Healthcare Technology and Healthcare Trends

Healthcare Technology and Healthcare Trends

Technology has been embraced in the healthcare systems to help improve delivery of care. The conventional ways of communication has continued to change as technology advances. This paper delineates on the various information technologies in use in various health care systems and how they have impacted on healthcare systems as well as the clinician.

Different information technologies do exist. These include computerized provider order entry (CPOE ), Electronic health record (HER), Clinical decision support system (CDSS), Bar coding, picture archiving and communications system (PACS), Automated dispensing machines (ADMs), Radio frequency identification (RFID), Electronic materials management (EMM) (Medpac, 2004).

Computerized provider order entry (CPO) is an ordering and fulfillment system that facilitates transfers and ordering of various materials in the organization. It includes referral, procedures, orders and transfers among many others. This system helps to reduce medication errors. It also impacts on the clinicians because it helps them to avoid errors and provide quality healthcare. Electronic health record (HER), is yet another information technology that has greately impacted on the healthcare system. This technology allows recording of all data concerning patient. Information of patient can be integrated and accessed in all the departments. This system has improved the level of data recording and has reduced the time it takes to retrieve information of the client (Medpac, 2004). Clinicians and organizations have also benefitted from these systems, as they can be able to retrieve information of the patient and provide better diagnosis. Clinical decision support system (CDSS) allows the healthcare professional to access real time diagnostic and treatment information that helps them to make appropriate decisions. It has helped to improve the quality of healthcare provided. Nurses can be in a position to offer better treatment as this allows them to make sound judgment about the status of the clients. Bar coding, is also an information system that operates or captures data through optical scanning. It helps to match the information of the medication and that of the patients it reduces errors. Clinicians can therefore, be assured of minimized errors when it comes to medication for their clients. Picture archiving and communications system (PACS), is also an information technology system used in healthcare. This system captures and integrates diagnostic and radiological images from various images such as X-rays (Medpac, 2004). It has assisted in providing up to date data information which has improved provision of healthcare to the patients.

Automated dispensing machines (ADMs) helps in distribution of medications. It ensures quality of care and helps clinicians reduce errors in doses. Radio frequency identification (RFID) is technology for tracking patients and following how they are doing. It improves patient care and ensures that clinicians reduce time for locating their patients and following whether they are adhering to their medications or not. Electronic materials management (EMM) on the other hand, deals with the distribution of materials and management of inventory. It functions like the enterprise resource planning and ensure that there is proper distribution of medical supplies and materials. It therefore, ensures that clinicians do not run short of any supplies hence enhancing the quality of healthcare provided.

Part II.

There are noticeable differences in the healthcare systems currently as well as 50 years back. The trends have moved from healthcare system based on indemnity plan which was primarily based on what the patient required to a managed care system. A managed care system is concerned about putting in place prior measures even before the person becomes sick. Such measures include education about various ways of preventing disease and taking of insurance covers to meet the cost of medication among others. Changes in cultures, beliefs and values and changes in situations and economic trends have also contributed to spiraling costs of medication evidenced by the per capita expenditures as well as measuring expenditures in healthcare in relation to the gross domestic product (Conklin, 2002). Rising costs of individual and family healthcare insurance is one of the factors that have greatly impacted on health care utilization. Insurance cover plans have impeded many people from seeking quality healthcare services.

References

Conklin, T. (2002). Health Care in the United States: An Evolving System. Retrieved from: http://quod.lib.umich.edu/m/mfr/4919087.0007.102/–health-care-in-the-united-states-an- evolving-system?rgn=main;view=fulltext

Medpac. (2004). Chapter 7: Information technology in health care. Report to the Congress: New Approaches in Medicare. Retrieved from: http://www.medpac.gov/publications%5Ccongressional_reports%5CJune04_ch7.pdf