Competitive Value of Healthcare IT
Computer Sciences and Information Technology
Topic:
Competitive Value of Healthcare IT
Introduction
Today most organizations engage in competitive activities to enhance value for instance, in healthcare industry. A healthy completion involves growth and ability of the organization to cater for cross-border patients worldwide by use of the available resources and implementation of information technology. Healthcare facilities adopt the use of information technology systems which depend on the implementation of the information technology system, methods used to implement the system as well as the benefits and challenges involved in the use of information technology. The paper is a discussion of the competitive value of healthcare information technology.
ITS Innovations
Competition is vital in healthcare organization especially in improving the value of products and services to customers. Competition is primarily based on the relationship between competition and satisfaction of customers as well as competition and quality of healthcare systems (Lux, and Petit, 2016). Healthy competition in healthcare centers improves the quality of products and reduces the time taken during the treatment process which consequently leads to the satisfaction of customers.
Competition is not only based on products and convenience of services but also through the use of technology as well as innovations which reduces time and cost as well as improves efficiency. Not all types of competition are healthy in healthcare sectors, for instance, the inappropriate competition focuses on giving out improper incentives and satisfaction surveys while a positive-sum competition main focus includes the value of treatment, alternatives used to treat special conditions, suitable, market as well as providing correct information and services to customers. Competition in health care involves various players such as employees, patients, and the administration.
Health care sectors compete for qualified physicians as well as patients to portray and show off the organization’s expertise. Over the past years, organizations competed mostly by having well qualified and competent employees but after the emergence of new technology, health care sectors compete by the acquisition of the latest and effective information technology systems. Various medical discoveries have emerged in the twentieth and twenty-first century where through the use of technology organizations can hire the well-skilled physicians balanced in both the ability to carry out practical’s as well as the ability to use the new healthcare information technology systems.
Healthcare systems have several information technology innovations that Help the organization to use less time in carrying out examinations, special treatments as well as protection of patient’s information. Electronic media record (EMRs) is one of the information technology innovation adopted by most healthcare sectors across the world (Fleiszer,et, al.,2016) . The EMRs are essential in sharing information and communicating with health providers across the nation.
Additionally the EMRs stores information and health records in hospitals in digital form which is better and convenient compared to manual record-keeping. Sharing of information enables physicians from different states to access information about a patient for instance patient’s medical history enabling physicians and health providers to make better choices about patient’s treatment and care. The innovation took place in early 2009 where most countries are still adjusting especially in identifying the best treatment plan for various chronic diseases.
The blockchain technology system is vital in storing information in digital form which allows for information sharing and distribution but restricts the copying of information. Bitcoin was originally designed for digital currency but with time most organizations have adopted other ways, for instance, the transfer of medical information in a more advanced manner compared to the use of EMRs (Fleiszer,et, al.,2016). The use of blockchain technology in healthcare allows sharing without restrictions as well as owns and decentralize data. Nevertheless, bitcoin technology allows information providers to share and inform physicians as well as patients on treatments and care.
The use of telemedicine is a fundamental and advocated information technology innovation that not only allows information sharing but also improves the interaction between a physician and a patient. Lately, patients no longer need to visit the hospital but can connect with their doctors through the use of “internet of things”. For instance collection of health-related data, transferring the information to a smart scale and later smartphones. Additionally, information technology innovations are not only felt and used by physicians and patients but also by healthcare information providers and trainees. Learners in medical schools are allowed to research by use of digital gadgets such as smartphones to enhance better understanding.
Artificial intelligence allows organizations to monitor physician’s activities, patient’s activities as well as treatment of patients. Lately, health care facilities can examine or diagnose patients who are far without the physical presence of a physician. The use of artificial intelligence will improve productivity, quality, customer satisfaction through efficiency and the use of cost-effective methods. For instance, artificial intelligence application includes; Cerebro which offers acute care facilities such as staffing, fast-fill by use of a mobile app to notify physicians of activities, higher file rates which entice and attract skilled physicians.
Organizational Processes
Information technology innovations in healthcare systems have improved quality, life expectancy, efficiency as well as improve customer satisfaction as well as other organizational processes. Information technology innovations enable the administration to be leveraged across countries through information integration. A clinical leader is provided with information required for treatment and care processes from information providers through the use of EMRs. More so, health centers administrators can identify the best and effective practices in the facilities as well as make plans based on the type of information technology to be deployed.
Deployment of new care platforms has improved healthcare sectors by improving customer satisfaction through tracking care and getting information from different sources. Data obtained is used to asses patients as well as make individual patients ‘plans on the next visits and so on. The main goal of health organizations is not only chasing the newest information technology in the organization but also deploying the technology and making sure patients and physicians benefit fully from the technology.
Changing healthcare continuum through the adoption of the life-saving and cost-effective care system. Health organizations are currently responsible for the quality of care where improving performance is an inside job. Health information technology tools track, share medical information, store data digitally as well as improve patient’s health. For instance, the EHRs used for structured data entry such as data extraction, analysis, reporting as well as tracking of medical data. The EHRs are vital and provides multiple services such as enhancing patient’s quality care. HIE is another health information tool used in laboratory test results, immunization as well as care coordination. The use of healthcare tools is used in almost all organizational processes that enhance high delivery as well as improve primary care.
Mission, Vision, and Strategic Goals
Health organizations have a well-outlined mission, vision and strategic goal which enhances competency through the use of information technology. For instance, strengthening health care by establishing affordable and quality healthcare systems. Health care organizations promote food and drug quality and safety, provider human services as well as ensure cost-effective health care services. For example, health and human services are concerned with extensive coordination of information sharing as well as the use of innovative health information technology.
Advancement of scientific knowledge and innovation is a healthcare strategic goal that involves the establishment of innovations to cater to health care services. Various scientific innovations are used to advance laboratory practices as well as epidemiology capacity. Information technology is used to improve collaboration as well as the advancement of methods used in research (MacLeod, 2016). Health care organizations aim at using various innovations such as the internet of things to advance learning and the use of technological systems used in treatment and diagnosis.
Thirdly, the Advancement of health and safety of people by taking care of patients issues as well as health issues affecting the vulnerable population. The government, as well as healthcare organizations, improve safety and healthcare through policy development, health security strategies as well as training patients and physicians on the response, recovery as well as a medical emergency. Information technology is used in providing reliable data as well as appropriate data storage which enhances privacy and confidentiality through the use of visualization tools. For instance recording of patient’s information in computers to safeguard and protect the data from leakages.
Ensure the accountability and effectiveness of the organization through the use of information technology systems, for instance, the innovations used in treatment and care units such as the use of wearable systems to monitor the progress of patients with specific diseases. Information technology has the biggest role in attaining efficiency and accountability in health sectors both for out-patients as well as internal operations of the organization such as to monitor payments.
Health organization’s mission involves being competent by using information technology resources and services to provide healthcare solutions through the use of systems that saves time and money (MacLeod, 2016). The organization aims at using inter-connected systems to acquire information to identify public health problems, distribution of healthcare IT healthcare facilities as well as the decision-making process. For instance, various publications have shown the importance of information technology in health care systems such as a shared nationwide interoperability roadmap.
The vision is to provide secure and innovative information technology systems to enhance human services as well as Help the privileged population gets the required and affordable healthcare services. The primary aim of the healthcare organization to enhance a competitive environment as well as establish the use of information technology is through acquiring, deploying sustainable information technology to enable the workforce.
The healthcare sector provides information technology systems from cybersecurity and privacy issues through safeguarding IT systems from the data breach. Training on cyber risk management is offered to physicians as well as administrators on how to protect big data secure passwords as well as measures to take in case of a cyber-attack (MacLeod, 2016). Personal and public health information is confidential and should be protected by all means through the application of cyber tools as well as investing in risk mitigation.
Data challenges
Data analytics in the health care industry has been a big challenge because the sector deals with big data which is challenging to analyze, present, collect as well as store. Cleaning of data also known as scrubbing of data is a challenge in health care sectors which is vital. Cleaning of data ensures hospital data is not corrupted or affected, enhance relevance, improve consistency of data flow as well as correct data (Wang, et, al., 2018). For a long time, various sectors use manual methods in the cleaning of data but lately, health sectors have embraced the use of information technology such as the use of special tools to make a correction, differentiate and show similarities in large datasets.
The security issue is a big challenge especially in cases of data breaches and hacking where health data is corruption and leaked in case of cyber-attacks. Healthcare information is vulnerable where most organizations especially smaller healthcare organizations pay less attention to data protection (Kruse, et, al., 2016) . Health organizations install authentication protocols as well as controls in protecting data integrity. Procedures used to safeguard confidential information includes the use of firewalls, encryption of private data and the use of complicated anti-virus software. Cyber attackers can invade the most protected information where the most important step used by most health organizations is to train and create awareness to all stakeholders on data protection and risk management strategies.
Data visualization is important in enabling physicians to acquire and utilize information efficiently, Nevertheless, data visualization is a challenge to healthcare sectors. For instance, color-coding is important in alerting and notifying the user about when to stop and be cautious. Health organizations have a challenge in presenting data which is important apart from the use of plain data. Data presentation is done through the use of data visualization such as the use of graphics, pie charts, and histograms and so on.
Collection and recording of health data is an issue which is affected by various factors such as physical environment, health behaviors as well as social-economic factors. Some of the data sources used in the healthcare industry include wearable tools, electronic health records as well as health information exchange (Wang, et, al., 2018). Data collection and recording as a challenge happening through health data keep changing as well as data fragmentation which goes against patient’s and physician’s expectations? Health data is collected in the form of videos, pictures, multimedia and so on. Most health data is collected but the challenge comes in during unifying information because most data recently is duplicated making it hard to identify original data.
Technology as a Tool
The new business model in the healthcare industry is to provide low-cost high-value services as well as data quality management by the use of new management strategies, information technology tools in both the public and private sectors. The new models involve various principles for instance accountability, transparency, integrity, protection, compliance, availability, retention as well as the ethical disposition of information through transfer and recording of information. Data quality management involves maintaining data integrity during processes such as data collection, analysis, and interpretation. The healthcare sector is working on maintaining higher data management standards by following the right direction.
Health information technology is used as a tool in most developing areas such as sectors like health record systems, health applications as well as smart diagnostic devices. The primary aim of information technology in the health sector is providing quality and better care for patients (Carter, 2019). The patient’s data is recorded and stored in various databases to enhance the delivery of services as well as analysis of information by information providers as well as health practitioners. Data stored is used as a tool to monitor and implement policies and strategies to prevent the spread of various diseases.
Information technology as a tool is used to reduce medical errors as well as enhance communication and interaction between physicians and patients. For instance, unprivileged countries can acquire health care information through the open medical record system used to retrieve information about particular patient treatment and care. Through the digital health records, health sectors can know the medical history of patients hence driving to better decision making. Additionally, health information technology brings about collaboration and cooperation between software developers, health providers as well as policy implementers. Developers from all over the globe unite to support local and less privileged clinics.
Technology is on our fingerprints especially in the healthcare sector through the use of artificial intelligence as well as Nanomedicine. For instance, the use of robot-Helped surgery in carrying out complex procedures has made it easier and convenient for patients and physicians. The method is used to enhance precision and control as well as reduce the level of infections. Additionally, artificial intelligence has been applied in the healthcare industry especially in chronic conditions such as heart disease, cancer, and many other conditions, therefore, reducing death rates caused by the conditions.
Technology that Provides Value
Technology has various advantages and provides value to health care organizations for is instance value brought about by the use of electronic health records which can transform written records to computerize and digital saved information which delivers more quality service. The electronic health record is beneficial in enabling physician access data easily in eliminating penmanship, reduce cost related to various treatments as well as enhance decision making in the healthcare system (Wang,et, al.,2018) . Healthcare information exchange improves the value of the healthcare sector as well as the use of clinical decision support. The clinical decision support( CDS) enables health organizations to make critical decisions considering patients care. Additionally, CDS provides information concerning drugs such as the expiry of medicines and so on.
Computerized physician order entry (CPOE) provides value to the healthcare system through the ability to make entries about laboratory results, physical therapy into a computer. Orders are computerized to avoid misplacement of information especially results extracted after carrying out an examination. Medical errors are reduced by combining both the computerized physician order entry and clinical decision support. The sharing of patient information is carried out through the use of health information exchange between various health organizations.
Information providers share and data by use of health information exchange to various website especially in open websites which can be easily accessed by less privileged or local clinics (Wang, et, al.,2018). The health information system adds value by reducing cost used in sharing as well as provide location about where a patient can access help in case of a condition. The electronic health records systems and other information technology systems are used to improve and reduce errors in clinical outcomes, improve quality of care, improve on the financial and operational performance of the organization together with improving public or population healthcare.
Conclusion
To sum up, the healthcare industry engages in various activities to improve competence and standout on the providence of quality products as well as the satisfaction of customers. Information technology vital I improving competence in healthcare systems by providing cost-effective and time-saving systems in diagnosis, data recording, and acquisition. Some of the information technology systems include the use of artificial intelligence, blockchain technology, telemedicine as well as electronic health record systems used to store health information as well as enhance the sharing of information to other health organizations. Health organizational processes are carried out by the help of information technology to enhance quality and competence for instance during treatment, diagnosis, payment as well as record keeping.
The health organization consists of several strategic goals which include enhancement of accountability and effectiveness, the advancement of health and safety as well as enhance scientific knowledge and information technology innovations. The health information technology goes through several data issues including the issue with security, cleaning, sharing, collection and recording as well as data visualization. Technology is used as a tool to improve efficiency and as a tool to reduce population healthcare issues as well as enhance development and healthcare facilities in growing areas. Technology improves the value of healthcare services through the use of systems such as electronic health records, computerized physician order entry as well as clinical decision support.
References
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