Health Information Technology
Health information technologies are vital in enhancing the efficacy of clinical interventions that promote a population’s wellness and disease management. Examples of health IT tools include Electronic Medical records (EMR), Electronic Health records (EHR), and Clinical Decision Support (CDS). EMRs are digital versions of clinical charts that enable clinicians to track patient data over a long period (Zikos et al., 2018). This strategy enables effective follow-up of patients to ensure they attend appointments and access all preventative screenings. EMR helps improve the quality of care by ensuring effective disease management. EHR is another system that reaches beyond the organizational parameters to ensure that patient’s medical history is accessible and shareable between physicians (Zikos et al., 2018). Additionally, the CDS helps clinicians make informed decisions using artificial intelligence, reducing misdiagnosis and medication errors.
Project Management and Resource Planning to Improve Operational Efficiency
The first step was the retrieval of samples in the nursing station. Then, the laboratory technicians are informed that samples are ready for processing. In the third step, the team queues the submitted samples. The fourth stage is releasing the results to the ER nursing station as soon as they are done. Lastly, the ER collects the results, where data is entered into the EMR and shared with the physician on duty. The nurse collects samples and confirms their readiness, and then the lab statistician collects them in a basket and queues them up. The lab representative informs the station about the readiness of the results (Sheikh et al., 2021). After that, the ER representative collects and enters data into the EMR. However, according to the project manager, in an ideal and future state, a nurse representative takes samples for testing. After that, the laboratory representative puts them in a queue and tests them, and send the results to the nurse’s post by e-mail via EMR.
Nevertheless, due to the lack of a structured distribution of roles among clinicians, there are delays and confusion in the first and second stages. In addition, time is wasted due to insufficient use of information technology and is reflected in all five stages (Sheikh et al., 2021). Thus, three people are needed for the successful operation of the system. The nurse’s representative reports the samples that have arrived, the laboratory assistant processes them and sends them via e-mail, and the nurse forwards the data to the ER. In this case, human resource planning will speed up the processes and the staff will be actively working during the busiest time for the hospital.
Feasibility of National Health Insurance in the United States
For the US to provide national health insurance, various changes must be implemented to promote its efficacy as universal coverage. One reimbursement strategy is eliminating the fee-for-service requirement so eligible persons do not pay a dime for medical services (Meyers & Johnston, 2021). The monthly premium for Medicare part B should also be scrapped so that inpatient outpatient services are free. However, today citizens pay for their medical services using private insurance. This is not a government system and is covered by monthly payments from customers. Depending on preferences, people choose those programs that suit them best. What’s more, the government offers insurance plans that help the public cover a portion of health care costs. Under national health insurance, payment will be made from tax contributions included in payroll payments.
National insurance makes a lot of sense in the US because low-income people don’t have to pay insurance to get help. The feasibility of the national health insurance fund is justified considering that it will become a federal responsibility, meaning that taxes will be channeled to this program (Meyers & Johnston, 2021). The system will also result in a healthy population that will help mitigate the cost of unhealthy nations.
References
Meyers, D. J., & Johnston, K. J. (2021). The growing importance of Medicare advantage in health policy and health services research. In JAMA Health Forum. 2(3), e210235-e210235. Web.
Sheikh, A., Anderson, M., Albala, S., Casadei, B., Franklin, B. D., Richards, M., Taylot, D., Tibble, H. & Mossialos, E. (2021). Health information technology and digital innovation for national learning health and care systems. The Lancet Digital Health, 3(6), 383-396. Web.
Zikos, D., & DeLellis, N. (2018). CDSS-RM: A clinical decision support system reference model. BMC Medical Research Methodology, 18(1), 1-14.