The Pros and Cons Health Information Technology: Is it Worth Implementing?
Introduction
Various studies have been undertaken in an attempt to highlight the relevance of adopting health information technology in healthcare. While there are those who are of the opinion that health information technology is beneficial to the healthcare system as a whole, others are convinced that the risks and complications posed by health information technology are too significant, and hence the implementation of the same in healthcare settings ought to be halted. This text highlights the arguments that have been presented over time for and against the implementation as well as adoption of health information technology. Upon evaluating and assessing these arguments, I will embrace the side of this debate that appears to have the greatest sway.
Discussion
From the onset, it is important to note that health information technology do not have an assigned definition. This is to say that quite a number of definitions have been offered by various authors in an attempt to define health information technology. In the words of Ciampa and Revels (2012), “healthcare information technology is the use of hardware and software in an effort to manage and manipulate health data and information” (4). This is the definition of health information technology that will be adopted in this text.
When it comes to the benefits of health information technology that have been promoted over time, three themes emerge. These are; quality, safety, and efficiency. To begin with, with regard to quality, it is important to note that technology has been credited with the further enhancement of quality in various industries. Has the healthcare industry been able to follow suit? As Joseph (2013) points out, health information technology effectively leads to the further enhancement of decision making in healthcare settings via the support of knowledge growth....
This, in turn, leads to better outcomes.
When it comes to safety, good example of health information technology in this case would be computerized physician order entry (CPOE), whereby the various instructions emanating from the physician such as medication orders are entered not on paper, but electronically. Poor handwriting has in the past been blamed for a number of errors (Balgrosky, 2014). With health information systems the probability of the occurrence of such errors are limited as the relevant information is transmitted electronically, with opportunities for the enhancement of accuracy being built-in. Electronic health records (EHRs) also come in handy in the further enhancement of patient safety. Thanks to EHRs, healthcare providers can be able to identify key factors such as drug allergies the patient has, past surgical events, mental health status, etc. (Joseph, 2013). This is more so the case given that in the healthcare field, negative drug interactions as well as drug allergies remain one of the most serious concerns. When providers are able to gain access to the history of patients, especially via web-based EHRs, they are empowered to make decisions that are better informed upon careful assessment of possible drug contraindications.
On the efficiency front, health information technology has in some quarters been credited with betterment of healthcare systems and processes. Joseph (2013) is of the opinion that, for instance, “communication tools would allow providers… to efficiently track medical interventions and progress.” This eliminates unnecessary delays associated with physical confirmation efforts. It would also be…
