Deck 24: Information Technology and Ehr: Adoption Requirements, Initiatives, and Managemen

Question 1

Have you encountered materials either at your place of work or elsewhere that discuss the HITECH financial incentives for either hospitals or physicians? If so, do you think these materials did a good job of describing the incentives? Please explain.

Answer 1

Health information technology for economic and clinical health act (HITECH):
This act was enacted under the American recovery and reinvestment act 2009. The objective of this act is to expand and encourages the health information technology. The Health information technology for clinical and economic health act main goal is to improve and develop the quality of healthcare business.
In U Country, many start-up healthcare units and well recognized healthcare companies use materials that discuses health information technology for economic and clinical health act (HITECH).
The following are the incentives programs (under HITECH) that are most commonly used in the healthcare industry:
Hospital incentives programs:
This program is based on the inpatient hospital services and hospital must have meaningful electronic health records users to be eligible for payments. Eligible hospitals can obtain base amount payment of $2,000,000 along with discharge related payments during the span of four years. The eligible discharge related amount are paid in the terms; 100% in the year 1, 75% in the year 2, 50% in the year 3, and nothing thereafter in the year 4.
Eligible professionals' incentives payments:
The eligible professional incentives according to health information technology for economic and clinical health act are paid only to physicians defined by law who are known to be meaningful electronic health records users. These incentives payments will not be made to hospital related eligible professionals who might be otherwise eligible. In this program, the maximum amount a physician can obtain decreases every year.
"The above mentioned materials are doing good job for explaining incentives."
Many analysts and experts find the incentives programs explained by the health information technology for economic and clinical health act useful and beneficial for the hospitals and physicians. It is recognized that, there is a reasonable value for the service rendered. Some points that are beneficial in these materials are; there are no partialities in the payment structure, and hospitals are getting benefited for usage of electronic health records.

Question 2

Do you know of any private sector contributions to EHR such as those described in this chapter? If so, what are they? Please describe.

Answer 2

Health information technology (HIT):
It is usually software, hardware, related licenses or, technologies, upgrades, intellectual property or package solutions traded as services that are planned or supported by health care organizations or patients for the electronic maintenance, formation, exchange of healthcare data or access.
"Private sector companies use electronic health records very effectively."
Some private sector healthcare companies such as AH. Hospital and C.H Hospitals has contributed to change in the healthcare information management. Private sector companies have led the way in demonstrating how electronic health records can successfully be implemented and conceived.
The below mentioned are some private sector contributions to electronic health records:
• My message centers : Exchange of secured emails with the physician's office
• My medical records : It is related to the individual's electronic medical records
• Pharmacy centers : Helps to manage prescriptions and consult the drug encyclopedia features
• My plan and coverage : This provides facts regards person's benefits and plans
• Appointment center : This feature helps to get appointment with the doctors and for other healthcare services.

Question 3

Do you use electronic health records in your own work? If so, how do you use them?

Answer 3

Electronic health records:
It is an electronic edition of patients' medical history that is used and maintained by the service providers over a period of time. The records includes all the significant managerial clinical data pertinent to that individuals care under a particular provider, including, progress notes, medications, problems, and demographics.
Nowadays, the electronic health records usage are increasing in several clinics and hospitals in the U Country. This usage has benefitted the healthcare unit to improve its service.
The following are the usages of the electronic health records:
• This record consists of patient's clinical health information and demographic, such as problem and history lists.
• The electronic health records provides;
• Clinical health support
• Supports physician order entry
• To note down and query information related to quality of healthcare service
• Helps in exchange electronic health information and combine those data from other source.
By having electronic health records, it benefits the organization in several ways such as;
• Offers up-to-date, complete, and accurate information about the patients
• Helps to have a quick access of patients records
• Enables to offers safer and more reliable prescription
• Minimizes costs through reduced paperwork, decreased duplication testing, improve health and safety
• Helps the service providers to improve efficiency and achieve their business objectives

Question 4

Do you know of a healthcare organization that is either initially installing or upgrading its electronic health information technology? If so, can you describe how this organization is going about it?