Technology Needs Assessment Summary and Implementation Plan

The easier way to find solutions for improving technology in disease assessment is to incorporate an Electronic Health Record (EHR). It helps healthcare providers utilize technology to make better-informed patient decisions and perform duties efficiently and easily (Awad et al., 2021). It shows that technology helps healthcare providers improve patient care and quality by using EHRs. For EHRs to work efficiently, it is important that stakeholders and other members of healthcare organizations first identify the needs EHRs fulfill and then develop a plan to run trials and implement it. 

Anticipated Benefits for Patient Safety and Health Outcomes

The Informatics layout is currently missing from Ridgeview Medical Center because all the information is stored in written pages and no computer system is used. Upadhyay & Hu (2022) conducted research results asserting that patients feel safe with healthcare providers using EHR systems because it improves healthcare results. This system has a drug combination tool that sends alerts to healthcare providers when it identifies one medication combined with the other can have adverse effects on patients’ health. This way, EHR improves healthcare quality for patients and allows healthcare providers to make better-informed decisions for patients. It also provides healthcare provides evidence-based recommendations to implement relevant treatment interventions (Goorts et al., 2021). These findings suggest that when relevant treatment therapies are used, the chances of a patient’s treatment success are increased. This system also improves collaboration among healthcare providers and stakeholders to discuss effective treatment options for patients with chronic illnesses. Detailed healthcare plans allow healthcare providers to provide improved care quality to patients. Healthcare providers can also access patient information and treatment and medication details provided to them using EHR (Tapuria et al., 2021). it helps save time by easily accessing information rather than searching patient data from a long log book. This information also helps decrease irrelevant diagnostic tests and proves to be cost-effective for patients. Patients also benefit from EHR such as they can easily access their medication details and also consult their healthcare experts. Thus, EHR enhances engagement which results in increased patient adherence to the treatment plan, satisfaction, and happiness. 

Recommended Change

Utilizing EHR in healthcare organizations will help healthcare providers focus on patient care because it will reduce their workload and the effort they consume in performing administrative tasks manually. EHR also saves healthcare providers time in recording and accessing patients’ data which results in enhanced patient care quality (Gatiti et al., 2021). Furthermore, EHR sends alert notifications to healthcare providers based on patients’ data to allow them to take prompt action to cater to patient’s needs. It also has a drug combination system which reduces medication errors and increases patient safety. EHR is an advanced technology that allows healthcare providers to enhance effective communication with patients and gives them autonomy to make better-informed decisions.

Kaiser Permanente

The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell provides insight into how a small change can make a huge difference. Such as implementing an EHR system can allow quick access to specific patient data which enhances healthcare providers’ response time and overall patient care (Tapuria et al., 2021). Utilizing an electronic health remote system will allow Kaiser Permanente to improve patient safety, treatment results, and care coordination (Mordecai et al., 2021). EHR also helps healthcare organizations to maintain a positive image because it enhances patient safety and care. The developed plan creates the required changes according to the vision and mission of the Ridgeview Medical Center. Healthcare providers, nurse informatics, and information technology teams are involved in the stakeholders responsible for implementing the EHR system. Their involvement will provide their active support and suggestions important for implementing the system. 

Change Management Strategies

Strategies such as acquiring stakeholders’ support, engaging healthcare providers, and regular monitoring of the project’s process can ensure individuals’ acceptance of the project for bringing change to the health information system. Project outcomes, implementation of EHR, and benefits of change will ensure an improved healthcare system and patient care with the involvement of project leaders and stakeholders. Stakeholders’s support is beneficial in addressing concerns healthcare providers have regarding EHR and in developing strategies for its efficient use (Hein et al., 2020). This way, the concerns associated with healthcare challenges can be addressed rather than avoided. Some major issues associated with EHR are affecting the workflow and training of healthcare providers and patient’s data security. For this purpose, policies and legal practice standards should be adopted that ensure sufficient training and resources for healthcare providers and the protection of patients’ data (Bani et al., 2020). Healthcare providers, nurse informatics, administration teams, and information technology teams collaborate as project leaders to implement a new health information system. The major issue in implementing EHR is that it will positively transform the healthcare system only if the healthcare providers are well-trained and familiar with it. Efficient project management and leadership allow healthcare providers to actively participate and engage in training and other activities. Healthcare providers can resolve issues that can be raised while incorporating a new EHR system by utilizing resources (Whyte et al., 2022). Involving stakeholders, administrative teams, nurse informatics, and healthcare providers in developing an implementation plan ensures their active support in utilizing EHR properly. 

Conclusion

The technology needs survey gives an overview of the information technology’s current state. The major issues and gaps associated with the use of technology can be identified using needs assessments to develop a technology-based system and environment in the healthcare sector. The benefits of using an EHR system will contribute to bringing change in the healthcare organization. However, to enhance patient treatment results and care, healthcare providers must undergo training workshops on new EHRs to understand them better and enhance their productivity. 

References

Awad, A., Trenfield, S. J., Pollard, T. D., Ong, J. J., Elbadawi, M., McCoubrey, L. E., Goyanes, A., Gaisford, S., & Basit, A. W. (2021). Connected healthcare: Improving patient care using digital health technologies. Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews, 178(1), 113958. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0169409X21003513 

Bani, W., Al Akour, I., Ibrahim, A., Almarzouqi, A., Abbas, S., Hisham, F., & Griffiths, J. (2020). Privacy, confidentiality, security and patient safety concerns about electronic health records. International Nursing Review, 67(2), 218–230. https://doi.org/10.1111/inr.12585 

Gatiti, P., Ndirangu, E., Mwangi, J., Mwanzu, A., & Ramadhani, T. (2021). Enhancing healthcare quality in hospitals through electronic health records: A systematic review. Libraries. https://scholars.aku.edu/en/publications/enhancing-healthcare-quality-in-hospitals-through-electronic-heal 

Goorts, K., Dizon, J., & Milanese, S. (2021). The effectiveness of implementation strategies for promoting evidence-informed interventions in allied healthcare: A systematic review. BMC Health Services Research, 21(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-021-06190-0 

Hein, K., Knochel, K., Zaimovic, V., Reimann, D., Monz, A., Heitkamp, N., Borasio, G. D., & Führer, M. (2020). Identifying key elements for paediatric advance care planning with parents, healthcare providers and stakeholders: A qualitative study. Palliative Medicine, 34(3), 300–308. https://doi.org/10.1177/0269216319900317 

Mordecai, D., Histon, T., Neuwirth, E., Heisler, W. S., Kraft, A., Bang, Y., Franchino, K., Taillac, C., & Nixon, J. P. (2021). How kaiser permanente created a mental health and wellness digital ecosystem. NEJM Catalyst, 2(1). https://doi.org/10.1056/cat.20.0295 

Tapuria, A., Porat, T., Kalra, D., Dsouza, G., Xiaohui, S., & Curcin, V. (2021). Impact of patient access to their electronic health record: Systematic review. Informatics for Health and Social Care, 46(2), 194–206. https://doi.org/10.1080/17538157.2021.1879810 

Upadhyay, S., & Hu, H. (2022). A qualitative analysis of the impact of electronic health records (EHR) on healthcare quality and safety: Clinicians’ lived experiences. Health Services Insights, 15(1), 1–7. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/11786329211070722 

Whyte, J., Naderpajouh, N., Clegg, S., Matous, P., Pollack, J., & Crawford, L. (2022). Project leadership: A research agenda for a changing world. Project Leadership and Society, 3, 100044. ScienceDirect. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666721522000047