Health Information Technology Implementation for Hospital Efficiency

Introduction and Program Overview

The purpose of this program is to maximize the use of health information technology and informatics solutions to help the work environment run optimally and increase the efficiency of patient care for nurses. This organization needs to begin using electronic health records to better serve its patient population. The use of technology in the workplace can transform healthcare into something that provides an enjoyable experience for patients rather than a dreadful one. Technology provides a wealth of information instantly, enabling nurses to become more effective in their practice, more efficient with patients, and more patient-centered in their care approach.

For this initiative to succeed, the administration must provide full backing and support from the board. Increasing funding for health information technology and informatics solutions will yield positive outcomes for the hospital. Administration is a key player in advancing this proposition, but hospital personnel are equally essential to its effectiveness. If staff members do not adopt the system willingly and with an optimistic outlook, the plan will not succeed. Doctors, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, nurses, and all other allied healthcare professionals must use the program correctly and receive proper training for it to benefit the hospital.

Benefits of Health Information Technology Implementation

The benefits of this program would provide a substantial boost for the organization. When health information technology and informatics solutions are expanded, patient information becomes quickly accessible to various providers within and between multiple facilities. This could significantly reduce the time spent searching for files and waiting to receive paper-based records. All patient charts containing medical records, consultations, files from other offices, test results, and previous diagnoses would be kept digitally and organized in a manner that allows for easy retrieval and searching. Communication between providers would be drastically improved, and the number of errors between providers would be dramatically decreased because there would be less chance of misunderstanding due to the fact that patient files and completed procedures would be documented digitally in the system (Weston, 2013).

Health information technology and informatics solutions will also help the hospital save money. With fewer medical errors, fewer unnecessary tests ordered, and increased data on nurse-patient care, the organization can identify which nurses are working productively and which ones require additional support (Campbell, n.d.). Additionally, nurses will spend less time searching for supplies and medications because all of this information will be available in the computer system rather than through word of mouth. As nurses provide services at a greater rate, more patients can be seen in less time with reduced expenses for the hospital.

Patient flow is another major factor that will improve with health information technology and informatics solutions. Patients often experience inconvenience at hospitals due to long wait times and errors made by medical staff. Electronic records can address both of these issues, eliminating them as sources of concern for the hospital while increasing productivity and revenue. This improvement will serve as a strong selling point for patients, enhancing their ease of care. Patient rooms will run more smoothly during admissions and discharges because all files will be signed and processed once input into the system.

A significant benefit of this new plan would be decreasing the number of lawsuits resulting from lower rates of medical errors (Weston, 2013). Finally, billing becomes much simpler and easier with health information technology and informatics solutions because all information would be sent instantaneously for processing.

Implementation Considerations and Software Selection

The cost of acquisition for this type of software varies significantly depending on the quality level the hospital desires. This variation itself is a selling point because using a specific electronic health record can attract more patients to the facility through ease of care and smoother transitions to primary care doctors. Some software options are available for free, while others cost up to $20,000 per year. The board would need to vote on which specific system to implement. EPIC is a widely-used software system employed at hospitals across the nation that has demonstrated a significant ability to increase hospital revenues and patient satisfaction with care. The added budget expense will be justified by the increased revenue generated through this new plan.