The Issue Log Monitoring and Surveys - Assignment Example

? Electronic Medical Record Implementation in Correctional Facilities Describe the methods that will be used to monitor implementation of EHR Monitoring entails intermittent series of observations in time, which are executed to establish the degree of compliance with a formulated standard or extent of deviation from an expected norm. Continuous monitoring of electronic medical records realization is a technique to address the extent of compliance with the requirements of a standard EHR technology. Monitoring helps address various impacts on information systems arising from the changes in the software, hardware, firmware, and/ or the operational environment. A carefully designed and well managed continuous monitoring program may effectively transform an otherwise static electronic medical records technology. Monitoring also helps in determining emerging risks and barriers during the implementation process. This offers fundamental information to the relevant change managers and the corrective facility officials to identify risks, take mitigations actions, and make credible decisions with regard to the operation of the electronic medical records. While implementing electronic health records in correctional facilities, two main methods will be employed to monitor the change process. These are the issue log monitoring and surveys. Issue log monitoring One approach to monitor the implementation of electronic health record is to employ the issue log or to make an extra log for concerns. Concerns in the case of electronic health records refer to the matters that are not directly actionable or solvable. Taking that the staff and the implementing teal are meticulous in reporting record keeping and information technology related matters, the frequency and severity of issues may signal an emerging problems. This is especially so when sudden increases in a certain concern are observed in a single area. If the management or the change facilitator compares the issues arising or issues log with the risk register that identifies risks associated with electronic records change, certain aspects in the issues log will stand out and may be construed as increasing risks potential. This calls for a contingency plan to be instituted to deal with the problem that may arise (Schwalbe, 2006). Surveys Surveys in form of questions to monitor fundamental elements of electronic health records offer a structured manner to monitoring organizational change risks. In this manner; the change implementation team makes a assessment premeditated to draw out feedback from the organization and the staff on their perception of the project. Survey also helps to identify the organizational change factors that may contribute to the success or failure of the implementation effort. By carrying out surveys and assessment at various intervals and comparing results from assessment to assessment, the implementing team can swiftly establish areas that necessitate more consideration and intercession. While making and conducting an assessment, it is essential to represent extra time and cost to the electronic records technology, various benefits needs to be considered. One benefit is that gathering time and cost information forces regular and system review of the project as it is perceived by the impacted employees and patients. As the analysis is employed from time to time, it can be enhanced and reused (Schwalbe, 2006). Additionally, the analysis can speedily gather feedback from a large part of the organization, enhancing the visibility of the electronic records implementation project and minimizing unexpected or unwarranted reactions. The relationship between the organization’s related processes, systems, and personal or professional roles and their affect on EHR The provision of electronic health records in correctional facilities is an increasingly involving exercise. Complexities arise due to the complexities of correctional facility services and systems, as well as the various processes and relationships. Electronic health record is progressively being set up within correctional facilities to enhance safety and promote care quality. However, the interrelationships, processes and roles remain a challenge in the attainment of the electronic health records technology goals. Several attributes such as the technical features supporting the system, user related features and integration of her into the correctional facility workflow affect EHR use. Clinicians utilize most of their time giving express care to patients, as well as anticipate that EHR could enhance this patient relations time along with eventually the care quality tendered. Nonetheless, care provision necessitates the certification of medical information as a fundamental factor of regular clinical activity, which is pertinent from legal and professional points of view. From a sociotechnical point of view, the adoption of electronic health record needs to combine the social aspects of systems development. That is recognizing the skills and work of healthcare experts with technical system functioning to deal with how health information technology matches within the organizational, cultural and operational processes to advance health care delivery. Moreover, increased execution and use of electronic records will necessitate changes to workflows. In addition, electronic records implementation will require increased emphasis on protective care, retraining or hiring employees, as well as increased fiscal incentives to report and enhance performance. Financial, technological, psychological, and other issues are the factors that promote or limit the implementation of electronic health records. These factors are interrelated and centering on one or various issues may affect employees, clinicians and the patients’ adoption issues. Nevertheless, sustainable health care employing all-encompassing sensing and computing should be attained by adopting a strategy in which the role of every stakeholder is respected in the entire framework, taking into account the significance of human values and commitments. In the healthcare industry, some workflows are predesigned while others emerge purely and develop (Chandra, 2012). The effect of electronic health records in the correctional facility will affect personal and professional roles as it will necessitate job redesign for the workflow to be effective. Introduction of health information technology may be quite disruptive to existing workflows in the correctional facility. Health information technology systems frequently take on a workflow structure in the manner their screens and steps are arranged. If the correctional facility was not thoughtful with regard to workflow design may face challenges in adapting the information technology system change (Chandra, 2012). A workflow that incorporates health information system requires to be handled by an individual who is well grounded in health expertise as well as in information technology. This may call for a replacement, which is likely to resort in resistance to the EHR implementation. Identify communication techniques that will be used to address EHR implementation issues that may arise There are various vital factors for a practice preparing to implement an EHR such as people, leadership, and implementation. The key to success is the involvement of people who are linked to patients and healthcare practice. Engagement and implementation of the EHR will help in ensuring that stakeholders’ information needs are considered and addressed. As a result, people will have a greater investment in the success of the system. Communication is a pertinent and the core cornerstone to gain the confidence of everyone. Every stakeholder in the EHR project implementation has to know about the EHR undertaking, as well as techniques for addressing issues arising during the implementation process. There are several communication techniques to address implementation issues that may arise. One of the techniques is for the organization to set up an electronic health records bulletin board. The board will be used for posting meeting minutes, training session dates and times, as well as efficiency tips. In addition to having an EHR bulletin board, the management can also post her updates on its website and other social media that are easily accessible to EHR users. Social sites are fairly prompt in responding and communicating concerns from EHR users when the organization has a well managed website program and online presence. Bulletin boards and other online interventions help to keep everyone informed of practice, progress and training opportunities. Another communication technique is to have managers being readily available to respond and give directions on implantation issues arising. Since managers have diverse functions that are core to the corrective facility functioning, it may be intricate for managers to readily available to respond to system users concerns (Poissant et al, 2005). As such, the institution can employ or subcontract a change agent who will be directly responsible for all EHR concerns. Having an independent agent will create ease and system users may find it easier to raise issues arising. The management will also have time to concentrate on the core functions of the correctional facility. Team building also helps in addressing issues arising during implementation. Teams will define the goals of the EHR and implementation strategies that help employees buy-in to the IT change option. Team building helps to foster trust and promote openness among staff, eventually giving employees the capacity to examine the own performance and identify issues arising. The team members will communicate upwards to the management on issues identified in their teams. In addition, the management will also use team members to communicate downwards on solutions to the identified concerns (Poissant et al, 2005). Another notable communication tool for addressing implementation issues arising is to have a plan from the beginning of the project to foster good communication throughout the project. One way of having a plan is by having an appraisal and feedback to aid system user to move towards the anticipated conduct in the EHR change process. Self appraisal, peer appraisal and management appraisal can assist the soundness and success of performance feedback. The performance appraisal results will help the management determine the kind of feedback to give to system users. The feedback could take the form of retraining, constant updates on how to go about the system or other kind of intervention depending on the appraisal results. References Chandra M.S. (2012). Pervasive and Mobile Sensing and Computing for Healthcare: Technological and Social Issues. NY: Springer Press. 2012. Poissant, L. et al (2005). The impact of electronic health records on time efficiency of physicians and nurses: a systematic review. Journal of the American medical informatics association. 12, 5: 505-516. Schwalbe, K. (2006). Introduction to Project Management. Connecticut: Cengage Learning Press. Read More