With common standards, clinical and patient safety systems can share an integrated information infrastructure whereby data are collected and reused for multiple purposes to meet more efficiently the broad scope of data collection and reporting requirements. Common data standards also support effective assimilation of new knowledge into decision support tools, such as an alert of a new drug contraindication, and refinements to the care
Confidentiality and data breaches are a few of the main concerns, as many providers become neglectful when sharing patient electronic health information. Current use of Electronic Health Records (EHR) has proven to be helpful for hospitals and independent medical practice to provide efficient care for patients. Balestra reports that using computers to maintain patient health records and care reduces errors, and advances in health information technology are saving lives and reducing cost (Balestra, 2017). As technology advances EHR are going to continue to be the main method of record keeping among medical providers. Therefore, staff and medical providers need to be trained on how to properly share patients EHR safely and in a secure form in order to maintain patient confidentiality.
For example, all employees have passwords that allow the information systems personnel to trace internal access whenever there is any concern of data breach. Besides installation of these security measures to protect personal health information from unauthorized access, it helps the health organization to secure its business data. Accordingly, patients gain confidence in the health sector knowing that their personal health information is always safe. Nonetheless, it helps the federal and state governments prevent fraud and corruption practices that drain tax dollars from various medical schemes in the country (Hill, Hunter, Johnson, & Coustasse,
Privacy and Health Information Technology (HIT) Privacy is an important aspect to healthcare organizations planning to utilize health management information systems (HMIS) because protecting patients’ personal healthcare information is vital to providing quality healthcare, building trust in consumer relationships, and following patients’ healthcare rights legislation. If patients do not feel that their personal information is secure, they will seek care at another competitive healthcare organization. In addition, healthcare centers that do not take steps to make sure they are abiding by healthcare privacy legislation will most likely face large Healthcare Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) fines
Examples of the technological uses of technology are patient tracking, electronic record storage, computerized order entry and patient data entry. This is useful in emergency medicine as it raises the speed at which services are offered (AHIMA, 2013). According to Zeng et al., (2009), healthcare information management is a crucial item which helps streamline operations and the process of providing healthcare. Therefore, it is vital for a system which supports entrepreneurial efforts to be installed. This allows communication of the effort of every individual and avoids duplication of ideas.
However, interoperability within the context of healthcare is yet to be realized. Thus, the lack of interoperability amongst healthcare systems further strengthens the information silos that exist in today’s paper-based medical files, which results in proprietary control over health information. This has resulted in increased healthcare cost, declining quality of patients care, and the inability to integrate patients’ information across healthcare
One of the ways in which technology has improved technology and quality of life of patients, by making sure that the caregivers and medical personnel can do their work effectively. Due to technology patients can be able to remain in their homes and still receive care through technology. The doctors can share information with patients digitally, which means that the doctors do not need to be present physically for the treatment to be effected. The advent of technology has also improved the diagnostic approaches. Currently, patients can be able to carry out their diagnosis by typing in symptoms on a computer and read the results; this eventually reduces the extra fees that would have been incurred as consultation fees.
Patients experience different health problems hence they want to get adequate diagnostic facilities and drugs in the hospital. They did not want to be referred in the private sector to get diagnostic facilities and drugs since private facilities are relatively costly. The reason to come to the hospital is to get their problems to be known by the health care provider by getting adequate laboratory investigations and get appropriate drugs in the hospital compound. Getting services of lab investigations and appropriate drugs in the hospital compound is related to fulfilling patient needs. Patients expect important diagnostics and drugs should be avail in the hospital compound.
6 TELEHEALTH This concept was taken from module 7" TELEHEALTH”, sub topic 2" clinical and economic benefits". Tele health is the delivery of health related services and information through telecommunication technologies. Healthcare is carried out as in a hospital setting but only that in this case it occurs over the phone. This care is carried out using telecommunication technologies like internet, skype, telephone, video conferencing. This could also involves healthcare providers discussing using telecommunication technologies for the good of their patients.
Health is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, and not merely the absence of diseases or injury. Nowadays, as people need to live without any illness, quality healthcare is crucial to any health system anywhere in the world. Quality has become important for customers when deciding on a service or product and it has been considered as a strategic advantage for organizations to gain and maintain success in the business world. Services are intangible and difficult to measure, so service quality depends on customer perceptions and expectations. The healthcare sector today has a highly competitive.