Digital bed management and real-time location systems

Digital bed management and real-time location systems

Digital bed management and real-time location systems are vital technological tools which the hospital may adopt to support patient flow and staffing. These systems help the organization to prioritize the flow of patients from wards and emergency units. Bed management tracks the location of patients in real-time and enables the hospital to determine the appropriate type of care that they should receive. Though rightfully matching each patient with their ward, the clinic saves time compared to using manual coordination. The real-time location helps the medical staff to monitor the site of each medical practitioner on duty. Employees also use this technology to track the location of critical medical equipment that is important for emergencies. Besides, the systems help to reduce endless telephone calls that are made when needing to admit a patient because all vital hospital departments have access to them through real-time wallboards. Moreover, using the two technologies ensures that nurses spend less time in logistics and cleaning and instead re-direct their attention to patient care. Currently, the United Kingdom has implemented these two systems 93% of its National Health Service (NHS) hospitals, which have reported a 95% increased efficiency and quality of service delivery.

Holding clinicians responsible for unethical use of clinical information systems is one of the policies that I would propose to enhance the confidentiality of patient information because they are the only authorized personnel who handle digital patient records, and in most cases, a breach of this information emanates from them. As such, clinicians who intentionally disregard crucial information which later interferes with the quality of treatment must be accountable for their deeds, because these details are available at the click of a button. This step shields the hospital from unnecessary time and money spent in resolving lawsuits. Second, this policy dictates that clinicians have a legal responsibility and accountability when auditing processes find them guilty of failing to review necessary information in the hospital’s information systems.

These legal implications should be extended when they attempt to access patient information which is outside of their jurisdiction by faking digital signatures.

Additionally, clinicians must be responsible for billable insurance errors caused when they duplicate data through wrongful copy and paste function uses. Finally, the clinic should hold them accountable if they release patient information to patients who have mental incapacities, are aged or are too young to maintain confidentiality. A guardian should instead receive this information in such scenarios. Currently, India has implemented this policy because of the significant number of critical care patients it handles. It sues and fires clinicians who breach patient information by using illegal means to access and share this data.

Today, many hospitals have incorporated technology in their patient education regimen as a tool to reduce readmission rates. As such, the cardiology unit management could develop medical applications which educate heart patients about their condition, the appropriate way of administering medication, first aid and treatment. Current applications include Medline Plus and challenge your health IQ. The applications should have accurate information and a user-friendly interface. Besides, the clinic could implement 3D technology when conducting scans, which helps patients to clearly visualize and have a better overview of their condition, hence make informed decisions. The clinic could also augment reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) technology to advance patient education. These AR and VR technologies enable patients to practically see how medication works which are better than reading prescription leaflets. The patient also has the opportunity to witness minor surgery treatments through VR headgear, which helps them to understand complex treatment procedures.

Additionally, the unit could create an online support group on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram where patients freely share insights and encourage one another. Cardiologists could also join online certified platforms where they openly discuss with patients about the credibility of information found in websites. The clinic could help patients to use credible online journals and search engines such as Google for self-education and self-management. These technologies aid in increasing patients’ information about medication, self-management, their health records and awareness of critical symptoms which require immediate first-aid intervention, which consequently reduces readmission rates.

The hospital could use technology measures such as encrypting computers, mobile phones and laptops which medical staff use, as a means of increasing the all protected health information (PHI) which enhances patient safety. Additionally, the clinic could install security cameras which monitor how clinicians use patient data. The clinic should introduce role-based authentication techniques such as the use of ID username and passwords before accessing patient information. It could also construct cloud-based network servers. The technology department should have sufficient knowledge about disaster recovery methods which could help the hospital to recover lost files. The clinic could also install firewalls and anti-virus software in their computers to protect patient information from phishing, malware and ransomware, which could damage vital details. The Santa Clara Valley medical centre in San Francisco has adapted this measure as a protective tool.