Meaningful Use of Health Information Technology - Research Paper Example

Meaningful use of Health Information Technology Abstract Health information technology is the most advanced database for maintaining patients, doctors and all concerned health related departments throughout the U.S. It has a huge impact on the overall health management sector as it acts as the backbone in everyday health activities. Health information system has given some tremendous benefits to the society & its implementation throughout U.S is commendable. By the term meaningful use of health information technology it implies that following the standard defined by the Centres of Medicare and Medicaid Services. The primary goals of meaningful use are to promote this technology, manage accurate data, better access to the information and patient empowerment. This system enables to extract all the necessary medical data of a patient, which acts as a trail to the doctor, in healing the disease. Moreover patient’s record can be accessed throughout America thus computerized network is a blessing in this regard. It has demolished ambiguities in patient's medical record and paper work is totally finished. All the medical data of individuals are readily available on the portal. There are also some shortcomings of the system but overall its impact is a positive indicator for the citizens of America. There are various technological advancements carried out in this system to make to strong, protective and secure. Some analysts sight this system critically and are of the viewpoint that this system may also lead to the destruction of the society if security measures are not taken. Government of USA and health departments are in a progress to maintain each and every individual’s medical record with high security database. Healthcare services in USA United States is the pioneer of maintaining patient’s health record. This system had a kick start in 2004, when President Health Information Technology Plan came into existence. President Bush signed this ten year order and made it necessary to maintain patients-doctors health record on the computer database. The intention was to maintain electronic medical records so that the health care issues would be properly addressed and there would be ease for the overall citizens of United States. Since then, various massive technological advancements have been observed in the database and every U.S Government provides sufficient funds so that there would be no barriers in maintaining the record (Goodman, 2010). In 2009, President Obama’s Government passed an act in which hospitals were instructed to maintain electronic medical record and demolish paper work in the hospitals. A budget of around $19 billion was distributed among the hospitals to make this system possible. This act is named as the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. This ensures that Health Information Technology is carried out in the hospitals and medical centres. All those hospitals which carry out HIT are given federal funding of $44, 000 over a time span of four years. This is made cleared that before 2015, every hospital and medical centre should have HIT implemented and all those who are taking vital steps in this regard are eligible for the funding provided by federal government (Bates & Bitton, 2010). Significance & Importance Health Information Technology has remarkable significance which cannot be neglected. This has totally revolutionized traditional healthcare patterns in the country. Electronic record maintaining system is a path so that each and every patient’s data will be available on the internet HIT portal. This would enable doctors and paramedical staff to examine patient more carefully. All the previous history with exact dates and timings will be uploaded on the portal which would be very helpful in the future treatments (Hoffman & Podgurski, 2011). Recent studies show that most of the physicians are getting benefit from this ground-breaking technology. They have able to communicate very well with the patients via email as well. Physicians have also examined the previous data of the patients critically and have made prior adjustments to their treatments. Healthcare delivery system thus has been one step ahead in providing precise treatments to the patients. Hospitals overall the U.S are not taking this technology seriously till data but all those who have applied this system are enjoying the fruits of ease and federal funding (Burke,2010). Healthcare News: Volume 2, No.8 Its significance and importance can be radically explained through an example that if a resident of San Francisco is facing severe heart disease and his medical record is maintained on the health information technology- moves to New York City and has a kidney pain over there, than due to his medical record on the HIT database doctors will give appropriate medicine and treatment by keeping in view his heart disease. Without having a medical record on HIT, doctors might give those medicines to the patient, who would heal kidney pain but would inversely attack on heart, may lead to a disastrous scenario. Also HIT has made doctors, hospitals and patients work easier as it saves time. Before meeting the patient; doctor can have full access to the patient’s record through his code. Thus he would have an idea that how to give necessary treatment to the patient (Blumenthal, 2009). Healthcare News: Volume 2, No.8 Shortcomings of Technology There are always plus and minus points of the technology. It can be used in either ways so is the health information technology. There are also some shortcomings which can be observed in the system. Errors and wrong information is carried out in the database which has a very negative impact. It has not only wasted cost but also patient’s life is at risk sometimes. Some analysts view it as totally unplanned technology. Significant errors are reported to increase everyday in this healthcare delivery system. The core reason behind this dilemma is the inexperienced staff and data managers (Reddy, 2012). Fake billing and fraud cases have been emerged at various medical centres. This is a very expensive technology and it should be made sure that HIT developers would at least train hospital staff for six months as most of the employees are unaware of how to use the system. The research reports depict that millions of dollars are wasted as the system is still not practically implied. Technology act as to safeguard and improve patient outcomes but till date there are very few cases which are promising in curing patients (Burke, 2010). David Blumenthal, “The Federal Role in Promoting Health Information Technology,” Commonwealth Fund, January 2009 Analysis & Conclusion Health Information Technology is imperative in this technological era but it should be made sure that technology goes in the right hands and it is implemented in its true spirit. There are various cases which demonstrate that technology is a blessing but there is also dark side of it too. Some people have misused this technology. Increasing errors in the technology is an alarming situation for the technology developers as it has eventually increased work for hospital staff. They have to now maintain paper record too as HIT is not giving any positive response. There are several ambiguities and issues in operating this system and hospital employees are puzzled due to so called “security measures” in the technology. Every technological implementation takes some time, so will HIT. Hospitals, doctors and patients are having issues with the usage of this technology these days but sooner this technology will act as the backbone of healthcare delivery system. There are certain vital issues which needed to be resolved. Federal Government should make sure that till the qualification of hospital staff, this technology should not be implemented in the hospitals and medical centres. Institutes for the practice and management of this technology should be made so that people would actually enjoy this massive innovation technology. References Goodman, J. C. (2010) Health Information Technology: Benefits and Problems. Bates, D. W., & Bitton, A. (2010), The future of health information technology in the patient-centered medical home, Health Affairs, 29(4), 614-621 Hoffman, S., & Podgurski, A. (2011), Meaningful use and certification of health information technology: what about safety? The Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics, 39, 77-80. Burke, T. (2010). The health information technology provisions in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009: implications for public health policy and practice. Public Health Reports, 125(1), 141 Reddy, R. (2012) Attaining Meaningful Use of Health Information Technology in a Residency Program: Challenges and Rewards. MIEC Belongs to Our Policyholders!, 287. Blumenthal, D. (2009). Stimulating the adoption of health information technology, New England Journal of Medicine, 360(15), 1477-1479. Read More