Abstract
In the last century, there has been an accelerated development and adoption of information systems and technology in patient care. The healthcare sector is not an exception as numerous advancements in health systems technology are being achieved to improve patient care and, subsequently, the healthcare system. This paper seeks to evaluate the impact of health information technology on patient care and safety. It is therefore concluded that health information technology has positively impacted the healthcare system.
Introduction
Health information systems are systems created to manage healthcare data. They include systems designed to collect, store, manage and transmit a patient’s electronic medical record or hospitals operational management policies. Health information technology improves the delivery of patient care by reducing human errors, improving clinical outcomes, improving practice efficiencies, and tracking data. Patient safety is a branch of healthcare that deals with avoiding, preventing, and ameliorating adverse outcomes or injuries stemming from healthcare processes.
Health information systems aid in gathering, compiling, and analyzing health data which is essential in managing population health. Since patients often need treatments from multiple healthcare providers, health information systems such as health information exchanges enable hospitals to access common health records. Sharing health data via digital means is thus efficient and cost-effective. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the various information systems and technology used in patient care and how they improve and transform healthcare.
Methods
An extensive database search was conducted to investigate the application of information systems and technology in patient care and its impact on the improvement and transformation of healthcare. The following databases were used in the search: the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), ScienceDirect, Pubmed, and Elsevier. The search terms included in the search were; role, information technology, patient care, and healthcare.
The search was limited to the literature presented in English, research articles, and studies carried out in healthcare settings, both inpatient and community settings, which used interventions such as electronic physician’s orders, clinical decision support, telemedicine, and electronic medical record (Clohessy & English, 2022). Other inclusion criteria were: Information technology and population health articles, systematic reviews, meta-analyses, randomized clinical trials, retrospective cohort studies, and case-control studies. Studies were excluded based on the following criteria: increased risk of bias, studies carried out in a non-clinical setting, studies that showed non-health information technology interventions, studies that lacked patient safety evaluation, and qualitative or narrative studies.
Measurement of the Concepts
Conceptual Review
The review of the following articles is integral in discussing the various information systems and technology used in patient care and their impact on the improvement and transformation of healthcare. Alotaibi & Federico, (2017) demonstrate that health information technology such as electronic medical records reduce medical errors hence improving patients’ safety. Various technologies such as telemedicine electronic sign-out, smart pumps, and computerized physician order entry have non-safety outcomes and positively impact healthcare processes. They present the COVID-19 pandemic as a significant driving force in advancing health information technology. The emerging technologies and inventions served as adaptions to the menace and serve as a reminder that technology has many advantages and a crucial role in maintaining health service delivery when physical access to healthcare facilities is challenging.
Similarly, Ye et al., (2021) illustrate the use of information technology in managing the COVID-19 pandemic. He shows various technologies, such as mobile and web-based services, including internet hospitals, Wechat, and big data analyses. He proceeds to demonstrate using artificial intelligence, such as drones, robots, and intelligent diagnoses, to combat the pandemic. It elucidates that health information technologies play an instrumental role in empowering the healthcare systems and increasing their capacities to handle global pandemics.
Information technology has improved communication, as suggested in a review by Atasoy et al. (2019) who discusses smartphones as an intervention in patient care. He argues that the smartphone operates via three modes, propinquity, applications, and communication. The smartphone’s propinquity involves the physical proximity of the phone to the healthcare providers. The application refers to the application softwares installed in the smartphone, and communication relies on information from the device. The three modes have both desirable and undesirable outcomes based on the factors that affect the individual modes.
Discussion
The paper illustrates the importance of technology in patient care and safety. It demonstrates the evolution of technology and its importance in combating severe challenges in the healthcare system, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. The economic implications of using information technology in patient care and healthcare delivery have also been discussed in depth. Despite the role played by health information systems in improving patient safety and transforming healthcare, there have been reports of various medical errors attributed to information technology derogatory to patient safety.
The errors seen in the use of health information technology arise as a result of gaps in knowledge leading to incorrect utilization of the invention. Examples of such gaps include the incompatibility of different types of electronic health records systems, and some innovations are cumbersome (Ye et al, 2019). Different health facilities use other electronic health records systems. The difference poses a challenge when patients seek treatment in two facilities with different system types. The incompatibility results in lengthy medical records and test results being sent by paper, reducing the efficiency of data sharing and workflow. In addition to that, the healthcare system is still heavily reliant on paper. The overreliance is attributed to the inability of some technologies to perform tasks such as collecting signatures on consent forms and patient check-in forms. The implication is an increased risk of loss of patient information which culminates in medical errors endangering the patient.
The gap in the healthcare information systems can be bridged by taking the following steps. Healthcare providers should have a positive attitude towards technology advancements and take time to learn how they work, making it possible for them to deliver the best care (He et al., 2021). Healthcare providers should tailor their work structure to capitalize on technology. Health professionals can learn how to use analytics. Analytics can help in data extraction and interpretation, saving time. Doctors should be patient as the new technology is implemented. They should emphasize the long-term results rather than immediate success.
Synthesis of Findings and Conclusion
There is a considerable correlation between electronic health records and the quality of patient care offered. There has been a reduction in rates of drug-drug interactions and medication errors. The advent of automated dosage calculators has led to a decrease in dosage errors contributing to improving patient safety and healthcare delivery (Atasoy et al. 2019). In the US, electronic health records have helped curb the rising cost of medical care. It is attributed to the improvement in care efficiency, patient safety, and management of chronic ailments.
The healthcare system is evolving rapidly and technological advancement is one of the key factors that denote evolvement. The incorporation of health information technology in patient care has led to the improvement and transformation of healthcare. However, the technology is still facing some challenges, but overall, the pros outweigh the cons. Thus, health information technology should continue as part of the patient care process.
References
Alotaibi, Y. K., & Federico, F. (2017). The impact of health information technology on patient safety. Saudi medical journal, 38(12), 1173. Web.
Atasoy, H., Greenwood, B. N., & McCullough, J. S. (2019). The digitization of patient care: a review of the effects of electronic health records on health care quality and utilization. Annual review of public Health, pp. 40, 487–500. Web.
Clohessy, T., & English, M. (2022). Bridging the gaps in information systems: threshold concepts and troublesome knowledge perspective. Irish Educational Studies, pp. 1–25. Web.
He, W., Zhang, Z. J., & Li, W. (2021). Information technology solutions, challenges, and suggestions for tackling the COVID-19 pandemic. International journal of information management, 57, 102287. Web.
Ye, Q., Zhou, J., & Wu, H. (2020). Using information technology to manage the COVID-19 pandemic: developing a technical framework based on practical experience in China. JMIR medical informatics, 8(6), e19515. Web.