Assessment of Application of IT in Healthcare Industry - Term Paper Example

Assessment of Application of IT in Healthcare Industry – The Case of Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) on Managing Electronic Data Records (EDR) through Point Order Entry (POE) System Name Professor Name Date Submitted Introduction The need for developing more updated and sophisticated information technology (IT) systems in the healthcare industry is caused by three important phenomena: firstly, the unexplained variations in medical practice; secondly, the numerous organizational changes that are driven by market trends; and lastly, the social and financial accountabilities that are employed by purchases, employers, and patients in the health care industry (Smith, 2000). Indeed, IT is regarded as a necessary tool in attaining positive business results. As Smith (2000) further discussed, managers usually exert strategic leadership through the use of effective organizational resources such as IT, in order to enable organizations to adapt to industry changes. As such, the fiscal performance of a health organization is determined by investments in IT. Fiscal performance is defined as a medical group’s gross charges per physician, operating cost per physician, and operating margin, while IT developments include investments in computer equipment and software, telecommunications equipment and services, and data processing services (Smith, 2000). In this light, IT systems can help increase gross charges, operating margin, and net revenues of a health organization. Therefore, there are three main benefits of having IT in a health organization: first, its capacity to provide comprehensive electronic medical records; second, its ability to upgrade hospital information systems; and last, its capability to support intranet that can be used for information distribution, supply chain management, and remote diagnostics. However, it must be underscored that the success in adopting IT is banked on five key constants, as explained by Bernstein (2007). These are: (1) proper use and maintenance of IT budget; (2) role of supportive leadership that comes from opinion leaders; (3) use of project management; (4) process of implementation; and (5) end-user involvement. Thus, Larsen (2008) reiterated that the following considerations have to be made by leaders when choosing and developing IT systems in their health organizations: first, maintaining a strategic focus during the review of the chosen IT system; second, creating a framework for assessing the value of IT for the health organization; and, lastly, keeping updated on trends in IT. In this study, we aim to further scrutinize the role of IT in a health organization by looking at the case of Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) in its management of electronic data records (EDR) through its Point of Order Entry (POE) system. With this, the paper will begin by giving a quick overview of MGH in terms of its history, mission and values, products and services, and organizational chart. Then, it will look closely into the management of EDR through its POE system and highlight some of the current benefits and drawbacks in the system. The last part will provide a rundown of some possible improvements in the system from a managerial point of view. A. Hospital Overview: Massachusetts General Hospital MGH is known to be the third oldest general hospital in the United States and the oldest and largest hospital in New England (Massachusetts General Hospital A, 2012). Recently named as Americas best hospital by U. S. News & World Report based on its high quality of patient service and reputation, MGH continues to mark its unique offering to its customers. 1. History of MGH The history of MGH can be traced back to 1810 when Reverend John Bartlett, Chaplain of the Almshouse in Boston, dreamed of establishing a state-of-the-art medical center that would be made available to the physically or mentally ill (Massachusetts General Hospital, 2012a). Dr. James Jackson and Dr. John Collins Warren were among the proponents of this visionary plan. In 1811, MGH was granted its incorporation which helped in raising funds for the newly opened hospital. From $.25, MGH was able to raise $20,000 which helped in acquiring a four-acre field in Boston’s West End known as Prince’s Pasture. The original building called The Bulfinch became MGH’s hub which first opened on September 3, 1821 (Massachusetts General Hospital, 2012a). As decades progressed, MGH developed its fields of medical expertise which became popular in the US. 2. Mission and Values of MGH The Mission of MGH is “to provide world-class health care to our patients by integrating education, evidence-based medicine, and research by leading in discovery, innovation and education; recruiting, retaining and developing the highest quality team members; and using ongoing assessment and analysis to improve performance in each of our domains” (Massachusetts General Hospital, 2008). In terms of its values, MGH believes in “building trust and teamwork through collaboration; providing expert, compassionate and professional patient care; quality, safety and efficiency in everything we do; helping each other grow and develop professionally; and a commitment to do our best every day” (Massachusetts General Hospital, 2008). 3. Patient Care Services at MGH MGH is known to offer sophisticated diagnostic and therapeutic care in various specialties of medicine and surgery. As reiterated on the website, “the hospital also holds concurrent Level 1 verification for adult and pediatric trauma and burn care” (Massachusetts General Hospital, 2012b). Indeed, its five multidisciplinary care centers focus on rendering breakthrough medical solutions in cancer, digestive disorders, heart disease, transplantation and vascular diseases. Aside from this, MGH is also known as a research powerhouse that dedicates almost $550 million for basic and clinical research. It is also recognized as an institution that is committed to training and mentoring students from Harvard Medical School. 4. Organizational Chart of MGH The organizational chart is shown in the appendix part of the paper. The division is primarily based on the hospital’s clinical areas of accountability. B. Managing Electronic Data Records (EDR) through Provider Order Entry (POE) System in Massachusetts General Hospital For this part, the discussion will begin by highlighting on the role of IT in improving the hospital’s management and information systems (HMIS) from a general perspective. Then, it will specifically look at how the hospital manages electronic data records (EDR) through Provider Order Entry (POE) system. 1. Role of IT in any Health Organization The primary role of IT in any health organization focuses on improving its hospital management and information systems (HMIS). As noted in Quintegra Solutions (2006), “HMIS provides an effective solution to hospitals that plan to reduce the costs of administrative and clinical transactions, and at the same time, provide better service to their consumers” (p. 15). In this regard, HMIS aids hospital administrators by improving operation control and streamlining operations. By enhancing efficiency HMIS “enables improved response to demands of patient care because it automates the process of collecting, collating and retrieving patient information” (Quintegra Solutions, 2006, p. 15). Furthermore, HMIS “gives a host of direct benefits such as easier patient record management, reduced paperwork, faster information flow between various departments, greater organizational flexibility, reliable and timely information, minimal inventory levels, reduced wastage, reduced waiting time at the counters for patients and reduced registration time for patients” (Quintegra Solutions, 2006, p. 15). 2. EDR Management through POE System At this point, it is crucial to look at how MGH manages its electronic data records (EDR) by using its unique IT system called Point of Order Entry. To begin, it can be stated that the employment of POE is driven by the costliness of maintaining and keeping a large amount of medical records of MGH. As such, MGH developed a tool that could help lower down costs by eliminating medical record duplications and by recommending less costly therapeutic procedures. More importantly, POE can “alert health care providers to potentially life-threatening allergies and drug and food interactions that could pose serious consequences” (InterSystems Corporation, 2012). POE, as further discussed in the same online content, was initially created as a character-based, client system that aimed at exacerbating serious medication errors. POE is MGH’s sophisticated IT system that is anchored on Caché, its post-relational database. Through Caché, advanced capabilities such as complex data modeling, scalability, and high-speed performance were embedded into the IT system of MGH (InterSystems Corporation, 2012). In this regard, it can be claimed that Caché is noted for its capacity to respond quickly to requests for information and scale it to thousands of users. Furthermore, Cachés server shadowing capabilities virtually ensure that POE provides a backbone for the IT system of MGH. Today, POE serves 2,400 active users and processes nearly 5,500 orders per day. The system, as further described, “automates the ordering process for medications, lab and diagnostic procedures, food and nutrition, intravenous fluids, and a host of other clinical activities as it screens the orders for duplicate procedures, prescriptions, and for allergies” (InterSystems Corporation, 2012). Apart from this, POE also helps ensure confidentiality and security among its electronic data records (EDRs). C. Conclusion While the benefits of POE are apparent in the researchers conducted, it is worth noting that the key to ensuring success in the application of such system banks on the inculcation of values among the workers in MGH. This is where effective communication comes into play. As such, different forms of communication media can be put up within the facilities to serve as reminders to what the hospital stands for. Appendix: MGH Organizational Chart Source: http://www.mghpcs.org/PCS/about/Documents/PCS_Org_Chart.pdf References InterSystems Corporation. (2012). Massachusetts Generals POE system offers return on investment that is priceless. Case Studies. Retrieved 5 August 2012 from http://www.intersystems.com/casestudies/cache/massgeneral.html. Massachusetts General Hospital. (2012a). A narrative history of mass in general. Massachusetts General Hospital. Retrieved 5 August 2012 from http://www.massgeneral.org/history/narrativehistory/. Massachusetts General Hospital. (2012b). Hospital overview. Massachusetts General Hospital. Retrieved 5 August 2012 from http://www.massgeneral.org/about/overview.aspx. Massachusetts General Hospital. (2008). Mission, vision, and values. Massachusetts General Hospital. Retrieved 5 August 2012 from http://www2.massgeneral.org/anesthesia/index.aspx?page=about_us&subpage=mission. Quintegra Solutions. (2006). Hospital Management and Information Systems (HMIS). Retrieved 5 August 2012 from http://www.quintegrasolutions.com/Quintegra%20HMIS.pdf. Read More