Health Informatics – Key Assignment Final Draft

Health Informatics – Key Assignment Final Draft

As the EHR system continues, it is critical to move about and collaborate with other departments to offer thorough guidance. This guidance will help sustain and support a continued health information project while starting this new venture. Moreover, the executive team requires a roadmap of what has been delivered in terms of achievements regarding the departments. This paper identifies two specific departments and explains how the solution will meet their special requirements; furthermore, it contains information on the required training before the implementation, as well as the vendor support and maintenance expectations after the implementation.

Department-Specific Needs

Nursing Department

The Nursing Department is a cornerstone of our healthcare delivery system, requiring robust support to enhance its operations post-EHR implementation. One of the primary needs identified is the integration of a comprehensive medication administration module. Nurses have requested a system that supports barcoded medication administration (BCMA) to reduce medication errors and enhance patient safety (Aguirre et al., 2019). This module should allow for seamless documentation of medication administration, including dosage, timing, and administration route, directly into the patient’s electronic record.

Furthermore, nurses have expressed the need for easy access to patients’ past medical histories and care plans. The EHR system must allow fast and easy access to comprehensive patient information, including medical history, medication allergies, and current treatment plans. This feature is crucial in enhancing care organization, particularly during shift handover and in cases with complicated patients. Features like Point-to-Point Secure Messaging between the nursing staff and the medical practitioners are also needed to support integrated and timely care.

Radiology Department

To support the needs of the Radiology Department, there are several functionalities necessary for the EHR to improve the ability of the department to function effectively with the new EHR system. The first and most significant need is the PACS, which must be implemented and interfaced with the EHR. With this integration, EHR will enable radiologists to view and assess imaging data within the EHR interface, which will enhance the speed of diagnosing and managing patient’s cases (Pierre et al., 2023). Moreover, the perfusion and functional imaging data should also be incorporated into the system and guided with tools for detailed image analysis.

Additionally, the radiologists wanted good reporting features in the EHR. Ideally, the system should allow for and simplify the creation, storage, and retrieval of radiology reports so that they are easily available to the ordering physicians and other caregivers. The flexibility to update templates for different imaging examinations and to generate automated reports according to pre-set parameters should also improve procedural productivity. Compatibility with other tools used in the diagnosis of intricate issues will also be another benefit.

Training Requirements

The need for training is considered paramount in the successful deployment of the EHR system. Thus, detailed training sessions should be designed and conducted for all the employees in the Nursing and Radiology Divisions before the implementation of the solution. Staff members should also be trained according to their roles so that every person is trained to perform tasks he/she encounters within the working day (Tsai et al., 2020).

When it comes to the Nursing Department, training should mainly be provided for the use of medication administration modules, navigation of patient records, and communication encryption tools. The technique of having nurses practice using the new system through training sessions that are conducted through simulating actual work environments appears to be very effective. This specific approach assists in creating confidence as well as minimizing the learning curve in the course of realization.

The training implemented in the Radiology Department should put more focus on how to apply and operate with PACS and image analysis as well as report generation features. Supervised training scenarios will also be essential, especially when the radiologists will be able to approach the system and go through the routine operations they are expected to do. It will be important to complete staff and prescriber training related to decision support tools and further work on custom reporting templates as needed to make certain radiologists are using the new EHR system to its full potential.

There will be more benefits to be derived by both departments by way of post-implementation training and sustenance. New features, changes in cost, and other important details should be explained in detail by refresher courses and additional training sessions so the staff will always be effective, ensuring long-term effectiveness and client satisfaction.

Vendor Support and Maintenance

Post-implementation vendor support and maintenance are vital to the smooth operation and continuous improvement of the EHR system. Initially, intensive vendor support will be required to address any issues that arise and to ensure that the system is functioning as expected. This support should include 24/7 technical assistance, on-site support during the initial rollout, and dedicated account managers to oversee the implementation process (Vos et al., 2020).

It will be crucial to frequently partner with the vendors of the EHR system to update the EHR system with the new technological innovations and the current set of rules and regulations. This means that constant software updates, new security patches, and system-related updates will be imperative for maintaining the credibility and functionality of the system. The best scenario for the implementation of any software is to negotiate with the vendor for at least a five-year maintenance contract after the facility has been installed, and this is with the possibility of renewal, depending on the requirements of the particular facility.

In particular, further vendor training and maintenance support services should be included in the list of maintenance elements. This will ensure that new staff members can be sufficiently trained and also serve as a method for training current staff members to learn new features of the system and the existing improvements. Vendor-based users and group discussions are also important sources for developing such best practices and working through such issues.

Conclusion

To achieve optimal results in the implementation of the EHR system in our healthcare facility, one should take into consideration the peculiarities of addressing key departments’ requirements, offering all-encompassing training, and ensuring sound vendor support and maintenance. The improvements needed in the facility are in the nursing department, especially in the medication administration system and the records access system, and in the radiology department, where there is a need for PACS integration and advanced reporting systems. The evaluation and implementation of ineffective training for each department, with continuous vendor support, arms the use of the EHR system in each department for long-term success. In this regard, the recommended guidelines presented below may help the departments proceed with the implementation and achieve better operational advancement with resultant enhancement in patient care.

References

Aguirre, R. R., Suarez, O., Fuentes, M., & Sanchez-Gonzalez, M. A. (2019). Electronic Health Record Implementation: A Review of Resources and Tools. Cureus, 11(9). https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.5649

Pierre, K., Haneberg, A. G., Kwak, S., Peters, K. R., Hochhegger, B., Thiparom Sananmuang, Padcha Tunlayadechanont, Tighe, P. J., Mancuso, A., & Reza Forghani. (2023). Applications of Artificial Intelligence in the Radiology Roundtrip: Process Streamlining, Workflow Optimization, and Beyond. Seminars in Roentgenology, 58(2), 158–169. https://doi.org/10.1053/j.ro.2023.02.003

Tsai, C. H., Eghdam, A., Davoody, N., Wright, G., Flowerday, S., & Koch, S. (2020). Effects of electronic health record implementation and barriers to adoption and use: A scoping review and qualitative analysis of the content. Life, 10 (12), 1–27. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7761950/

Vos, J. F. J., Boonstra, A., Kooistra, A., Seelen, M., & van Offenbeek, M. (2020). The influence of electronic health record use on collaboration among medical specialities. BMC Health Services Research, 20(1), 676. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-020-05542-6

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Key Assignment Final Draft
There is another health information project starting within the facility, and you have been assigned a role with that project. However, you need to leave guidance for the departments you’re currently working with so that they can continue moving forward with the EHR implementation. Also, the executive team would like a final assessment of your work with the different departments. For this assignment, please address the following in 3-4 pages.

Health Informatics – Key Assignment Final Draft

• Choose 2 departments in your facility, and describe the specific needs that they have requested that will help enhance their work after the implementation of the electronic health record (EHR).

• Discuss what training will need to be done prior to implementation.

• What type of vendor support and vendor maintenance will you need after implementation? How long will this be needed?

APA references must be present for all sources used.