The implementation of the capabilities of informational technologies in healthcare is the most prominent area of technology that provides opportunities for leadership. The applications of IT in healthcare are numerous, with electronic healthcare records being probably the most recognizable one. However, of even greater interest is the process management field. The introduction of computation capabilities allows for a streamlined and comprehensive organization of workflow, concisely analyzing the current tasks and procedures and providing an approachable overview of the current situation. At the same time, the ubiquitous nature of the Internet allows creating the network which can potentially include all of the necessary healthcare providers or, more commonly, provides them with the possibility of access to a centralized database. In this way, the personnel has access to the relevant information regarding the scheduled tasks, prioritized processes, and additional details or recommendations. The growing popularity of mobile devices capable of Internet connection guarantees that gradually more healthcare providers have the possibility to make use of the scheme. However, what makes it especially attractive in terms of leadership is the level of control and overseeing that the system offers to the management. A centralized database makes it possible to gather information regarding the progress on most of the tasks by including the simple reporting functionality into the software. The supervising manager will be able to quickly assess the progression and, in some cases, its quality level, and provide the necessary feedback which, again, will be immediately available to the subordinates. Furthermore, the computation capabilities of the software suggest the possibility of the workflow analysis, highlighting the trends, tendencies, and weak points in a comprehensible way.
Telemedicine is another area of technological innovation that presents opportunities for both healthcare improvement and leadership application in healthcare. Admittedly, the area is currently in its infancy, as only the main principles have been laid out and many issues, including legal, economic, and social, are yet to be resolved. Besides, the effectiveness of the practice is not conclusively confirmed yet and remains mostly on the theoretical level. However, it already suggests benefits such as telemetry (monitoring of the vital signs), improved access to healthcare, and education of both patients and personnel, all of which are doubtlessly promising. The most important point it offers, however, is improved communication with the patient. The availability of means of contacting the healthcare officer is currently believed to be of utmost importance, with stronger responsibility and empowerment being among chief reasons. In other words, aside from informational benefits, telemedicine provides the possibility of guidance, which results in improved outcomes for the patient or the healthcare staff, depending on the area of implementation.
Another area of technology that can improve patient outcomes by empowering and leading its subjects is the improvement of the electronic health record (EHR) system, in particular, its patient-oriented segment. Currently, the EHR is primarily oriented toward physicians, with the emerging trend of granting access to patients. Coupled with the gradually improving informational basis and the communication with the patient provided by the capabilities of telemedicine, such a system may eventually create a more responsible and aware populace. In particular, it can contribute to the eventual dissolution of the “epidemic of diagnoses” which have been thought of as at least partially the result of lack of understanding among the population. Once the individuals feel more responsible and have more means of critical self-assessment, the issue may be minimized.