Medical Management and Healthcare Information Systems - Case Study Example

HINFO What are some of the major challenges with systems and data integration in this case? The organization in the case has fallen behind the times in terms of technical sophistication, and this is the main challenge that I will face in developing and integrating a new system. “Information on medical management interventions and outcomes for patients are tracked manually, and opportunities to identify patients at-risk are missed due to lack of access to complete and timely information” (Case, 2010).

So what I hope to do is to install a sort of software based EHR (electronic health records) system that will end this problem. Medical information often becomes fragmented and disorganized in a setting where there is still only manual tracking, and there is much greater likelihood in this situation that vital information may be lost, delayed, or result in errors in care. Ending these delays through technology is a main gain for the new system. The organization also faces challenges because today’s healthcare environment is one that is quickly changing as new technology is constantly being adopted, and this technology brings risks as well as rewards.

Patient privacy and confidentiality also remain relevant concerns from an ethical as well as a legal perspective in the healthcare environment. In today’s healthcare setting, “Computer systems designed for clinical use apply technology that is protective of data. In addition, an electronic patient record is backed up according to hospital policy… and as the chart is modified by caregivers, those changes are automatically saved and an audit trail created” (Ford et al., 2005). But at the same time, this efficient means of keeping data could lead to possible compromises in patient confidentiality, because even encryption and passwords are not fool proof security systems. 2. What are some possible barriers to implementing a new tracking system for patients with chronic diseases and how can these challenges be addressed?

As noted above, client confidentiality is one possible barrier to a new electronic tracking system based on EHR. Many facilities are taking advantage of new technologies and systems to improve client care and make the organization and its professional caregivers work faster, better, and with more efficiency. One of these new technologies, developed in the last few decades and getting into common use presently and at the forefront of change at the organization in the case, is the use of the electronic health records, or EHR.

EHR are used by many different types of healthcare delivery systems, from large capacity hospitals, to private practice. By definition, “To be defined as an Electronic Health Record, an electronic approach to collecting storing and manipulating data must be able to accomplish: collection of patient health information and data, results management, order entry management, and decision support” (Ziel, 1998). Although this system often makes dealing with patient records more orderly and efficient, as mentioned, a major challenge remains over how the process of keeping these electronic records relates to issues of patient confidentiality and privacy.

Because there is so much more access to the information electronically, there is also more possibility that the information will wind up in the wrong hands. It is important to consider these possible risks as well as the benefits. It is not rare for a large healthcare facility to incorporate EHR in these times, despite challenges. What I plan is relatively uncommon in that I am planning on taking these technologies a step further by providing a sort of networked system that is not independent and internal, but rather works as a sort of panacea for increasing fragmentation within the client care environment.

For example, a patient suffering from a condition may have a complicated history in which they have seen many outside specialists and have already tried various treatments, and the delivery system has to know about this. REFERENCEFord, E, N Menachemi, and T Phillips (2005). Predicting the adoption of electronic health records by physicians. Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association. Ziel, S (1998). Managing the risks of electronic health records. AORN Journal.Case (2010).