Health Information Technology Needs Analysis Essay

Health Information Technology Needs Analysis Essay

Technology has become a critical component of health care delivery whose use has increased progressively in the recent past. Due to the increased technology use, data-based care has increased proportionately. Data collection, storage, and analysis have been dominant practices in health care settings. Data-driven care has also made health information management systems more important than ever before. Hospital departments use such systems differently, and the needs vary across departments. A needs analysis can accurately illustrate the health information technology needs in an organization and specific departments. The matrix below summarizes the various information technology (IT) needs of Independent Medical Center (IMC), followed by an analysis of major findings.

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IT Needs Matrix

Departments	IT Needs (Clinical)	IT Needs (Administrative)	Needs Met or Not Met?
Admissions/Intake	An updated patient registry. Communication devices and a system supporting biometric data capture.	Electronic health records, patient information forms, intake information.	The system is not up-to-date (hardware and software). Struggling to meet your deadline ? Get assistance on Health Information Technology Needs Analysis Essay done on time by medical experts. Don’t wait – ORDER NOW! Meet My Deadline The department still relies on paper-based records.
Human Resources	A more functional medical practice management system.	-Secure talent and learning management systems -A data warehouse -AI-enabled programs -Staffing management programs	Most of the needed system components are available but more speed is necessary.
Nursing Services	Patient portals, communication chatrooms, telehealth	Electronic health records Video resources- Zoom, Skype, etc.	Automation is needed- there should be minimal human function.
Imaging	Computed tomography	A communication dashboard for health care providers.	The functions are available and efficient.
Billing	Medical practitioner’s lifeline (billing system)	The billing system to send information directly to the unit’s manager.	The current system needs more automation and support more functions.
Clinical Laboratory	-E-presribing system -Computerized provider order entry	Prescribing systems sending data to the unit manager.	The prescribing system does not send data to the unit manager.
Facilities and Maintenance	Automatic updates	Instant access to patients’ details	The system allows automatic updates.
Rehab and Therapy	Collection and storage of all patient data Automated reminders to patients.	Virtual view of patient flow	The system has all components needed for rehab and therapy.
Medical Records Department	Medication error prevention technologies- barcode readers, etc.	Instant communication to unit manager/executive authority.	The system enables the facility to circumvent medical errors. However, it needs to send instant alerts as appropriate.
Emergency Services	-Smart bedsand portable monitorswith automatic alerts.	A system enabling virtual view of patient flow and the emergency unit’s workflow	Virtual view of patients’ flow and the unit’s wokflow is enabled.
Operating Room	Generate data from all delivery points.	Alert the unit manager	The system should minimize human function.
Intensive Care Unit	An automated system with minimal human function. A system free from errors.	Connects health care professionals with administration.	Human function to be minimized to reduce the chances of committing errors.
Information Systems Technology	Remote patient monitoring systems Wearable devices Patient portals	Effectively communicating procedures.	Patients should be able to use the systems and devices securely.
Hospital Pharmacy	e-presribing function	Communicating procedures	Supports the necessary functions.
Behavior Health Unit	Low manual activity Automatic updates	Allowing administrators to direct operations.	More automation is needed.

Summary of Findings

A health information system should be highly efficient to enable health care organizations to use data effectively. A detailed overview of the system across the departments depicts a highly functional system supporting communication, data analysis, and data sharing, among other vital functions. As Schmidt et al. (2021) noted, a well-functioning health information system should generate and compile the necessary data from all organization’s delivery points. The analysis reveals that the system is functional and efficient in these areas. As a result, IMC should continue using the system but improve some areas such as threat detection and restricted access.

Regarding commonalities, the need for speed, easy and secure data, and seamless workflow seem to be the primary considerations. They are critical clinical and administrative needs since a health information system cannot work effectively with speed, access, and efficiency problems. Regarding speed, most of the processes in a health information system should be automated. Speed should be a constant factor for such a system. As Dash et al. (2019) noted, health care organizations collect and store data primarily for guiding treatment decisions. The data should be easily accessible to support quick decision-making. However, access should be restricted to authorized personnel.

On differences, the clinical needs focus on the system’s capacity while administrative needs involve enabling the hospital administrator to access information and communicate with health care providers. For instance, the need for an updated patient registry, more functional medical practice management, and e-prescribing functions illustrate capacity needs. New features are also necessary to enhance the system’s output, such as the billing function and automatic alerts. Security enhancement is vital, usually achieved through a systems upgrade, firewall protection, and restricted access (Keshta & Odeh, 2021). The primary requirement is the system to facilitate instant communication to the administrators on the administrative aspect.

Conclusion

Regardless of their sizes, health care organizations should use technology maximally. A health information system is among the technologies enabling health care organizations to use technology to facilitate data-driven care. An analysis of IMC’s needs reveals the various clinical and administrative needs in its various departments. Addressing the needs as revealed in the matrix will be pivotal in enabling IMC to be more efficient and effective in health care delivery.

References

Dash, S., Shakyawar, S. K., Sharma, M., &Kaushik, S. (2019). Big data in healthcare: Management, analysis and future prospects. Journal of Big Data, 6(1), 1-25. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40537-019-0217-0

Keshta, I., &Odeh, A. (2021). Security and privacy of electronic health records: Concerns and challenges. Egyptian Informatics Journal, 22(2), 177-183. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eij.2020.07.003

Schmidt, A. E., Abboud, L. A., &Bogaert, P. (2021).Making the case for strong health information systems during a pandemic and beyond. Archives of Public Health, 79(1), 1-6. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13690-021-00531-5

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Complete a Vila Health interactive simulation in which you will gather information about the IT needs of various departments within the hospital. Then, construct a matrix of hospital department IT needs and write a 3-4 paragraph summary of your analysis findings.

Introduction

Note: The assessments in this course will build upon the work you have completed in the previous assessments. Therefore, complete the assessments in the order in which they are presented.

It is important for today’s health care manager to have an understanding of the characteristics of the health information systems within a health care setting. Health care information management systems can vary greatly across different settings. However, they are often divided into two categories in a typical health care delivery setting: clinical or administrative. Both categories serve an important role in the health care organization, and administrators must understand the functions of each and how they work to support one another.

This assessment provides an opportunity for you to analyze and identify the IT needs of various hospital departments.

Overview and Preparation

Note: Complete the assessments in this course in the order in which they are presented.

The following resources are required to complete the assessment:

Vila Health: Health Information Technology Needs Analysis.
This multimedia simulation will enable you to gather the information you will need for your needs analysis.
IT Needs Matrix [DOCX].
Use this template to list the IT needs of the various hospital departments and summarize your findings.
In this assessment, you will assume the role of a mid-level manager. You have been asked to analyze the health information technology (IT) needs for the Independence Medical Center (IMC), a rural referral hospital located in Waterloo, IA.

Complete the Vila Health: Health Information Technology Needs Analysis interactive simulation. Gather information about the IT needs of various departments within the hospital that will support a needs assessment.

Requirements

Identify the IT needs of the various hospital departments, using the IT Needs Matrix. Then, analyze the information you have collected and summarize your findings.

Note: Remember that you can submit all—or a portion of—your draft needs matrix and analysis to Smarthinking for feedback, before you submit the final version for this assessment. If you plan on using this free service, be mindful of the turnaround time of 24–48 hours for receiving feedback.

Supporting Evidence
It is not necessary to cite the Vila Health media simulation as the source of your information. However, if you reference other source materials, be sure to cite them correctly, using APA style.

IT Needs Matrix and Analysis
Note: The requirements outlined below correspond to the grading criteria in the scoring guide. Be sure that your needs matrix addresses each point, at a minimum. You may also want to read the Health Information Technology Needs Analysis Scoring Guide to better understand how each criterion will be assessed.

Describe the components of a typical HIM system.
Choose a typical system in a setting you are familiar with.
Consider the clinical and administrative aspects of the system.
What evidence do you have that supports your description?
Describe the challenges and best practices related to choosing and implementing health information systems.
Describe two or three challenges.
Consider ways to ensure that systems are able to communicate with other needed systems, such as national databases and information-sharing programs.
What evidence do you have to support your assertions and conclusions?
Identify the clinical and administrative IT needs of the various departments.
Consider the impact of this information on strategic decisions about health information systems.
Explain how the IT needs of each department are, or are not, being met.
Base your assessment on your analysis of specific departmental IT needs.
Summarize the findings from your needs assessment, related to current IT system functionality, commonalities, and differences.
Analyze system functionality, commonalities, and differences.
Consider how different end users look at the system.
What are the implications of your analysis and possible next steps for the organization?
Identify potential gaps between current system functionality and services and likely future needs.
Extrapolate from what you already know about current system functionality and how well departmental needs are presently being met.
What evidence do you have that can support this forecast?
Write clearly and concisely, using correct grammar, mechanics, and APA formatting.
Express your main points and conclusions coherently.
Proofread your writing to minimize errors that could distract readers and make it more difficult for them to focus on the substance of your analysis.
Competencies Measured

By successfully completing this assessment, you will demonstrate your proficiency in the following course competencies and assessment criteria:

Competency 1: Identify the characteristics and functionality of information and management systems used in health care, including those components most relevant for health care administrators.
Describe the components of a typical HIM system.
Identify the challenges and best practices related to choosing and implementing health information systems.
Identify the clinical and administrative IT needs of various hospital departments.
Explain how department IT needs are, or are not, being met.
Summarize the findings from one’s needs assessment, related to current IT system functionality, commonalities, and differences.
Competency 4: Forecast future organizational needs and/or applications of technology based on evolving business trends.
Identify potential gaps between current system functionality and services and likely future needs.
Competency 6: Communicate effectively with diverse audiences, in an appropriate form and style, consistent with applicable organizational, professional, and scholarly standards.
Write clearly and concisely, using correct grammar, mechanics, and APA formatting.