Healthcare information technology's impact on patient care and institutional efficiency

Evolution of Healthcare Information System

Evolution of health care information system

Over the last twenty years, technology in provision of healthcare has evolved tremendously and what was available then now seems primitive in comparison. Today, patient care is at a much higher level. The management of healthcare institutions has become far more efficient through the growth of technology. Research is now more readily available. The growth of technology has proved beneficial to not only the healthcare workers, rather, more so to the patients. Nowadays, treating a patient correctly and effectively is easier than it was then; the patient is also more secure due to machines that can monitor all his processes and new technology has also enhanced the skills of the healthcare workers in handling their patients (Bavova, 2013).

This paper seeks to discuss highlight similarities and differences between healthcare provision twenty years ago and today, as a result of technological developments. The paper will as well discuss how Healthcare Information Technology and its business systems as applied worldwide, impact organizations.

Comparison between healthcare systems in the two periods.

According to Jayanthi (2014), in the eighties, the government managed every aspect of healthcare and decisions on changes to be approved were made by the management and policy-makers. Today however with the establishment of the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act, the U.S. department of Healthcare and Human Services has been able to involve many more functionaries through the development of strong ICT programs. These have resulted in the greater efficiency and effectiveness in the provision of healthcare. Thus, now there is more support for innovations with regard to improved healthcare and patient safety than in the past. With government support, patient care can thrive because of systems particularly geared at improved patient care and safety. Many other countries have also come up with new structures that have enabled the information technology in healthcare to thrive.

The area of record-keeping in healthcare institutions was a major concern to all involved. It involved tedious processes of filling forms, creation of files and maintaining them in an orderly fashion for accessibility. Patients needed to wait in line as their files were retrieved manually before being allowed to see a doctor. For large hospitals, this was a very tedious and complex process. Appointments were made on paper and a lot of time wasted in the process. However today, the situation is different. There are no more filing cabinets bursting with patient files as information is now stored digitally through information systems that have been developed for this purpose. Appointments can be made online and available slots in the day can be easily identified to avoid confusion and a lot of time wasting. Other systems have come up to ensure minimal or zero errors occur such as the physician order system (Myles, 2000). Hospitals are now even checking vital signs of patients through electronic systems that alert them when signs are abnormal (Meadows, 2002). Through such methods, there is no change that goes undetected and this has helped to save lives as it allows for quick and immediate response. Rivers et.al (2015), state that because of a lack of these systems in the past, many lives were lost unnecessarily. Patient safety is thus, now better assured. Technological developments now save more lives than was possible twenty years ago. Thus, institutions that have adopted Health Care Information Systems have been able to save more lives than those that have not.

Inefficiency in the healthcare system was the norm especially as far as the management of finances was concerned. There was inefficiency due to a large number of staff dedicated to work that one person can handle easily today as well as due to poor service delivery, inefficient machinery and other technology restraints. Today much of this inefficiency has been eliminated. Today, workers are trained in ICT systems that allow them to handle in one day what would have taken a week to handle twenty years back. Automation, for example, in queuing systems has helped ease inefficiency in attending to patients. A long queue was the norm in healthcare institutions of the past. However, automation is one of the technological developments that received mixed reactions. Due to its presence, many employees have been rendered redundant. However there are many positive gains from it such as the money saved that would have been lost in previous time-consuming, labor-intensive and inefficient processes, the excellent service patients receive as well as the amount of information that can be accommodated (Dias, 2014).

Conclusion

What existed two decades ago as far as technology is concerned is archaic in comparison with today's technology. The healthcare system has come to depend on developments in Health Care Information Systems in most of its functions. Inventory levels, efficient processes, timely response, optimal resource levels, and ultimately good patient service all depend highly on the Health Care Information Technology available today. Patients have also enjoyed better healthcare than ever before, including the saving of lives that were lost in the past due to lack of proper diagnostic technology. It is necessary therefore for all in this industry to collectively embrace it and advance it further so as to keep up with the pace of growth in other industries and maximize the potential inherent in it. The governments of the United States has also made major strides in the development of healthcare systems and should continue to do so in future as well as offer support to institutions that exist to develop these systems. As Rivers, et.al (2015) noted, new technological developments have enabled efficiencies all round. What is available now was once only dreamed about. Thus, every government and healthcare institution should seek to obtain as much benefit as possible from these systems.

EVOLUTION OF HEALTHCARE INFORMATION SYSTEM 5