



Study with the several resources on Docsity
Earn points by helping other students or get them with a premium plan
Prepare for your exams
Study with the several resources on Docsity
Earn points to download
Earn points by helping other students or get them with a premium plan
Community
Ask the community for help and clear up your study doubts
Discover the best universities in your country according to Docsity users
Free resources
Download our free guides on studying techniques, anxiety management strategies, and thesis advice from Docsity tutors
This paper explores the significance of technology, particularly electronic health records (ehr), in nursing decision-making. It examines the benefits of ehrs, including enhanced quality of care, improved efficiency, and better care coordination. The paper also discusses the selection and implementation process of ehr systems, highlighting the importance of nurse involvement in these stages. Finally, it addresses the potential risks associated with ehrs and emphasizes the need for comprehensive risk assessment.
Typology: Assignments
1 / 6
This page cannot be seen from the preview
Don't miss anything!
Information System Application for Decision Making The healthcare landscape is evolving rapidly. Technology facilitates decision-making process in a pivotal way. It has given healthcare providers access to diverse tools. Tools which can help them to make informed decisions. These technological tools also help to provide patients with quality and consistent care. In healthcare, technology holds has potential to enhance decision-making. It provides accurate and timely information. It also enhances the collaboration of care teams by facilitating seamless communication (Alowais et a., 2023). All these underscores why the involvement of nurses as frontline healthcare providers in the selection and implementation of technology is critical. Nurses can be instrumental in identifying the appropriate technology solution. They can help to ensure the adopted technology is implemented appropriately to enhance patient care outcomes. The aim of this paper is to explore the significance of technology in nursing decision-making. It takes a specific focus on electronic health records (EHR). Electronic Health Records (EHR) The National Institute of Health (NIH) defines EHR as a patient’s medical chart in a digital version (McDonald & Humphreys, 2022). The provider maintains the chart over time. EHR can include all of the essential administrative data relevant to the care of an individual under a specific provider. In addition to being a record for the attending provider, most EHRs also provide critical details about a patient’s health to the patient themselves and other providers. Impact of EHRs on Decision Making EHR systems have many benefits for providers. They benefit patients. Many other stakeholders also benefit from EHRs. One notable benefit of EHRs is that they enhance the quality of care. An electronic form of patient records gives providers quick and easy access to
patient information (Upadhyay & Hu, 2022). This helps providers to make informed decisions about the care of a patient. Critical information can be accessed in real time. For example, emergency staff can access vital patient information. Information such as life-threatening allergies can help them provide the appropriate care to a patient. This can happen even when a patient is incapacitated to provide such information. This translates to timely and quality decisions regarding patient care. An electronic health record system can also help providers avoid serious issues that can be potentially threatening by alerting them about possible safety concerns. The outcome is enhanced patient outcomes. EHR systems have the potential to enhance efficiency in a healthcare organization. Efficiency is a critical aspect of timely decision-making. In healthcare, professionals are sometimes required to make fast. Some of these decisions can be the life-saving. Without efficient systems, it would be practically difficult to make timely decisions. For example, EHR helps physicians to access updated information about a patient and hence make informed decisions about their care plan. Similarly, electronic systems can help to automate the scheduling process, which can allow providers to send reminders to patients (Tapuria et al., 2022). Electronic health record systems also have the potential to improve care coordination and the quality of decisions made by a care team. As technological practices in the healthcare field advance, the need for better-coordinated care has also increased. Since a care team consist of many professionals, such as clinicians, specialists, and primary care physicians, the view of the healthcare team can get tangled up with symptom clusters and disconnected facts. EHR systems can help to improve care coordination and eliminate the fragmentation of care. The systems have the potential to organize and integrate the health information of a patient and make it readily available to all authorized persons involved in the care plan. EHR systems help with care
end users. Training of users and the internal maintenance team is also a cost center. The system also requires ongoing support and maintenance, which require budgetary allocation. It is critical for the organization to consider these and other relevant costs to ensure there is sufficient planning to support the selection and implementation process. Risk Assessment As enumerated throughout this paper, EHRs have numerous benefits. However, they also present potential risks. Digital tools can be breached. Systems can fail. Systems can also experience downtimes causing workflow disruptions. A comprehensive risk assessment is essential. It can help to identify and mitigate potential risks. The HITECH Act, for example, encourages organizations to adopt EHR. However, they must ensure patient information is protected from unauthorized access and use. Role of Nurses in Selection and Evaluation Nurses use EHR systems for many purposes. It could be for medication administration, documentation of patient care, among many other uses. Therefore, their involvement is critical. Their insights into clinical workflows and identification of areas where the system can streamline processes are critical in the needs assessment phase. During vendor evaluation, nurses provide a clinical perspective of the usability and functionality of the EHR system. Furthermore, nurses can act as champions for the system's adoption. They can assist their colleagues in navigating the system and integrate it into daily practice (Booth et al., 201). Additionally, they assess the impact that an EHR system has on clinical workflows and patient care outcomes. Their feedback is essential in optimizing and improving the system. Technology, particularly EHR systems, has a significant influence on nursing decision- making. By understanding the selection process, implementation, and risk assessment associated
with technology applications, nurses can effectively leverage these tools to enhance patient care quality and outcomes. Active involvement of nurses is essential. It helps to maximize the benefits of technology in healthcare.