Midtown Family Clinic - Essay Example

Organizational requirements and analysis

The clinic needs to eradicate the system of recording information through paperwork throughout to a more civilized form, and that is using the computers to store information regarding the patients. It is also facilitated by the scarce human resource in the Midtown Clinic. The technology is strategically implemented to improve record-keeping and save time on the already known patient as their demographic details are in the system. Hiring other nurses is typically a challenge due to financial resources, and EHRs are highly encouraged. The main aim is to improve the care and services provided by avoiding time wastage. Computers also consume less space, and the information stored is vast and cannot easily expire unless the machinery is off. Exponential growth is expected further in clinics and hospital institutions by setting intranets used in sharing information within public networks and amongst the shareholders. Internet is applied to help distribute the information and also for remote diagnostics. Following the current technological growth in recent years, telematics and health informatics have seemingly undergone growth, and so does our organization. Some of the components of the information system include database, people, network, software, and hardware (Yuan, Dudley, Boscardin & Lin, 2019). The five components can be used in input performance, processing, feedback, output, and control as well. The hardware contains output/input devices, media devices, and the operating system. Faxing, billing can be done electronically, especially in arithmetic (billing). Other administrative activities at the front desk are organized with the doctor available, like taking refill requests of prescription. The strategic goals include: aiming to operate efficiently and make a profit, which allows reinvestment in the clinic. Expanding the clinic is also another strategic issue to allow more space of practice. Implementing the EHR system is another strategic plan. This could help perform the operations fast through computerized records.

Data Items Needed for EHR System

• Patient demographics: Helps in identifying the patient

• Administrative data: putting regulations in soft copies

• Billing data: assists when determining health costs

• Progress notes: evaluation of the patient

• Vital signs: important when assessing a patient to know normal functioning

• Medical histories: is vital when there is a need to know more information about the patient.

• Diagnoses: documented to help keep records of patient health information

• Medications: the drugs are indicated for the patient's use

• Lab and test result: for keeping clinical information regarding the patients

• Allergies: allergic information helps avoid some drugs due to reactions.

Functional Requirements

• Physician tools: medication can be traced to avoid abuse. Orders of medication submitted through the EHR system

• Administer care plans and patient-specific instructions

• They are writing prescriptions with warnings, order referrals, and specific dosing of the patient.

• Scheduling and managing tasks

• Printing out the information in case of necessity.

• Specialized data view and remote access.

• Patient privacy and secure authentication

• Manage workflows, data retention, and integrity

• Record data (health), created data for patients and other clinical documents

• Transferring data and recent directory of the provider information

The nurses in the clinic can access and share information through computers. When a patient comes, their data is put and stored in the organization's computer system. The interventions are also kept here. Vivian Halliday, Maria Costa, and Dr. Thompson always get information from patients. Dr. Thompson can record patient information and share it with other nurses on different desktops. Patient history and medication are also indicated. Maria Costa and Vivian, as nurses give medications following prescription shared online by the physician and document patient history and assessment data. The clinic needs improvement in many areas.

Data sharing

By sharing information, the providers minimize readmissions, reduce duplicate testing, and minimize the chances of getting medication errors. The HIPAA regulations also have to be considered when patient information is of concern. The data is shared among the organization's operators to enhance the flow of patients and reduce time wastage while collecting similar information from different individuals. Only authorized people should access the information of the client (health data). The data shared include the following: radiology images, immunization status, allergies, medications, demographics, laboratory test results, billing information, personal statistics like weight and age, and vital signs. The interchange of data standards includes clinical data exchange, communication among medical devices, EMRs, digital imaging communications, and data exchange for administration (Lian, Cleland-Huang & Zhang, 2017, September). Through foundational interoperability, the data is sent from one system to another (system) IT. Interpretation is not crucial, but acknowledging a payload receipt is possible.

Ethical, Legal and Regulatory Policy Issues

There are legal issues associated with health records, and more so, this is about the privacy of information regarding the patients’ health. Ethical questions can be asked primarily on the protection of medical information ownership. The patient has to be protected from privacy breaches. Access to the information is restricted and only validated and verified people running the clinic should get it, and only when necessary (Lian et al., 2017). Adolescents are considered here again, especially when the information is to be protected from the parents of the teenager. Some data may be sensitive, and the adolescent might not like sharing.

System recommendation

The consultant would recommend using IT in health care, whereby computers are used to keep the patient information. The legal and privacy issues are of much concern. Technology can reduce the costs of operation in the clinic by reducing paperwork and repetitions. Productivity and care quality might also improve when technology is involved. Because the clinic was based on paperwork, the proposed framework of IT could assist improve documenting patient information and progress. The medical information on paper will be reduced and time saved to care for the patients. The path to medical activities is made accessible to any stakeholder and also the GVM structures (Yuan et al., 2019). It facilitates treatment, diagnosis, cost measurement, patient referrals, and outcome. GVM network can be used in implementing quality improvement and assessment, start and establish good communication with the patient, and also in risk management. Implementing IT enhances patient centered-vision and improves medical records access. The Internet should be available to share information in the clinic. Monitoring the patient will be much easier now that measures against losing information are in place.