Benefits of Information Technology on Healthcare
The advancement of Information (IT) has brought with it significant changes in the working environment, especially in the healthcare sector. One of the significant changes people have witnessed in healthcare is the introduction of Healthcare Information Technology that has not only made it easier for doctors to carry out their work, but it has also aided patients in attaining medical attention. Therefore, this paper summarizes the advantages of IT in healthcare by discussing the various transformations. IT brings in patient care, quality, efficiency and safety in medical care.
Information technology is helpful in the digitization of patients’ records that are accessible to both doctors and patients. The introduction of Electronic Health Records (EHR) has replaced paper records (Negash, Musa, Vogel, & Sahay, 2018). Through EHR, managing, storing, and transmitting data between labs and specialists are now quick and easy, and it cut costs involved in physical transmission. The transfer of data of a patient saves lives, especially in cases where the patient is unconscious and in need of emergency treatment, unlike paper records, which are incapable of supplying caregivers with all the patient information they need in a way that they can utilize it.
Technology helps in the improvement of patient care. Through EHRs, doctors can easily make medical decisions based on the health and medical history of the patient. A doctor does not need to perform a full-body test on a patient to know the previous types of medication the patient has gone through. It also helps the patient in reducing the cost of getting medical attention since all the information of prior tests is readily available for both the doctor and the patient to scrutinize. Since all the information is available, Medical researchers also have access to comprehensive data with consent from the patients, as well as different population groups that offer new insights into diseases, genetics, and care outcomes (Piña et al., 2015) for the patient.
IT and communication also help patients to get in touch with medical practitioners and doctors around the world to get the second opinion about the type of treatment to acquire through teleconferencing. If there is a need for more severe check-ups, patients can travel to other parts of the world to get highly advanced surgery or specialized procedure that is not available in their home country. In cases where the patient is admitted far from home, the patients and the doctors can give medical updates to the patients’ family and the progress of their health. After the treatment, teleconferencing helps in patient monitoring, counselling, and management saving patients time they would otherwise spend on the waiting room.
The paper has set out the benefits that Information Technology has on healthcare. Generally, IT has reduced the costs involved in seeking medical attention. The benefits of IT on healthcare also ensures that there is a decrease in medical errors and enhanced patient’s treatment. Even though Information Technology has a positive impact on healthcare, developed countries have harnessed technology for better patient healthcare. Developing countries are also catching up quickly. To date, Health Information Technology is the most promising tool for improving overall safety, efficiency and safety of the health delivery sector.