IT System in Health Facilities

Smaller health facilities are unable to purchase the electronic gadgets since the income they generate is not sustainable to cater for the expensive purchases. What is more, the process of obtaining electronic devices is lengthy as most of them are imported from developed countries. In most cases, some countries where medical equipment are bought may fail to reduce the import duties, which makes healthcare organizations reluctant to embrace electronic medical records due to the initial cost of the IT infrastructure. The cost of the electronic devices used in health facilities is of significant concerns to both the private and the public sectors (Bitton et al. The public sector should be on the frontline to try and outdo the private health sectors so that government services can remain relevant and available to all.

Unfortunately, some health facilities have a rationed access to power such that there is no enough energy to sustain and run the electronic machines. The idea of an inadequate supply of electricity has made healthcare organizations abandon electronic systems despite the massive amount of funds spent to purchase them (Singh & Biswas, 2017). The resultant effect is delayed implementation of IT systems hence, which affects the functions of healthcare organizations. Impacts of Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act HIPAA was enacted to protect patients’ medical information. Before HIPAA, no federal regulation offered protection of patient’s information privacy, safety, and confidentiality (Wager, Lee, & Glaser, 2013 p. It is established that EHRs enhance the sharing of patients’ health information between different organizations, which can create efficiencies in many healthcare facilities (Collum & Menachemi, 2011).

In the past, healthcare providers used faxes and mail to transfer health information, but through the adoption of HITECH act, health information can be exchanged through EHRs in real-time, which is much more convenient and cost-effective. Thus, the primary advantage of the adoption of HITECH act is that EHR reduces unnecessary costs that may arise because one doctor cannot access clinical information that is stored in another doctor’s location. Another advantage is that healthcare providers can use electronic clinical data collected from the patients to do research that is useful to society. Last but not least, EHRs help healthcare providers to capture accurate patients’ charges, and this reduces redundant billing errors (Collum & Menachemi, 2011). Thirdly, the doctor requests for laboratory examination and send the patient’s information to the lab for the test via EHR.

Then, the patients go for the test in the laboratory. When the test is done, the results are sent back to the doctor. Fourth, the doctor calls the patient for the second time and writes a note outlining the prescribed drugs. Then the doctor sends the patient to the hospital's pharmacist. They must hold that information confidential. As for safety concerns, HIPAA security rule is to protect patients’ identifiable information in electronic and only health providers are allowed to have access to it. Privacy is different from confidentiality. The federal and state laws have outlined privacy concerns of an individual’s healthcare decision and information in court decisions (Prater, 2014). HIPAA strikes a balance that permits the use of health information while protecting those who seek medical care.

Last but not least, IT systems provide data-driven insights. According to Thimbleby (2013), patients can generate vast amounts of data, which is in the form of medical records associated with x-rays and blood test results. However, technology helps to process and deliver an enormous wealth of patient’s information in a continuous feedback loop; hence, improving the efficiency of healthcare organizations. The rationale for the improvement is that IT system makes patient care more efficient and more manageable. Notably, it can be predicted that IT within healthcare organizations will develop significantly in the next two decades. H. , Kress, D. H. , Barkley, S. , Kimball, M. Confidentiality, security, and privacy of HI. The University of Illinois at Chicago. Retrieved from https://healthinformatics. uic. edu/resources/articles/confidentiality-privacy-and-security-of-health-information-balancing-interests/ Ramaiah, M.