The implemented HIT project and key persons (stakeholders and decision-makers)
The healthcare organization implemented an electronic health records (EHR) system aimed to manage patients’ data. Health records were stored in the computers, and only specific personnel had passwords to access the patients’ information. Securing patients’ health records is crucial in the healthcare industry, and it is protected by the Health Insurance Portability Accountability Act (HIPAA). The project was aimed to minimize HIPAA security problems that were experienced when unauthorized persons accessed patients’ data. Personnel may obtain patients’ health records for many reasons. For example, a specialist may obtain the information so that he or she would contact patients and start to offer them healthcare at his or her private facility. The project was identified by the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the healthcare organization. After the project identification, the executive board members were informed about it during an extraordinary meeting. The board members approved the project proposal, and they requested the CEO to involve other stakeholders who could be instrumental in implementing the project. The CEO formed an EHR implementing team that could report directly to him. The team was composed of the following: EHR Implementation Manager, EHR Lead, EHR Builder, Meaningful Use Lead, Workflow Redesign Lead, Registration Staff Lead, Laboratory Staff Lead, Physician Champion, Nurse Lead, Medical Assistant Lead, and Scheduler Lead. The team was composed of members from all departments within the organization. The composition was key in incorporating views and proposals from all personnel within the organization who were represented by their leaders (Peleg, 2011).
Methods used to garner support
Various methods were used to garner support from the stakeholders and decision-makers within the health organization. For a health information technology project to succeed, suggestions from stakeholders and decision-makers should be considered (Burgess & Sargent, 2007; Peleg, 2011). This ensures that a project is adopted by an organization without resistance from stakeholders. The EHR Implementation Manager used system prototypes to demonstrate to the EHR team how the proposed system would function. The advantages the system could bring to the organization were particularly emphasized by the EHR Implementation Manager. Various team leaders chaired departmental meetings to explain to personnel the proposed project. The EHR Implementation Manager was invited to departmental meetings to explain the components and importance of the project to the personnel. Team leaders also used internal memos to communicate to their juniors regarding various issues of the project. The top management of the organization invited EHR leaders from other healthcare organizations so that they could share views with the EHR implementation team.
Impact of key decision-makers on moving the HIT project forward
The CEO and members of the executive board were the key decision-makers who helped the HIT project to move forward. The CEO was a link between the top management and personnel within the healthcare organization. The CEO communicated the issues that were reported to him by the EHR implementation team to the executive board. The board members were crucial in the project life-cycle because they were committed to providing financial support to the implementation of the project. In addition, the input from board members motivated the EHR team and personnel within the healthcare organization towards implementing the EHR project aimed to protect patients’ healthcare records (Szydlowski & Smith, 2009).
References
Burgess, L., & Sargent, J. (2007). Enhancing user acceptance of mandated mobile health information systems: The ePOC (electronic Point-Of-Care Project) experience. Studies in Health Technology and Informatics, 129(2), 1088-1092.
Peleg, M. (2011). The Role of Modeling in Clinical Information System Development Life Cycle. Methods of Information in Medicine, 50(1), 7-10.
Szydlowski, S., & Smith, C. (2009). Perspectives from nurse leaders and chief information officers on health information technology implementation. Hospital Topics, 87(1), 3-9.