Administrative and Clinical Information Technology - Essay Example

? Administrative and Clinical Information Technology Clinical decision support and information technology systems bring vast potential into the daily practice of the modern healthcare provision. They build the foundation of electronic health recordkeeping to enhance healthcare delivery to the society. The use of information technology and clinical information technology has impacted the delivery of healthcare in clinical organizations. The clinical decision support systems are not limited to patient data reports. They promote timely diagnoses and accurate dispensing of clinical expertise services. The provide reference information in the right context and time. Information technology enhances the decision making systems of healthcare organizations. The concept of clinical support system and information technology is to supply customer specific information and customary services. In the increasingly globalised clinical field, minor errors can prove to be both harmful and costly when it comes to delivery of health care. Medical errors cause deaths of thousands of patients annually. A phone survey indicated that 42 percent of Americans have an experience of medical mistake. This essay examines a best practice case study of the impact of information technology and decision support system in the field of medicine and how they improve the quality healthcare delivery. A case study on Marshfield clinic Health information technology has offered an opportunity for the health organizations in the United States when it comes to computerized service delivery. Maintaining the electronic data from patients is much easier. The linking of medical knowledge with health observations through empowered computer systems has led to delivery of quality healthcare services. The Marshfield clinic is a compelling case of best practice on the importance of clinical decision support system and information technology in healthcare delivery. The clinic services the Wisconsin residents with healthcare support and health plan. The Marshfield clinic has used information technology and decision support systems to support access to patients and coordinating healthcare. The efficiency of Marshfield clinic has been greatly enhanced by the introduction of information and administrative support systems which are technology compliant. It is easy to coordinate healthcare operations and address the concerns of stakeholders with precision and efficiency (Trivedi & Claassen, 2009). The healthcare organization uses information technology to run an expansive telemedicine network. This has extended access to patients in both the rural and remotes places. A robust information system and decision support system used by the Marshfield clinic indicates the positive effects of modernization of global healthcare (Kohn & Donaldson 2000). The organization is able to reach many patients and attend the community through a population-based approach. Marshall Clinic has an advanced health care record system. The system has been influential when it comes to delivering preventive care and chronic disease management. Infromation technology is increasingly playing a central role in the delivery of healthcare. Marshfield clinic has been involved in technological information systems for more than two decades. The health organization has been advancing the strength and the sophistication of its system from 1985.this includes developing an electronic health record with electronically coded information. Through information technology, the Marshfield health organization has developed an extensive database (Louis and Harris Associates, 2007). The physicians have access to wireless network and personalized computes services. The doctors have been able to establish personalized services to their patients through mobile applications and the use of tablets. The clinic has promoted the prescription of services through electron health systems. The physicians can dictate electronically. The name of the electronic health system used in the organization is CattailsMD. The systems allow doctors to access information about patients. All the clinic locations can access the information pertaining radiology, diagnosis, medications and procedures. Information technology has allowed the clinic to have digital ink-overs. This allows the staff to fill forms or even add drawing to digitized records. The impacts of the information technology have positively been realized with the establishment of a data warehouse. The clinic has activated reporting functions. Patients in the clinic have access to web portal. This enables the patients to communicate electronically. Patients have access to prescription refills and important information on preventive care. Through the information technology systems, the patients can access web enabled laboratory results and medical advice. The clinic is on the verge of expanding the information systems and decision support systems to include electronic scheduling and e-visits. At the moment, 16 percent of patients have access to the portal serives. The clinic has successfully eliminated the possibility of unnecessary delays though the use of information systems. The health care services have risen to meet the expectation of patients who get personalized attentions from qualified personnel (Liu & Altman, 2006). The physicians offer imaging studies, making it easy to deliver the electronic tests results. A cardiologist has the capacity to show electrocardiogram summary with much ease. Results are easily highlighted and this has increased the quality of healthcare offered by the organization. The clinical decision-making system has increasingly taken a central role in the delivery of services in Marshfield healthcare facility. The customer care or front office department uses information technology to make personalized follow ups to the patients. This is over and the above the doctor-patient relationships empowered by customized software. Information technology allows doctors to give electronic prescriptions. This has allowed patients to save time and minimized the possibility of errors that occur as a result of illegible handwriting. At the same time, doctors are able to follow up on drug allergies through the use of electronic health register and minimize pharmacy enquires or callbacks. Through the use of information technology, it has become easy to cancel prescriptions and to monitor the effectiveness of the drugs patients take. The software used in the Marshfield clinic prompts physicians to acknowledge the level of risks from drug interaction. This has been mandatory by the management of the health organization. The doctors are requested to offer preferable alternatives and interchangeable drugs. This has improved the quality of healthcare offered by the healthcare facility. Information technology is widely viewed as a tool that enhances efficiency (Classen & Bates, 2007). This means that through custom made applications and social media, clients can make enquiries and book appointment while in the comfort of their homes. The Marshfield healthcare facility has developed telephonic care management for patients needing regular monitoring. The support staffs are able to use guideline-driven techniques and protocol this individualized care. This case industry illustrates the ability of information technology to become a strong tool for improved healthcare. The use of decision-support system in the Marshfield clinic has caused the patients and staff to use the virtual platform for the delivery of healthcare services and lifesaving endeavors (Louis and Harris Associates, 2007). The patients with heart failure get personalized attentions since through the use of customized decision support systems. The Marshfield clinic developed an electronic healthcare system after realizing the need for information technology innovation and expertise. The leadership of the healthcare facility believes that information technology and decision-support tools play a crucial role in the promotion of high-performance medicines. The healthcare facility management believes that in the field of medicine, the doctors need to be empowered to make real time and cogent decisions. The informatics center of the Marshfield clinic acknowledges that without innovation from healthcare administrators, the field of medicine may become redundant in an increasingly globalised medical field (Trivedi & Claassen, 2009). The clinic has developed a strong innovation engine (Kohn & Donaldson 2000). The company has charged the information technology experts in the hospital to develop capable software that delivers customized services to the patients. The Marshfield clinic is careful to use information technology and decision support systems to deal with the challenges that arise from synthesis of information (Classen & Bates, 2007). The clinic has successfully developed interpretive software. The software has been helpful to the nontechnical staffs who only understand the natural language while querying the data warehouse. This avoids the need to use specific diagnosis language or codes. The clinics information technology center has developed algorithms that enable the researchers to monitor the cholesterol-lowering medicines usage. This happens through correlation diagrams and graphs that are educative to the patients. The hospital is addressing information overload challenges. The hospital is using multiple performance indicators. The increased usage of information technology and decision support system has caused the clinic to increase its efficiency in service to the community. In conclusion, the Marshfield clinic has a center for community outreach. This centre addresses the heath needs of the patients. Through the center, the clinic has been able to establish a strong relationship with the community. The centre is actively involved in educating the community on the dangers of drugs abuse and obesity. The clinic uses information technology to engage the community in preventive healthcare practices. The health facility targets the youth with an aim of encouraging fitness and social development. Information technology and decision-support systems play a crucial role in the delivery of quality healthcare and social responsibility. Many healthcare facilities are encouraging innovation and creativity as way of remaining competitive and attracting customers. The use of IT and decision-support systems is tipped to rise with as technology continues to grow. References Kohn, L. T.; J. M. Corrigan & M. S. Donaldson (2000). To err is human: Building a safer healthsystem. Washington, Institute of Medicine (U.S.) Committee on Quality of Health Care in America, National Academies Press. Kuperman, G. J.; A. Bobb; T. H. Payne; A. J. Avery; T. K. Gandhi; G. Burns; D. C. Classen & D. W. Bates (2007). Medication-related clinical decision support in computerized provider order entry systems: a review. J Am Med Inform Assoc 14(1): 29-40. Liu, J.; J. C. Wyatt & D. G. Altman (2006). Decision tools in health care: focus on the problem, not the solution. BMC Med Inform Decis Mak 6: 4. Louis and Harris Associates (2007). 100 million Americans see medical mistakes drectly touching them as patients, friends, relatives, National Patient Safety Foundation. Trivedi, M. H.; E. J. Daly; J. K. Kern; B. D. Grannemann; P. Sunderajan & C. A. Claassen (2009). Barriers to implementation of a computerized decision support system for depression: an observational report on lessons learned in "real world" clinical settings. BMC Med Inform Decis Mak 9: 6. Read More