The Impact of IT on the Health Service in Britain - Essay Example

?The Impact of IT on the Health Service in Britain By Table of Contents Introduction Information technology (IT) is an emerging trend that is being used in every walk of life particularly in health sector. It is a fact that IT has the capacity to enhance the field of health sector by offering excellence, safety measures as well as helpful facilities for health care. On the other hand, the circulation of information technological aspects is generally adopted at low level in health care as compared to other fields of life. In this scenario, the IT services providers are making strategies to enhance information technological aspects in health sector. Although there are some difficulties that comprise cost related aspects, implementation of complicated applications of IT that might often require considerable working methods in addition to essential refined changes. But policies that are helpful in motivating additional investment should be cautiously considered due to possibility of unintentional features (MedPac, 2004; Turban et al., 2005). This paper describes the impact of IT on the health service in Britain. The basic aim of this research is to discuss the effects of information technology on British healthcare sector. Information Technology in the British National Health Service The Great Britain has announced the facts and figures about rapid growth in information technology related aspects in health sector. According to this report the development of IT related health services is growing with high speed. Additionally, this report estimates about major spending that resulted in expansion of the NHS (National Health Service). This is seen first time in the history of United Kingdom (Chantler et al., 2006). Moreover, in UK health expenditure increased by (7.7%) of the overall G.D.P ratio that is (9.4%) in excess of 5 years (from 2002-03 to 2008). In this scenario, one important aspect for this substantial increase in enormous spending due to need to build more efficient application of IT (information technology). However British officials are planning for a considerable investment that is approximately 18 billion British pounds and 32 billion US dollars. These enormous funds allocation would be helpful in connecting roundabout (36 000) common practices that includes primary care physicians. In these practitioners there are 8000 practitioners along with 270 severe hospitals, public sector or psychological health care institutes in Brittan with a national information system (Chantler et al., 2006; Chantler & Ashton, 2009).  However, whenever medical organizations purchase some item related to information technology they must analyze it according to several clinical or health care related operations along with several important functionalities that are offered by other vendors. In this scenario, we can classify these operations into three categories that could be useful in health sector in Brittan. First category is organizational and monetary applications that smooth the progress of bill system. Second category includes accounting and further managerial responsibilities. Third category includes medical applications that make possible or give input into the health care procedures and overall structure that facilitates the managerial and clinical tasks mutually (MedPac, 2004). Video Conferencing in British Health Sector Videoconferencing is an emerging concept in information technology. In Britain this aspect is one of the rapid growing technological factors in health care. According to a report of TANDBERG (which is a one of the leading video conferencing service providers), the use of these services is increased 39% as compared to past. It means that importance and rapid growth in videoconferencing has been adopted by general public as well as medical professionals. Moreover it is a true fact that Video conferencing is playing a vital role in major areas of healthcare sector. In this scenario, we have different examples of its usage in various fields such as in medical, clinical education community jobs like meetings, human being resources (HR) along with plan factor. The medical field is one where we have seen a significant development and interest (UK Economic, 2010). Furthermore, there are several considerably important uses of video conferencing in health care sector. For instance, the video conferencing is utilized for deliverance of telemedicine. Although it is one of the pioneering official campaigns as we have example of National Stroke Initiative. Through its support speed of care become serious in order to recognize thrombolytic cases. In this way it is also useful in dissolving some clots that might be a reason of stroke. European Union (EU) wants to provide telemedicine or Telecare access to its citizens (UK Economic, 2010). Social Networking Sites for Health Care In this technological era where trends in information technology are always changing, the use of social networking sites for health care is common as well as vital. In today’s busy environment where no one has time either for his/her health care, healthcare professionals, health check issues and clinical matters are active among patients, knowledge curves and constant informational overloads. We have seen that now all the medical related information we can acquire through social networking websites that are related to health care on internet. Moreover medical staff for consulting health care related issues can now be immediately resolved through the cooperation of surgical staff, specialized doctors, nurses and practitioners all might expand valuable connections along with standard expert’s knowledge by joining these social networking sites for medical professionals. We have example of various social networking sites that are helpful for public to gain knowledge about health care from professionals in an easy way, these social networking site include Doctor Networking, Doc2Doc, Healtheva, Student Doctor Network, SurgyTec, etc. (Linda, 2009). Mc Luhan’s role in World Wide Web  Marshal McLuhan was the first who described the world as a global village. This man predicted the development of the World Wide Web that is commonly abbreviated as WWW. As we know that the 20th century is considered to be such place that makes arrangement of sphere for constant communication. In this way we can access as well as assess information, innovative thoughts as well as communication through messages is accessible instantaneously to us from any distant location round the globe. Thus this virtual world is efficient, trouble free also one does not require a passport to pass through. It is all due to information technology through which brief communication became the number one follower of social as well as human development; conversely, if we want communication we might require eliminating the language difficulty (Corvino, 2011). Role of Mass media in Health Sector There are lots of advanced trends in information technology which are now used in Britain for health care sector. In this scenario we have an example of the University of Plymouth since this university has successfully created an incorporated digital networking structure for voice talk, video coverage infrastructure along with data throughout the region. Theses versatile functionalities are used in various fields in order to convey a range of educational and training program’s also help full in heath care sector in “The Great Britain” (Vranch & Marshall, 1999). Moreover the University's Institute of Health Studies which is reputable for establishing numerous knowledge centers especially for clinical staff education in the region's hospitals. However, these centers are not linked with SWAN, while this could depend upon the security of the National Health Service (NHS) network along with confidentiality of patient records that include all of its related information. As we know that satellite communication is distinct one in health care sector but adoptable, its usage due to its facilities like live digital satellite technology. In this scenario, this technology makes it superior as compared to others due to its better voice clearance and image quality, high confidential and also have low transmission expenses as compared to other technologies that we saw on terrestrials (Vranch & Marshall, 1999). Disadvantages According to the statistics given by the Cato Institute of Britain’s National Health Service (NHS), presently there is no ideal development when we talk about health care in England.  Some desire to have unrestricted medical care to make longer one’s life as much as possible, but on the other side there needs a quota system for health care to control spending (Health and Hygiene , 2011). Conclusion The information technology is performing major functions in all the walks of life. At the present, all the organizations make use of information technology tools and techniques to run their business. In the same way IT is playing a significant role in healthcare sector. This paper has described the impact of IT on health sector in Britain. This paper has discussed several ways the information has been used in health care sector. Although information technology could play a significant role in health sector but still there is a dire need for expanding the scope of IT in health sector. Bibliography Chantler, C. & Ashton, R., 2009. The Purpose and Limits to Professional Self-regulation. The Journal of American Medical Association, 302(18), pp.2032-33. Chantler, C., Clarke, T. & Granger, R., 2006. Information Technology in the English National Health Service. The Journal of the American Medical Association, 296(18), pp.2255-58. Corvino, J., 2011. Simplified of Traditional Characters, Perception on Chinese Translation. [Online] Available at: http://ezinearticles.com/?Simplified-of-Traditional-Characters,-Perception-on-Chinese-Translation&id=5845102 [Accessed 18 April 2011]. Health and Hygiene , 2011. Health Care Systems Around the World: Britain?s National Health Service. [Online] Available at: http://healthandhygiene.info/health-care-systems-around-the-world-britains-national-health-service/ [Accessed 18 April 2011]. Linda, 2009. Top 25 Social Networking Sites for Healthcare & Medical Professionals. [Online] Available at: http://medicallabtechnicianschool.org/2009/top-25-social-networking-sites-for-healthcare-medical-professionals/ [Accessed 18 April 2011]. MedPac, 2004. Information technology in health care. [Online] Available at: http://www.medpac.gov/publications/congressional_reports/June04_ch7.pdf [Accessed 17 April 2011]. Turban, E., Leidner, D., McLean, E. & Wetherbe, J., 2005. Information Technology for Management: Transforming Organizations in the Digital Economy. New York: Wiley. UK Economic, 2010. TANDBERG Video Conferencing Sales Up 39% In UK Healthcare Sector. [Online] Available at: http://www.economy-news.co.uk/tandberg-video-conferencing-sales-up-39-in-uk-healthcare-sector-16201004.html [Accessed 18 April 2011]. Vranch, A. & Marshall, J., 1999. Integration of Digital Satellite and Terrestrial Networks for Education and Training. [Online] Available at: http://net.educause.edu/ir/library/html/edu9947/edu9947.html [Accessed 19 April 2011]. Read More