To prepare For this Assignment, consider the following scenario:
The radiologist at your hospital reports to the administrator that 30 patients have been diagnosed with brain tumors during the past 2 months. The administrator requests a report detailing the number of patients diagnosed with brain tumors during the past 6 months. However, the radiology department uses a free-text entry for their diagnoses, and their system does not communicate with the larger electronic health record (EHR) system installed at the hospital. You recognize an opportunity to address challenges with the EHR system in your hospital and decide to also write a proposal for a solution to improve your hospital’s EHR system.
Based on this scenario, analyze each of the challenges described below that the hospital may need to address:
Vocabulary standards
Interoperability
Workarounds
Patient safety
Patient privacy and security when pulling reports
Reflect on potential solutions to each of the challenges described.
Research change theories in the Walden Library (or other academic sources) that might assist in your convincing the institution to implement potential solutions.
recommends the following resources:
SAGE Knowledge: a collection of specialized encyclopedias in several subject areas that includes many types of theories.
Computers and Applied Sciences Complete: journals covering engineering, computer theory and systems, new technologies, and social and professional context.
Reflect on how an electronic health record system analytic API could help interpret the data found in the scenario. Write a proposal for how the hospital in the scenario might overcome each of the following challenges related to the scenario:
Vocabulary standards
Interoperability
Workarounds
Patient safety
Patient privacy and security when pulling reports
Recommend a change theory that might assist in your convincing the hospital administration to implement the EHR solution and improvements you propose. Be specific and provide examples.
Support your proposal by explaining how the EHR solution might benefit data analysis for the promotion of improved health outcomes.
Note: The title page, introduction, summary, and references are in addition to the required page count.
Rubric:
Write a proposal for how the hospital in the scenario might overcome each of the following challenges related to the scenario:
Vocabulary standards
Interoperability
Workarounds
Patient safety
Patient privacy and security when pulling reports–
Recommend a change theory that might assist you in convincing the hospital administration to implement the EHR solution and improvements you propose. Be specific and provide examples.–
Support your proposal by explaining how the EHR solution might benefit data analysis for the promotion of improved health outcomes.–
Written Expression and Formatting – Paragraph Development and Organization:
Paragraphs make clear points that support well-developed ideas, flow logically, and demonstrate continuity of ideas. Sentences are carefully focused neither long and rambling nor short and lacking substance. A clear and comprehensive purpose statement and introduction are provided that delineate all required criteria.–
Written Expression and Formatting – English writing standards:
Correct grammar, mechanics, and proper punctuation–
Written Expression and Formatting – The paper follows correct APA format for title page, headings, font, spacing, margins, indentations, page numbers, running head, parenthetical/in-text citations, and reference list.–
Informatics Challenges in Practice
Student’s Name
Institutional Affiliation
Course
Instructor’s Name
Date
Informatics Challenges in Practice
Introduction
Electronic health record (EHR) systems are designed to perform many functions in health care to improve care delivery, safety, and patient outcomes. The system can be either efficient or inefficient based on how possible challenges are addressed (Baumann et al., 2018). This paper discusses some of the challenges identified in the scenario, proposed solutions, and a change theory for implementation.
Identified Challenges
Vocabulary standards include medical terms incorporated into an EHR system. The terminologies in electronic health records enable the system to communicate with other EHR systems (Baumann et al., 2018). The system lacked vocabulary standards, hence, could not communicate with the larger EHR system installed in the hospital. Interoperability challenges were identified in the scenario. Interoperability is the ability of the electronic health record system to be easily integrated with another system to share important data. In this scenario, the system has failed to transfer medical records and health care information to the administrator’s system (Li et al., 2021). Patient safety is in jeopardy with the EHR system because it does not operate per the required standards. Workarounds are actions taken by the users to overcome EHR constraints. Workarounds can circumvent or temporarily fix perceived workflow hindrances (Boonstra et al., 2021). This feature is lacking in the system, which is why the problem could not be resolved temporarily. Patient privacy and security when pulling reports is another issue (Baumann et al., 2018). A malfunctioned system like the one described in the scenario has challenges of privacy and security when transferring data.
The Proposed Solution to Address the Challenges
Each one of the identified challenges can be resolved by putting in place effective measures. The identified problems are interrelated and interconnected such that when one is solved, the other also becomes solved (Li et al., 2021). To improve the electronic health system, enabling standardization of terminology and normalization of data to those standards. Another recommendation is that staff should be trained on effective workaround standards that can help them temporarily overcome the challenges. For instance, they can copy and paste data from one system to another rather than trying to register data directly to the next (Boonstra et al., 2021). Patient safety can be enhanced by double-checking the entries to ensure that accurate and proper data was entered into the EHR. Privacy and security problems can be overcome by setting strong passwords that should not be shared with unauthorized individuals. the Machine should be logged off when not in use. Last but not least, the organization can adopt Health Catalyst Data Operating System (DOS) (Li et al., 2021). The software can be integrated into the EHR system to enhance data documentation, storage, and health information sharing services.
Change Theory
Kurt Lewin’s change model will be used to implement the changes. It has three main stages such as unfreezing, changing, and refreezing (Burnes, 2020). During unfreezing, the implementation team creates awareness regarding how the current system is hindering service delivery, patient safety, privacy issues, and eventually patient and organizational outcomes. possible solutions are also communicated (Burnes, 2020). The changing stage involves implementing the proposed solutions. It is marked by uncertainties and fear, making the change difficult to adopt. Refreezing is the final stage and includes reinforcing, stabilizing, and solidifying the new norms (Burnes, 2020). This change model will be effective in implementing the proposed solutions.
Conclusion
Electronic health records improve the workflow and health care delivery in hospitals. Several challenges of EHR systems include vocabulary standards, interoperability, patient safety issues, privacy issues, and others. This paper has proposed possible solutions to the identified problems. Additionally, Lewin’s change model can be effective to guide the implementation of the changes.
References
Burnes, B. (2020). The origins of Lewin’s three-step model of change. The Journal of Applied Behavioral Science, 56(1), 32-59. https://doi.org/10.1177/0021886319892685
Baumann, L. A., Baker, J., & Elshaug, A. G. (2018). The impact of electronic health record systems on clinical documentation times: A systematic review. Health policy, 122(8), 827-836. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.healthpol.2018.05.014
Boonstra, A., Jonker, T. L., van Offenbeek, M. A., & Vos, J. F. (2021). Persisting workarounds in Electronic Health Record System use: types, risks and benefits. BMC medical informatics and decision making, 21(1), 1-14. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12911-021-01548-0
Li, E., Clarke, J., Neves, A. L., Ashrafian, H., & Darzi, A. (2021). Protocol: Electronic Health Records, Interoperability and Patient Safety in Health Systems of High-income Countries: A Systematic Review Protocol. BMJ Open, 11(7). 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-044941