Examine scenarios that feature workflow issues related to the HITECH Act and its meaningful use objectives
Examine scenarios that feature workflow issues related to the HITECH Act and its meaningful use objectives Essay.
Workflow is a term used to describe the interconnected steps and processes that nurses and other health care professionals complete on a day-to-day basis (McGonigle & Mastrian, 2012, p. 226). Many existing workflows contain inefficiencies and areas that could be improved using new technologies or evidence-based practice. Workflow issues are often referred to as “gaps” because they indicate a disparity between the current state and the optimal, future state. Many gaps in health care exist related to the implementation and optimization of electronic health records (EHRs). The Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act was passed in 2009 to assist organizations in identifying these gaps and encouraging the “meaningful use” of EHRs. The meaningful use objectives seek to fulfill the IOM six aims of patient care (patient-centered, timely, effective, efficient, equitable, and safe).
In this Discussion, you examine scenarios that feature workflow issues related to the HITECH Act and its meaningful use objectives. You identify specific workflow gaps and consider how you would conduct a gap analysis to gather more information about the gaps. This Discussion allows you to explore workflow gaps and meaningful use objectives to prepare you for completing the Course Project, which is also centered on workflow gaps and their relevance to meaningful use objectives
Examine scenarios that feature workflow issues related to the HITECH Act and its meaningful use objectives
Scenario
General Health Hospital is implementing new outreach programs and preventive care support groups for patients with certain conditions or health risks such as diabetes, smoking, and obesity. Philip, a nurse leader, is the manager of a team of nurses who have been asked to organize these programs and groups and to identify patients who would be eligible for and interested in being involved in these opportunities. However, Philip and his team have run into a variety of challenges and problems as they attempt to complete these tasks. In identifying patients to contact about the outreach programs and support groups, Philip’s team has had to browse the hospital’s EHR system. The team has also run across significant holes in the EHR system as they try to contact patients; many patients’ contact information is inaccurate or out of date. Furthermore, Philip’s team has partnered with the hospital’s Appointments Desk personnel in sending reminders about meeting dates and times to patients who express interest. However, the Appointments Desk often either neglects to send out these reminders or sends duplicate reminders to only a few patients because the personnel do not have a way of tracking who should be contacted and when.
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