IT and Healthcare

Paper Summary:

The paper examines how health information technologies' (HIT) role has shifted from the siloed more traditional information process functions of the late 20th century to a more process-centric enabling role, with a focus on how critical patient care objectives can be accomplished through the use of information technologies. The analysis presented in the paper illustrates how the deployment of information technologies specifically within hospitals and, in a broader context, throughout healthcare providers, can significantly reduce mortality rates due to more efficient use of information as well as deliver a positive return on investment (ROI). In addition, the exponential increase in the use of analytics specifically for measuring the financial, operational and serviced-based metrics of performance are discussed in this analysis and used as the basis of defining how dashboards and balanced scorecards are increasingly being used to monitor healthcare systems and process performance. The paper also looks at how quality management programs, originally designed to bring hospitals and healthcare organizations into compliance, are serving as the foundation of increased patient satisfaction and a more concerted effort to create enterprise content management (ECM) and knowledge management (KM) processes and systems as well.

Outline:
Abstract
Introduction
Theory
Methodology
Literature Review
Data Analysis
Findings and Discussion
Conclusions and Recommendations
Bibliography

From the Paper:

"Technology's role as an enabler of process change within healthcare is exemplified in the many process areas that are experiencing significant improvements in focus and performance. BPM and BPR approaches once used predominately in commercial services and manufacturing industries are increasingly being used in healthcare to streamline and make more efficient processes aimed at saving lives and making the entire business models of hospitals more efficient (Roy, 1995). Health Information Technologies (HIT) accentuate, enhance the most critical processes hospitals and healthcare providers rely on when serving patients (Poulos, Gazibarich, & Eagar, 2007). The business process revolution that Hammer (2001) helped to define with his extensive work in this area is serving as the catalyst of HIT's adoption globally throughout the healthcare industry."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Susan Athey, Scott Stern. (2002). The impact of information technology on emergency health care outcomes. The Rand Journal of Economics, 33(3), 399-432. Retrieved March 12, 2008, from ABI/INFORM Global database. (Document ID: 246359991).
• Alex Bottle, Paul Aylin. (2008). Intelligent Information: A National System for Monitoring Clinical Performance. Health Services Research, 43(1p1), 10-31. Retrieved March 25, 2008, from ABI/INFORM Global database. (Document ID: 1413640651).
• Berner ES, Detmer DE, Simborg D (2004) Will the Wave Finally Break? A Brief View of the Adoption of Electronic Medical Records in the United States. J Am Med Inform Assoc. 2005 January-February;12(1):3-7. Epub 2004 Oct 18. Includes Interlocking Computer-based Health Records (C3PRs) supported by knowledge (Research &Development / Education & Training with IT/informatics infrastructure)
• Caper, Philip (1988). Defining Quality in Medical Care. Health Affairs, 7(1), 49. Retrieved March 28, 2008, from ABI/INFORM Global database. (Document ID: 1100876).
• Codman, Ernest A, MD. The Product of a Hospital. Surgery, Gynecology and Obstetrics. Vol. 18, 1914, pp. 491-96.

More papers on IT and Healthcare:

• Research Proposal # 113084 : "IT and Healthcare Performance"
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