Business Assessment - Assignment Example

Case Study Name: Institution: Date: Question 1: Stakeholders The Google electronic medical data storage case study evidences the concept of organizational roles in developing products that enhance and improve society wellbeing. The innovation by Google is in line with the principles of social entrepreneurship. In this regard, Light (2008) argued that such social ventures seek to resolve existing social needs, while earning profits to the organization. This can be demonstrated by the Goggles efforts to resolve the existing healthcare medical data storage challenge, while earning the corporation increased revenues. In the case study, stakeholders in the health industry emerge as the healthcare facilities, insurance organizations and the government. In this case, the case study evidences the role that each of the respective stakeholders is tasked with in facilitating the development of an efficient healthcare industry. This is in conformance with the theoretical argument developed by Sachs and Rühli (2011). The authors argued that the presence and efficient interactions between industry stakeholders facilitate and perpetuate efficiency in their operations. Question 2: Challenges in Current medical Record keeping systems The current American record keeping system faces challenges due to its manual filling and storage system. In this regard, respective patients’ records are stored under manual record and filling systems. Consequently, upon patients’ doctor visits, such records are retrieved and updated. However, due to the multiplicity of these visits, the duplication and accessibility of such records emerge as costly as well as challenging. Lin (2013) conducted a study reviewing challenges affecting the manual medical record keeping. In this regard, the study concluded that besides inefficiencies in the records access, the system risked medical identity theft as there lacked an efficient system of verifying patients identity rather than the paper trail available, which in current age is easily manipulated. Therefore, based on this analysis it is apparent that the American medical records storage functions would benefit from the adoption of an electronic system. In this regard, the new system would not only increase records availability, but also enhance their safety and security. Question 3: Factors in electronic record system development In the development of an electronic medical system, it is imperative to establish security control and measures, In this regard, an online and electronic medical records storage system should have appropriate authorization management system. This can be evidenced by an argument developed by Yang (2009). The author stated that in order to develop a socially sound medical storage online stems, the organizational structure must exercise privacy, protecting personal information from exposure to unauthorized personnel. In addition, such a system should have technologically advanced technology hedging it against hacking and unauthorized control. Through this approach, the system would guarantee its users of safety, information availability as well as security, enhancing its usability chances in the health industry Question 4: Pros and Cons of electronic patient records The adoption of an electronic medical records system has its pros and cons. On one hand, the system pros include increased information accessibility. In this case, patients’ information can be accessed easily online, making treatment possible even when patients visit health facilities geographically far from their usual healthcare centres. In addition, the system is less expensive and enhances the reduction of medical records keeping costs, subsequently facilitating reduced healthcare costs. This I because the system, despite the initial high costs, requires minimal human resource and capital to retain, organize and avail files and information as and when required. On the other hand, the system cons include medical identity theft and high start up costs. First, the system requires high infrastructural investments in terms of equipments as well as trained IT workforce. In addition, the system, if it fails to employ appropriate security measures may lead to medical records exposure, consequently violating the medical information privacy regulations as listed by the HIPAA Act 1996 (Krager & Krager, 2008). Question 5: If Google can be entrusted with the electronic recording system In bid to resolve the existing American and global manual medical data storage systems, Google developed an online medical storage application known as the Google Health App. This approach has been pivotal in the highlighting on the need to discard the manual record keeping system, for the better and convenient electronic medical records storage system. However, despite its good intentions in the development of the application, the industry should not entrust the organization with developing an online medical records filling system. On one hand, the organization is a commercial entity. Therefore, in the development and maintenance of such records, it is bound by the concept of profitability and gains rather than information privacy. Moreover, due to its global nature, the platform is susceptible to online hacking as evidenced by series of hacking incidences on is platform. Therefore, the commercial motive as well as the risk of increased information unauthorized access through hacking disqualifies Google as an ideal online medical data storage platform developer. Question 6: Features in an electronic system If offered the opportunity to develop and establish an online electronic medical data storage application I would emphasize on the inclusion on media access control (MAC) tools to regulate on data access. In this regard, such controls would ensure that only the authorized personnel access such data making the platform secure and conforms to medical privacy needs. In addition, I would ensure that I install and develop system firewall to guard it against hacking from external sources. Consequently, this as Franceschetti (2011) stated would guard the system against incidences of medical identity theft through the provision of added biometric patients’ identification tools in the system. However, in developing the system, I would avoid commercializing the system. For instance, I would discourage trends like that adopted by Google for profiling medical conditions and seeking medical advice online through such data access. This is because such an approach, though enriching the database, eposes patients to quack doctors as well as medical fraud incidences. References Franceschetti, G. (2011). Homeland security threats, countermeasures, and privacy issues. Boston, Mass: Artech House Krager, D., & Krager, C. (2008). HIPAA for health care professionals. Clifton Park, NY: Delmar/Cengage Learning. Light, P. C. (2008). The search for social entrepreneurship. Washington, D.C: Brookings Institution Press. Lin, W. (2013). Factors affecting development of crisis management mechanisms in hospitals. Quality and Quantity, 47(3), 1445-1457. Sachs, S., & Rühli, E. (2011). Stakeholders matter: A new paradigm for strategy in society. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Yang, J., (2009). Information systems: Modeling, development, and integration ; proceedings. Berlin: Springer. Read More