Question.3292 - First Discussion topic: Specific IT system applications in health services delivery fall into four main areas: 1. Clinical information systems 2. Administrative information systems 3. Decision support systems 4. Internet and eHealth Choose one of the above and discuss at least one influence of the system on healthcare delivery. Support your ideas with the literature. Second discussion topic: Technology diffusion has been accompanied by issues of cost, safety, benefit, and risk. Federal legislation has aimed at addressing these concerns. Which do you consider to be the most important area for focus? Support your ideas with rationales from the literature.
Answer Below:
Topic 1 Influence of Clinical Information Systems on Healthcare Delivery Clinical Information Systems (CIS) have a major positive impact on patient care delivery in terms of quality and safety. Enhancing patient information accuracy and accessibility is one of the most significant effects of CIS. CIS gives healthcare practitioners real-time access to comprehensive patient data, which includes medical history, lab findings, and treatment recommendations. By guaranteeing that all caregivers participating in a patient's care have access to the most recent information, this accessibility lowers the possibility of errors resulting from incomplete or out-of-date information. For instance, CIS's computerized physician order entry (CPOE) tools, which ensure prescriptions are complete and readable and highlight possible drug interactions and allergies, assist in lowering the number of medication errors. Additionally, CIS improves productivity and streamlines workflow in healthcare settings. Through the automation of numerous repetitive processes, including appointment scheduling, invoicing, and coding, CIS enables medical personnel to allocate more time toward providing direct patient care. Due to this enhanced efficiency, more time spent with patients can greatly enhance patient outcomes and satisfaction. Another essential component of CIS is electronic health records (EHR), which streamline the paperwork process and lessen the administrative load on healthcare practitioners. This enhances the overall effectiveness of the healthcare delivery process by allowing medical staff to concentrate more on patient care rather than paperwork. Moreover, CIS improves team member collaboration and communication in the healthcare setting. EHRs, for example, enable many departments in a healthcare facility to access patient data, guaranteeing that everyone on the team is informed about the patient's condition and course of treatment. This integrated strategy decreases healthcare costs, improves patient outcomes, and lessens the chance of unnecessary testing and treatments. EHR-enabled better coordination and communication result in more unified and effective care, which is especially advantageous in complex cases involving multidisciplinary teams. Through Clinical Decision Support Systems (CDSS), CIS is also essential in assisting clinical decision-making. These systems offer evidence-based recommendations and prompts to medical professionals to support clinical judgment. Through the analysis of patient data, CDSS provides recommendations that facilitate more accurate diagnosis and treatment of patients. For example, based on the most recent clinical guidelines, CDSS can provide alternate treatment choices or notify clinicians about possible drug interactions. This support guarantees that clinical decisions are founded on the best available evidence, which not only improves practitioner performance but also improves patient outcomes. Topic 2 Of the four concerns associated with the spread of technology in healthcare cost, safety, benefit, and risk safety is the most important one to address first. Medical technology safety directly impacts patient well-being and faith in the healthcare system. The basic objective of healthcare, to not harm, can be compromised by unsafe technologies, resulting in unfavorable occurrences, increased morbidity, and even mortality. A great deal of emphasis has been placed on safety by federal law, such as the Medical Device Amendments of 1976 and the more recent 21st Century Cures Act, which mandate strict pre-market testing and post-market supervision of medical devices. A 2016 study by Makary and Daniel published in BMJ states that medical errors are the third biggest cause of death, frequently resulting from technology failure or misuse. This figure emphasizes the importance of strict safety procedures to avoid injury. Furthermore, maintaining the security of medical technologies can increase public trust and acceptance, making the spread of new technologies easier and more efficient. Prioritizing safety guarantees that technological innovations improve health outcomes without introducing new hazards, aligning with the ethical imperatives of healthcare practice, even when cost, benefit, and risk are all important factors. Bates, D. W., Kuperman, G. J., Wang, S., Gandhi, T., Kittler, A., Volk, L., ... & Middleton, B. (2001). Ten Commandments for Effective Clinical Decision Support: Making the Practice of Evidence-based Medicine a Reality. Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association, 8(6), 523-530 Comin, D., & Hobijn, B. (2010). An exploration of technology diffusion. American economic review, 100(5), 2031-2059.More Articles From Operation Management
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