been improving the quality of care offered to patients. As a result, management in healthcare settings should work hard in ensuring they have devices that are in line with technological demands. The devices should be updated through the help of the Internet. The initiative will ensure that the devices meet the expected standards for their effective performances.

References

Hebda, T., Hunter, K., & Czar, P. (2019). Handbook of informatics for nurses and healthcare

professionals (6th ed.). New York, NY: Pearson. ISBN: 978-0134711010

Weigel, F. K., Landrum, W. H., & Hall, D. J. (n.d.). Human-technology adaptation fit theory for

healthcare. In Twelfth Annual Conference of the Southern Association for Information Systems (SAIS), Charleston, SC.

Wiser, F., Durst, C., & Wickramasinghe, N. (2018). Activity theory: A comparison of HCI

theories for the analysis of healthcare technology. In Theories to Inform Superior Health Informatics Research and Practice (pp. 235-249). Springer, Cham.