Nursing Informatics

Nursing Informatics

1. Discuss the concepts of Interoperability and Health Information Exchange (HIE) and how you would approach the other groups.

Interoperability is a term used in healthcare to describe the extent to which the systems and the devices are designed to exchange data, interpreted and share them as well. For any two interoperable systems, they must be able to exchange data and consequently present the data in a manner that it can be understood by the user in a healthcare environment (Matney, et al, 2011). The concept of interoperability in healthcare systems enables the data exchange schema to permit the sharing of data across the laboratory, clinician, pharmacy, and patients regardless of the application vendor. In a healthcare Interoperability, there are three levels of health information. These are the foundation, structural and semantics. In the foundational level, the Interoperability permits data exchange from one IT system to be received by another party but does not require the ability to receive and interpret the data. At the structural level, this concept becomes the immediate level which defines the format of data exchange. The definition of the data structure exists where there is a channeled movement of data in the healthcare environment from one system like the clinical operator to another without any alteration in the data. It ensures the interpretation of data between IT systems at the data field level. The semantic level is the highest level of Interoperability (McGonigle & Mastrian, 2014). It is the ability of two more systems to exchange the data information and again use the exchanged information. It exploits the codification and structuring of data including vocabulary. This makes the interpretation of data possible. This level supports electronic data exchange about a patient to caregivers and other authorized parties through the Disparate Electronic Health Record (EHR) to improve the efficiency of healthcare delivery.

Majority of the modern healthcare facilities have invested heavily in time, capital and efforts to install the electronic medical appliances which assist in record keeping for patients and achieve an integrated Health Information Exchanges (HIEs). The HIE architecture types and communication methods basically involve the IT staff (Matney, et al, 2011). The portals are then designed for the patients (patient portals) and the physicians to bring about HIE end results to individuals, physicians, and patients. The portals are fundamental components of the HIEs. It links the patients to the process of health data exchange. The physicians can also view the patient treatment history through these portals and be providing valuable health data that may help before performing a treatment operation on a patient. Besides, from the portals, the patients will be able to correct errors in their health records if any and be reminded of the previous care they received. The portals also act as convenient communication platforms for both the patients, and the caregivers and this differs among portal vendors (Ball, et al, 2011). Some portals only grant basic communication in terms of offering the patients the ability to plan for their appointments, request for a prescription refill and complete paperwork prior to the next appointment. Therefore, the main purpose of the HIE is to create an interoperability by connecting each individual to an EHR via information connection which is contained in the various healthcare organizations across the entire continuum. With the ever-increasing cost of healthcare, the integration of the HER and the HIEs will reduce the costs of care delivery since they avoid the redundancy in care delivery. A patient can also follow the recovery records and avoid overspending when seeking care from another clinic.

2. Discuss the potential benefits you and the partners will receive from exchanging information.

Many healthcare providers today securely share patient’s health information, which includes complete medical histories to better the health tracking records. The process of exchanging information of a patient does not violate the code of ethics which are laid in any healthcare facility provided the information is shared securely. There are a number of potential benefits which come with exchanging information (Ball, et al, 2011). First, a compressive medical care must be coordinated given many caregivers are in place. Coordinated care reduces duplicative treatments which may be costly to the patients and even harm them. To these scenarios, exchanging information is vital for any healthcare facility. Exchanging information improves patients’ safety via the reduction of the medical errors resulting from duplicated treatments. Besides, the process engages healthcare consumers regarding their personal health information and so they can keep track of their health records. It also improves the process of public health reporting and monitoring techniques. Another potential benefit is the increased efficiency. The efficiency can be increased through elimination of the unnecessary paperwork and handling. Additionally, exchange of information will provide caregivers with decision supports tools for a comprehensive care and treatments (McGonigle & Mastrian, 2014). Exchanging information will enable the elimination of the redundant treatment and testing which are unnecessary. It improves health care quality and reduces health-related costs.

3. Examine and outline the risks of exchanging data with other partners.

Exchanging data has some potential risks too. Most of these risks are attributed to the internet platforms and so, most of the risks a confidential information faces on the internet become similar risks that come with exchanging data. One of the risks is attribute to hackers. The health information exchange exhibits modern computer technologies. Attempts may be made to break into the health records and this is dubbed unauthorized access to the database systems. Once there is unauthorized access, alteration in the data is possible to form all the health records in the database. In cases where the anti-hacking security measures have been put in place, the hackers tend to use special coding techniques to access these databases (McGonigle & Mastrian, 2014). Another risk is the errors. HIE is a tool which is purposed to improve care to the patients. However, if the correct information is not entered by the caregiver, it remains in the database until corrected. It, therefore, means, before correction, a caregiver who accesses the HIE may be prompted to use the information as erratic as it is and this can cause harm to the patients. Identity theft is yet another security issue attributed to the exchange of data. Health information has been enjoying benefits accrued to other economic sectors such as security and defense. Nevertheless, it bears similar risks of identity theft (Ball, et al, 2011). Identity theft occurs with similar paper and electronic files. The breach in electronic files has adverse effects than the breach of the paper files. All these risks tend to render the exchange of information unsecured even though much efforts are made to secure the databases in hospitals.

4. Describe the marketing approach the group would take to encourage healthcare vendors to exchange data.

The marketing approach the group is likely to take to encourage the healthcare vendors to exchange data is diverse. The best market magnet approach lies in the robust, flexible IT system which can support accurate decision making and accuracy. This should be achieved with minimal redundancy and informed payment reforms and factors which may help in transforming care into models which can enhance access to the healthcare services. Informed decision making is another marketing approach which supports coordinated care management. It allows the patients to become active shareholders in their health and care and generally improves the overall health of the populace. Health information can be shared extensively to support multiple uses. An example is a national priority for the cost-effective share which requires information about the quality and use of the services to be availed to the customers, payers and the caregivers. New technological ideas and changes in the market segments have opened the opportunities for the creation of more integrated data exchange environment and the caregivers and the healthcare institutions must work to clinch these added advantages.

References

Ball, M. J., Douglas, J. V., Walker, P. H., DuLong, D., Gugerty, B., Hannah, K. J., … & Troseth, M. R. (Eds.). (2011). Nursing informatics: Where technology and caring meet. Springer   Science & Business Media.

Matney, S., Brewster, P. J., Sward, K. A., Cloyes, K. G., & Staggers, N. (2011). Philosophical     approaches to the nursing informatics data-information-knowledge-wisdom    framework. Advances in Nursing Science, 34(1), 6-18.

McGonigle, D., & Mastrian, K. (Eds.). (2014). Nursing informatics and the foundation of   knowledge. Jones & Bartlett Publishers.