Can you help me reply to this discussion? In responding to your peers, please discuss how advancements in health information technology are making our healthcare system a system focused on safety. Identify one future trend in HIT and include your source.

This course has provided me with insights into the advancement of healthcare technology. I have come to understand that healthcare informatics technology (HIT) has underwent significant growth in the United States, leading numerous institutions to transition to EHR systems for improved workflow, efficiency, and the overall standard of care. As nurses, we must stay current on technological innovations in healthcare that could assist us in providing efficient patient care.

I would not change anything since my workplace makes extensive use of healthcare informatics technologies (HIT) to deliver patient-centric care. These systems have already demonstrated their effectiveness in preventing errors and enhancing patient safety. Studies have also reported that HIT adoption increases the quality of patient care and improves the standards in healthcare organizations by supporting clinicians in making clinical decisions efficiently (Farokhzadian et. al, 2020). In my workplace, patients can opt to receive an iPad, granting access to a personalized patient portal with tailored features for their hospital stay including the ability for patients to view their daily schedule, order meals, check test results, and communicate with their care team. Study offers evidence that providing tablets to inpatients was associated with increased satisfaction in aspects of their hospital stay, suggesting that access to tablets could improve patients’ impressions of the hospital, communication about medication use and side effects, timeliness of receiving help from hospital staff, and preparation for discharge (Vink et. al, 2019).

The benefits to my project were being able to research my specific chosen topic on EHR and understand its origins, as well as the timeline of healthcare enterprises transitioning towards EHR adoption. This helped me understand that despite a few drawbacks, EHR still offers substantial benefits in delivering optimal patient-centered care. One challenge I encountered was locating a significant amount of recent research linked to EHR, and I was unable to locate study taking place in the United States.

References

Vink, S., Fareed, N., MacEwan, S. R., & McAlearney, A. S. (2019). An exploration of the association between Inpatient access to tablets and patient satisfaction with hospital care. Perspectives in Health Information Management, 1-11.

Farokhzadian, J., Khajouei, R., Hasman, A., & Ahmadian, L. (2020). Nurses’ experiences and viewpoints about the benefits of adopting information technology in health care: a qualitative study in Iran. BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making, 20(1), 240. https://doi-org.ezproxy.snhu.edu/10.1186/s12911-020-01260-5

ANSWER

Reply to Peer’s Discussion: Advancements in Health Information Technology

I completely agree with your insights into the growth and significance of healthcare informatics technology (HIT) in our healthcare system. The transition to electronic health record (EHR) systems has indeed transformed the way healthcare is delivered, enhancing patient safety, improving workflow, and promoting better care outcomes. Your workplace’s utilization of HIT to provide patient-centric care is a great example of how technology can positively impact healthcare.

The use of personalized patient portals and tablets for inpatients is an excellent illustration of how advancements in health information technology are making our healthcare system more focused on safety and patient engagement. Providing patients with direct access to their health information empowers them to take an active role in their care journey. It not only improves patient satisfaction but also fosters better communication between patients and their care teams. Your mention of increased satisfaction among patients using tablets aligns with the findings of a study by Vink et al. (2019), showcasing the positive impact of technology on various aspects of the hospital experience.

Moreover, your exploration of EHR adoption and its benefits highlights how healthcare professionals need to stay informed about these technological advancements. EHRs undoubtedly have their challenges, but they offer significant advantages, such as enhancing clinical decision-making and improving patient outcomes. It’s unfortunate that you encountered difficulties in finding recent US-based research, but your insight into the benefits from other studies still contributes to our understanding of the positive effects of HIT.

As for future trends in health information technology, one emerging area is the application of artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare. AI has the potential to revolutionize diagnosis, treatment, and patient care by analyzing vast amounts of data to provide accurate insights and predictions. AI-powered tools can assist clinicians in making more informed decisions and improving patient safety. A report by Accenture (2020) highlights that AI can lead to an estimated $150 billion in annual savings for the US healthcare economy by 2026, further underscoring the transformative impact of HIT.