Health Information Exchange and Nurse Informatics
Course Outcomes
Through this assignment, the student will demonstrate the following ability.
(CO 3) Analyze ethical and legal concerns related to nursing informatics while using, designing, managing, and upgrading information systems. (POs 4, 6)
(CO 6) Describe health information systems within healthcare setting and the profession of nursing in all practice domains and settings including electronic health records (EHR), their management and patient-care information technology (IT). (PO 4)
(CO 7) Explore trends and issues in NI and their impact on nursing practice in all domains. (POs 9, 11)
Health Information Exchange and Nurse Informatics
This study reviews the discipline of nursing informatics in relations to Health Information Exchange (HIE). To accomplish the purpose, the study will expound on the rational of using Health Information Exchange in health care. Factoring in the practice of nurse informatics in relations to the opinion and the concerns of the patient as the primary customer will assist in understanding the viability of the HIE to the health care.
Rationale
Health Information Exchange (HIE) is a critical element in nursing care. The possibility and ability to exchange patient’s information electronically across the relevant organization require an understanding of the sensitive aspect of information as well as proper knowledge and skills to conduct the process of data transfer. The aim of HIE is to ensure access and retrieval of patients clinical information to offer safe, timely and continued service. As an informatics, the nurse is required to demonstrate efficacy in applying the acceptable standards and principles in nursing, computer and information science to partner with the patient in the efficient provision of care (Thede, 2012). Hence the rationale for choosing health information exchange in relations to nursing informatics is based on two factors, the integration of patient engagement in health care and the availability of reliable improved of health care information that is handled by highly professional staff members.
The Main Argument
When handling patient information exchange, a nurse practicing informatics is required to be cautious, in addition to following the laid down framework of hospital requirement, the nurse is required to ensure that there is competence in handling the information. This is mainly achieved by laying down guiding principles that will guarantee seamless practice while delivering service. Engaging the patient with their medical information is required to be done skill fully. The aim of the nurse should be to demonstrate a sense of priority for the patient as the central and integral part of the health information exchange process. Partnering with the patient in the process of care should be backed up with precise information. Patient engagement ensures that they take a personal initiative to manage and control their healthcare. Due to the complexity and amount of data involved in health care services, the nurses are met with the need to find information at the shortest time possible to provide the required services. The health care facilities require a system that avails information easily at the same time meets the demand for sensitivity and privacy of information. In this light, using Health Information Exchange offers the health care services the benefit of easy tracking of information along with the ability to securely handle patient’s information. Integrating the aspect of informatics knowledge and skills in this topic brings out the need for the nurse in service to practice the knowledge gained through the process of practice training. Moreover, handling and exchange of information required.
Confirmed studies have indicated that Health Information Exchange is the needed solution towards optimum safety and quality care for the patients (Hincapie & Warholak, 2011). HIE promotes the enhancement the implementation of the Meaningful Use requirements in health care. The exchange system is highly used by physicians to locate relevant information for care. The nurse’s process of care is enhanced by the system because it is beneficial in providing clinical information. The fast-paced emergency services benefit by having access to reliable and precise information that eliminates repetition. This way the emergency services can use the exchange information to offer quick services with minimized errors. Health Information Exchange provides objective data, the data is convenient and can easily be replicable incase it is required in various places at the same time.
The Benefits of Health Information Exchange
The advantages of using the Health Information Exchange ensure that the quality of health care has been improved. This is attained by reducing errors in medication and health care services. By providing clear and reliable information of to the patient, the patient can take charge of their health and make the relevant follow-ups. Further, the patient can make significant inquiries on their health-giving the doctor the initiative to have interest to partner in the health issues of the patient. The information exchange system is a cost effective system which ensures that the cost of documentation has been lowered. The process reduces the paperwork hence saving cost and time for the staff that needs to input and file the records. This way the exchange framework increases service efficiency. Proper exchange of information is beneficial for better medical care and follow-up, HIE eliminates unnecessary and repeated services, by having clear information the health care provider will not offer the same services such as testing on multiple times (Terry, 2010). This is because the channel of information is sufficient in ensuring that there are clear reporting and monitoring of patient progress.
The Limitations of Health Information Exchange
The need for privacy and safety of information has been one of the limitations in implementing Health Information Exchange. The fact that the information can be transmitted electronically poses the question of interference of information during the process of transmission. Further, the question of systems being hacked and medical records exposed to the public is rampant. The patients require absolute confidence from the health care facility that their information is secured. In most cases, the patient enquires the process and framework by which the management of the facility follows to ensure that the data is secured. The high cost involved in the initial installation of the exchange system is high. Besides, to implement the process, there is the need for proper training as well as the time for transition from the earlier system. The time lost in addition to the cost involved may hinder quality service hence will result in increased negative outcome in the process of care.
Conclusion
Health Information Exchange is vital in assisting the health care process in offering efficiency in health care. The integration of nursing informatics in health information exchange assists the nurses to demonstrate their skills and knowledge learned in health care practically. The health information exchange has profoundly enhanced the process of care by ensuring the distribution of information is precise and can assist to follow the progress of the patient effectively. The integration of the electronic based Health Information Exchange has raised concerns to the patients due to the security and safety of information. With the growing issues of hacking high-security systems, the patients lack confidence in the process. However, finding out the measures that the management of each health care facility is involved in may assist in giving confidence to the patients.
References
Hincapie, A., &Warholak, T. (2011). The Impact of Health Information Exchange on Health
Outcomes. Applied Clinical Informatics, 2(4), 499-507. doi:10.4338/ACI-2011-05-R-0027
Mcgonigle, D., &Mastrian, K. (2014). Nursing Informatics and the Foundation of Knowledge. Jones &Bartlett Publishers.
Thede, L. (2012). Informatics: Where Is It? OJIN: The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing, 17(1). doi: 10.3912/OJIN.Vol17No1InfoCol01
Terry, N. (2014). Pit Crews with Computers: Can Health Information Technology Fix
Fragmented Care? Indiana University Robert H. Mckinney School Of Law Research Paper, (2014-4). doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2383470
