How Technology has Improved Healthcare Delivery
Technology has used in improving healthcare delivery and managing medical services and institutions for a while now. Technology has been used to not only improve the quality of care but also to manage other healthcare functions. The functions include managing patient data, supervision of employees, service delivery, and administration duties.
Having been in the medical field for over 10years, I have worked in various medical institutions. My first experience with a lack of efficiency in the medical field was in the form of a client’s complaints on how the system deficiencies were inconveniencing her. I had to put extra effort into meeting her need at the nursing home, and she appreciated it. She encouraged me to go into management. Before then, I had not given it a thought, but upon her suggestion, I realized that I could use my capabilities to make changes. The use of information technology is one effective way to improve efficiency in the healthcare sector and improve service delivery. Nursing Home administration requires the supervision of services as well as medical services. The use of Technology has aided these functions and greatly improved the quality of service.
Use of Technology to improve healthcare delivery and information management
The main function of Technology in healthcare has been to improve the quality of medical services and to improve patient outcomes. Technology is efficient and effective, meaning that the chances of human errors are no longer existent (Broughton et al., 2013). However, research studies were done on nursing homes in the US to paint a bad picture. Many nursing homes still lag when it comes to the adoption and integration of new Technology. In recent times, there has been a concerted effort by administrators of medical facilities to have all patient data converted into electronic forms for easier management and storage (Liu and Castle, 2009).
To put it into perspective, by 2030, about 20% of the population in the US will be over 65 years. This means that the need for nursing homes and caregivers of the senior generation is bound to increase soon. 60% of families will be able to take care of the need of the senior members of their families. 33% of the senior population will have some form of cognitive disability and would require formal nursing care from specialists.
The increased number of people in nursing homes will, therefore, strain the existing resources unless measures are taken. Among the most effective measures are training of medical personnel and incorporating Technology in service delivery. Simple technological solutions such as EMR and HER can be used to monitor the patients and keep their records.
Healthcare Administration
As envisioned in my earlier research paper, the performance improvement of extensive healthcare systems requires the setting of clear goals, adopting technological changes, measures the results, and improving diagnostic methods. Healthcare administration is about improving all aspects of operational competencies. The improvements ensure that the institutions their methods of operations by improving their efficiency to ensure quality service delivery. This, in turn, improves the patient outcome (Wallick and Stager, 2002).
In healthcare administration, the most important aspects of the management are employee supervision, financial administration, and the most important quality service delivery. How sound an institution finances greatly determines the development projects they will undertake. It also influences the type of systems that the institution can adopt in its operations. System competencies are an essential factor that determines how the institution conducts its functions, such as monitoring patients and supervising the employees.
By adopting information technology in their operations, healthcare institutions will be able to improve the most important factors that ensure optimal performance. Balancing administrative functions such as institution finances and employee supervision with patient needs is what healthcare administration majorly entails. The use of information technology in these functions leads to efficiency and effectiveness. The results translate to a general higher patient outcome. Ideally, this ensures that the whole system is a success (Wallick and Stager, 2002).
Analysis of the implications
The assertion that Technology has greatly improved the delivery of healthcare services is a known fact. The use of technology to improve medical care takes a two-way approach. These are its impacts on the institutions and their impact on the patients.
The implications of the use of Technology in healthcare stems from its use in management or admiration and in the monitoring of medical personnel in the institutions. Technology has revolutionized how institutions conduct functions like management of finances. Billing, reimbursement, expenditures, and even acquiring supplies needed are now easily done through Technology. Planning and budgeting functions are also now more efficient. Similarly, employee supervision and management have improved. In general, management and administration are now more efficient.
On the patients’ side, the implication has mainly been on delivery of service. The handling of patient data and information is now more organized thanks to information technology. More time and effort are now spent on offering medical services to the patient. For this reason, patient outcome has improved since Technology can also be used to offer medical services. There are now less human errors.
Challenges Faced
The main challenge has been the costs related to adopting new Technology. Acquiring new technological systems requires a substantial amount of resources. The information technology system will have to be bought. It would also require finances to implement the project and maintain it once it is operational. In addition, the medical personnel will have to be trained on how to use the new Technology. Most medical institutions find these additional costs as a major factor that hinders them from acquiring new Technology to use in healthcare delivery.
The second major challenge is that the admirations and management of most healthcare facilities are reluctant to adopt new Technology. For instance, the uptake of information technology among nursing homes is still low. There are several factors that contribute to the management being reluctant to adopt Technology in their operations like costs and technical knowhow. However, the slow adaptation rate still remains a challenge.
Risk of Adopting Technology in Healthcare
Just like any other invention technology has its advantages and disadvantages. There are several risks that come with the adoption of Technology in healthcare. Human touch still remains the best medical therapy in most treatment methods. While Technology might be efficient and not prone to human error, it cannot replace the human touch. Too much use of Technology means that the interaction between medical practitioners and patients will be reduced.
For instance, in nursing homes, the patients with cognitive disabilities would require empathy, love and support during their therapy. Use of Technology means that patients will mostly use technological therapeutic methods that lack human care and support. While this might improve the service being offered, it might not necessarily improve patient outcome. Therefore, it might be counterproductive.
Opportunities in Using Technology in Healthcare
The uptake of technology and information technology systems in Nursing Homes still remains relatively low. This means that there is still a lager gap to be filled. The best opportunity therefore lies in development of information technology systems that are tailor made to suit the need of nursing homes.
For example, nursing homes need a system that would be able to keep track of patient progress and their individual needs. Patients in these institutions may have individual needs like dietary and specific therapy depending on their health condition. The institution would also have to regulate their visitation as well as contact their next of kin on a regular basis. A system that fits all these functions among others will therefore be popular among these healthcare institutions.
Additionally, there is still need to research on some of the healthcare issues that affect this demography. Cognitive conditions like Alzheimer disease has been researched for a while and progress has been made. The use of Technology in the research has been essential in making the research successful. Similarly, nursing homes can use information technology to research on the best care methods that would suit the current population. Healthcare needs are dynamic. By using information technology, nursing homes would be able to keep up with the latest trends and ensure that the healthcare offered suits the needs of their patients.
Conclusion
Use of Technology in healthcare has had a major influence on the improvement of the quality of medical services. Though nursing homes have not adopted Technology as would be envisioned the situation is bound to change in the soon. The impact of Technology on healthcare, especially on nursing homes will help improve patient care as well as aid in the administration and management of the institutions. Due to the gap in adoption of Technology in these institutions, there exist numerous opportunities. Similarly, the information technology systems can still be improved to ensure they mitigate the risks and improve the quality of service.