Ironically, this technology has not impacted us at a most personal level: This article looks at the development and application of information technology to health care delivery and will provide a brief analysis of why health care technology has lagged behind other industries as well as at some of the new technologies that are transforming the delivery of health care in the US. Health Care Overview The application of information technology has been an uphill climb hampered by a variety of cultural, organizational, and financial factors. Early efforts at clinical applications in health care began in the late s.
Ironically, this technology has not impacted us at a most personal level: This article looks at the development and application of information technology to health care delivery and will provide a brief analysis of why health care technology has lagged behind other industries as well as at some of the new technologies that are transforming the delivery of health care in the US.
Health Care Overview The application of information technology has been an uphill climb hampered by a variety of cultural, organizational, and financial factors. Early efforts at clinical applications in health care began in the late s. One of the first hospitals to embrace the potential of emerging computer technologies was El Camino Hospital in Mt.
Designed by the Lockheed Missiles and Space Company, the system installed at El Camino was an extension of its computer applications developed for the space industry. Technicon Corporation provided management for the project.
The system had two functions: Computerized physician order entry and documentation of nursing activities. Despite the promising start represented by El Camion, there was a general reluctance on the part of health care providers to adopt emerging technologies.
As a result, information systems and other technological advances in health care have significantly lagged behind other industries such as manufacturing, finance, and telecommunications. Although many stakeholders in the health care industry have recognized the potential importance of computers, initial applications were limited to a handful of researchers, hospitals, and forward thinking physicians.
The earliest successes in adapting technology to the health care industry were primarily addressed business functions, first in hospitals and later in private physician practices. The applications consisted of financial management information systems encompassing accounting functions collection of revenue and expenditure data and financial functions planning and decision support.
Data was used for reporting purposes and in financial planning to construct simple what-if scenarios Smith, Other applications included routine operational procedures such as scheduling and patient information databases.
As computing technology and capabilities increased, networking systems were developed that allowed providers to link with payors and automate claims processing and accounts payable.
The nonbusiness side of information technology continued to lag considerably behind the development of financial and administrative computing functions until the s. Increasing pressure from payors government, employers, and insurance companiesrising costs, and increasing technological capabilities have combined to propel health information systems forward.
The result is the development of applications beyond routine processing of administrative functions and a shift to what Tan and Modrow call a "new paradigm" in health care information technology.
Despite the acceleration of technology adoption in health care, there still exist barriers to full integration. In this essay, we will look at the obstacles that continue to hinder adoption of information technology in health care and then will consider two specific applications that have the potential to transform the art, science and practice of medicine: Decision support systems and electronic health records.
Obstacles to Information Technology IT in Health Care The obstacles to full adoption of technology in health care can be categorized into three areas: Cultural The organizational culture of health care is one that is dominated by physicians.
Physicians assumed their central role of authority since the movement out of family based medical care and into the scientific era of modern medical practice beginning in the early s and s. This role has been maintained through the apprentice-based training model, the tight network of collegial relationships, and the trust and status that society has granted the profession of medicine.
The advent of computers in the early s saw two types of responses by physicians in relation to technology and their position of authority in the delivery of health care. The responses are almost diametrically imposed.
Below is an essay on "Health Information Technology" from Anti Essays, your source for research papers, essays, and term paper examples. Data Storage, Retrieval, Security & Management Phase 1 . Health Information Technology research papers look into the term known for its wide range of computerized systems that connect individuals, providers, insurers and the government. Health information technology (HIT) is an umbrella term for a wide range of computerized systems that connect individuals, providers, insurers and the government. Health IT can support QI in many ways through data extraction and analysis enabled by electronic health records (EHRs), registries, and health information exchange (HIE). Introduction Revitalizing the primary care system in the United States is critically important to achieving high 1quality, accessible, and efficient health care for all Americans.
The first is the assumption that integrating computers into medicine would have no effect on the physician practice of medicine. Information technology IT was perceived to be remote from the clinical care much like business or maintenance operations — necessary and important functions but ancillary, not integral, to their work, i.
The opposite view was the perception that computers might eventually limit or even diminish their role in patient care and thus were viewed as a threat to physician autonomy Bernstein, Many physicians as well as other patient care providers were also concerned about issues of confidentiality.Health IT can support QI in many ways through data extraction and analysis enabled by electronic health records (EHRs), registries, and health information exchange (HIE).
Introduction Revitalizing the primary care system in the United States is critically important to achieving high 1quality, accessible, and efficient health care for all Americans. The current commercial health information technology (HIT) arena encompasses a number of competing firms that provide electronic health applications to hospitals, clinical practices, and other healthcare-related entities.
Such applications collect, store, and analyze patient information. - Learning Experience Journal Entry – Director of Health Information Management and the Supervisor of Medical Records Coder The purpose of this paper is to describe the role and functions of the Director of Health Information Management and the Supervisor of Medical Records Coder.
Jan 30, · Technology Topics for Research Papers. Updated on July 21, Virginia Kearney.
Should more funding grants from the National Institute of Health (which tend to support research projects without immediate practical applications) go to practical research projects which produce direct medical help to individuals? for technology Reviews: Key Topics.
Each article includes beginner-level background information on the topic, a description of current activities in this part of the field, and lessons emerging from the array of projects sponsored by AHRQ. The field of health information technology involves many technologies, and each one comes with an acronym Learn more about.
A WWAMI Rural Health Research Center policy brief, Access to Health Information Technology Training Programs at the Community College Level, identified two barriers for recruiting rural students to community college HIT training programs.