EHealth: The Only Way to Effective Healthcare - Essay Example

eHealth: The Only Way Forward for Effective Healthcare Name Institution Date Table of Contents Table of Contents 1 Introduction 4 eHealth as an information and communications technology application 4 World Health Organization (WHO) curriculum on eHealth 5 eHealth is a significant opportunity for countries that are developing 6 Advantages of eHealth for delivery of healthcare 6 Benefits of eHealth to regulators and managers 8 Potential limitations to the use of eHealth 8 Commitment of the government is necessary 9 Infrastructure and resources requires special attention 10 Conclusion 12 References 12 Abstract Healthcare environment is adjusting to the rapidly changing world of technology. This paper focuses on the critical evaluation of the importance and challenges of information management and information communications technology in the environment of healthcare. The paper also analyses how health information management systems and related infrastructure requirements like resources, technology, culture, standards and consumers, are utilized appropriately to deliver the healthcare providers and consumer’s needs. The paper majorly focuses on the importance of information technology in enhancing provision of healthcare, particularly eHealth. The paper illustrates the effectiveness of eHealth to managers and regulators in a healthcare environment. A Gibbs Cycle is illustrated to demonstrate a reflective learning process. Reflective practice is the ability of the practitioner to access, make sense of and acquire some learning during the working experience to attain more desirable, efficient and satisfying work. Clinical educators hence play a fundamental role in assisting learners to develop skills of reflection. Introduction Information Technologies (IT) is modifying the way in which healthcare is provided. Developments like patient records that are computer-based, hospital information schemes, decision support tools that are computer-based, telemedicine, information networks of community health, and latest methods of delivering health information to clients are starting to affect the quality, cost, and health care accessibility. Transformations of the delivery system in the health care, including the materialization of integrated delivery systems and controlled health care, are breaking down the barriers of organizations that have stood in the way of insurers, public health experts, care providers, and medical researchers (Blobel, Pharow & Nerlich, 2008). Currently, the incorporation and integration of eHealth into the daily life of healthcare professionals is turning out to be a reality in both developing and developed countries. Therefore this paper analyzes the application of eHealth as an effective health care delivery supported by IT. eHealth as an information and communications technology application The thought of eHealth is used to illustrate the information and communications technologies (ICTs) application across the entire range of functions which influence the citizens’ and patients’ health (Blobel, Pharow & Nerlich, 2008). eHealth is a general term covering a wide range of ICT-controlled acts that are changing the health care delivery. Such actions usually involve the utilization of digital data that is conveyed, stored, and electronically retrieved for educational, administrative and clinical reasons, whether at a permanent location or distantly. Some people argue that the significant implications of eHealth are turning out to be very visible to health workers, administrators, and patients as latest applications facilitate the delivery of medical support distantly at whichever point in time and allow access to, and exchange of, significant health information that is on demand. Majority of people feel that the introduction and successful delivery of eHealth is a major concern to every healthcare sector player. These entail hospitals and facilities of healthcare, private and public firms of insurance, companies developing and implementing technological solutions, and also a diversity of user groups like nurses, doctors, patients and their surrounding, citizens, and associated healthcare experts. The increasing body of eHealth literature has extensively dealt with the increase of latest technologies and the blockages and challenges that eHealth strategies experience in the 21st century (EHealth 2008 & Weerasinghe, 2009). World Health Organization (WHO) curriculum on eHealth The WHO curriculum on eHealth for the delivery of healthcare covers application of eHealth that directly encourage prevention, diagnosis in patient, and management and care of patient (World Health Organization, 2010). These applications entail tele-referrals, tele-consultations, concepts of forward-storage like tele-prescriptions and tele-radiology, and patient records that are electronic. Due to these applications, it is achievable to take specialized care to centers of primary healthcare in remote regions and in so doing widen and enhance the quality of the services provided. By associating primary health providers to centers of primary healthcare and electronically linking these centers to departments and transfer centers in hospitals for the switch of information, an important improvement in accessibility and cost-effectiveness might be achieved. eHealth is a significant opportunity for countries that are developing According to World Health Organization (2010), it was unclear for a number of years whether the moment had come for WHO to assume a principal responsibility in eHealth. Obviously this is a significant matter that should not be overlooked. When digitalized apparatus penetrate into the developing member countries, these countries turn out to be digitalized. While computers are not accessible in every center of primary healthcare in countries that are developing, they are currently in use in a rising number of centers (World Health Organization, 2010). What are maybe not so broadly accessible are the connections, networks that facilitate communication connecting different pieces of apparatus and personnel of healthcare possible. Advantages of eHealth for delivery of healthcare The main concentration is on primary healthcare. By linking healthcare providers to centers of primary healthcare and electronically linking these centers to units and transfer centers in hospitals for conversion of information, access and cost-effectiveness might be achieved: Direct tele-consultation involving the community health professional and a relevant hospital expert can lessen professional isolation and provide chances for ongoing education to the community health worker like tele-cardiology founded on the swap of digitalized ECG (Gibbons, 2008). Tele-consultations take experts to the level of primary healthcare. Tele-consultations might decrease the need for sick people to go to hospitals, saving them both money and time. Hospitals can then concentrate on patients who might gain from treatment of health service that is at the secondary level. Similar benefits can be achieved through an eHealth-founded hospital system of referral instituted on digitalized information achieved through applications of important technologies of health. eHealth can turn out to be a chief driver for enhanced cost-effectiveness when appliances like digitalized diagnostic apparatus, patient records that are electronic, physician order entry, smart cards, and medications schemes are accessible (Gibbons, 2008). Access to complete, safe electronic records of health has been shown to enhance the quality of patient care and safety. Enhanced understanding of the history of patient and previous medical involvements allows suitable treatment. eHealth care delivery can reinforce systems to decrease medical errors via the provision of essential information, awareness and management on best practice. eHealth can as well enhance the cost-effectiveness of administrative, care and nuring work. eHealth care delivery also targets secondary health care systems. Secondary healthcare schemes can be reinforced through: Mutual tele-based services in sectors like pathological anatomy, allowing hospitals to read specimens that are digitalized microscopically, together; Tele-consultations with hospitals which are tertiary in such areas like tele-laparoscopy and tele-laryngoscopy. In its broad sense, eHealth can be illustrated as the application of ICT and the internet to: Link citizens, health information givers and governments; Enlighten, educate and empower the public, healthcare experts, patients, policy makers and managers; Motivate development in health policy innovation, promotion of health and prevention of sickness (Mack, et al. 2001), and Enhance the quality and regulation of health information as well as delivery of care and management of health system. A number of people think that successful initiatives of ICT have to be patient-centered and not technology controlled, looking to meet a recognized, legitimate need of a patient (European Commission, 2007). eHealth is the distinct most significant revolution in healthcare from the introduction of hygiene or modern medicine. On the other hand, healthcare providers feel that they do not provide appropriate physical assessment to their clients through eHealth. Benefits of eHealth to regulators and managers eHealth facilitates regulators and managers: to secure admission to correct information created at the point of care which is needed for management and operational functions, to produce cross-commercial information and share this data with the people who are permitted to have its access and use, to advance use of accessible resources through more resourceful context-sensitive ordering and scheduling (Kabene, 2011); to operate more successfully with sustaining businesses using cost-efficient support of supply chain; and to acquire greater poise in information available for management of performance where this data is created at the point of care (Kabene, 2011). Potential limitations to the use of eHealth Various countries have embarked on activities of eHealth with narrow success since inadequate consideration has been paid to recognizing and handling potential limitations, including: a. Lack of appropriate needs assessment; b. Lack of strategy, vision and national plans; c. Lack of awareness and information regarding applications of eHealth (Mack, et al. 2001); d. Computer illiteracy; e. Weak telecommunications and information infrastructures; f. Inadequate resources to meet expenses; g. Restricted proficiency in medical informatics (Mack, et al. 2001); h. Lack of legislative, constitutional and ethical frameworks. Commitment of the government is necessary Continuing government commitment, grounded on a premeditated plan, is a requirement for the flourishing implementation of activities of eHealth. This dedication, which should be protected and maintained during every phase of the life-cycle of a scheme, may be in the outline of: A lasting plan that is joining on every party at all times; Sustainable funding; Support for pilot systems and their transfer to regular curriculums immediately they prove flourishing; Intervention of health influences at district, provincial and national levels. Governments and the sector of ICT need to work together to build a significant mass of competent health informaticians, flexible curriculums, and on-line health informatics substances that can be effortlessly accessed from numerous organizations by health experts across every country (Englebardt & Nelson, 2002). Additionally, there is need to encourage programs of clinical training to advance their curriculum with health informatics understanding so that clinicians comprehend the application of informatics to promote care that is evidence-based. Infrastructure and resources requires special attention The telecommunications infrastructures and information technology are chief factors in the successful execution of activities of eHealth care delivery (Mack, et al. 2001). Countries need to make a planned assessment of the accessible options so as to identify and choose the most suitable solution for every project. A number of issues need to be taken into account: Remote regions need stronger backup. If this is not offered, they might be required to retrieve from a scheme since the fundamental infrastructure or regional ICT supports are not available. Technology need to be proper to the setting in which it will be utilized, both in stipulations of its degree of complexity and cultural sensitivities. Frequently, very easy technology meets the requirements and use can be made of less complicated apparatus (EHealth 2008 & Weerasinghe, 2009). Cultural issues regarding executing and use of IT in healthcare settings should be addressed accordingly so that people’s values and principles may not be violated. Reflective learning using Gibb’s Cycle Reflective practice has the potential for augmented learning which may possibly be translated into practice through healthcare workers working jointly with patients, working very closely with learners, and together reflecting-in-action and on-action. Reflection may entail an active procedure of bringing skill into consideration and the creation of conceptualization and meaning. Gibb’s Cycle entails various stages. The initial stage is the description of the occurrence. This stage includes describing in detail the occurrence of what the person is reflecting on. For instance, where the person was, any other person who was there, reasons for being there, what was being done, what other people were doing, the context of the occurrence, what happened, what action was taken, and what the results were. The second stage entails feelings. At this point, a person tries to recall and explore what was going on inside his or her head. For instance, why the event is sticking in the head, how was the feeling when the occurrence began, and the feeling of the outcome. The third part is about evaluation. This is where one tries to make a judgment or evaluation regarding what has taken place. Consideration of what was good concerning the experience and what was bad regarding the experience need to be reflected upon (Jasper, 2003). The fourth stage is about analysis. At this stage, a person breaks down the event into its constituent parts so that they can be explored independently. The last stage is conclusion, which differs from the stage of evaluation in that exploration has been done separately and there is a lot of information to support the judgment made. It is at this stage where a person is likely to build up insight and other people’s actions I terms of how they made contribution towards the outcome of the occurrence. The main objective of reflection is to gain knowledge from an experience (Jasper, 2003). Conclusion For countries that have implemented eHealth, there is enhanced access to better systems of health. It can empower both healthcare professionals and patients. It provides governments and payers of tax a means to deal with rising demand on services of healthcare. It can as well assist to reform the future’s healthcare provision, making it more public-centered. The significance of eHealth requires to be explained to the public in terms of its solid advantages. The citizens then turn out to be part of the procedure to move eHealth ahead. One major thing that regional and national governments can do to enhance their ability of development, is to promote the widespread and quick implementation of productivity-promoting technology. Governments need to make extra, considerable investments in ICT with the aim of enhancing the health of their habitants, as well as enhancing the effectiveness and efficiency of their health care schemes. Effective implementation of eHealth definitely leads to effective healthcare. References Blobel, B., Pharow, P., & Nerlich, M. (2008). eHealth. Amsterdam: Ios Press. EHealth 2008, & Weerasinghe, D. (2009). Electronic healthcare: First International Conference, eHealth 2008, London, UK, September 8-9, 2008. Revised selected papers. Berlin: Springer. Englebardt, S. P., & Nelson, R. (2002). Health care informatics: An interdisciplinary approach. St. Louis: Mosby. European Commission. (2007). ICT for Health: Portfolio of the eHealth projects in the FP6. Luxembourg: Office for Official Publications of the European Communities. Gibbons, M. C. (2008). EHealth solutions for healthcare disparities. New York: Springer. Jasper, M. (2003). Beginning Reflective Practice-Foundations in Nursing and Health Care. Cheltenham: Nelson Thornes. Kabene, S. M. (2011). Human resources in healthcare, health informatics and healthcare systems. Hershey, PA: Medical Information Science Reference. Mack, J., Wittel, A., Internet Healthcare Coalition., & American Accreditation HealthCare Commission/URAC. (2001). The new frontier: Exploring ehealth ethics. Newtown, PA: Internet Healthcare Coalition. World Health Organization. (2010). Telemedicine: Opportunities and developments in member states : report on the second Global survey on eHealth. Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization. Read More