Workflow Assessment for Health IT Toolkit Essay

Posted: December 19th, 2022

Workflow Assessment for Health IT Toolkit Essay

Please respond to the following discussion with the 1 references and 3 more APA 6th ed within 2 years By Offer and support an alternative perspective using readings from the classroom or from your own research. In a positive way.Thanks 1 Koppel, R., & Kreda, D. A. (2010). Healthcare IT usability and suitability for clinical needs: Challenges of design, workflow, and contractual relations. Studies in Health Technology and Informatics, 157, 7–14. Analyzing Workflow through the Workflow Assessment for Health IT Toolkit Analyzing the workflow of an institution when implanting a new technology is paramount (McGonigle & Mastrian, 2018). There are tools that provide the nurse with guidelines on ways to best analyze workflows during this time (McGonigle & Mastrian, 2018). Workflow Assessment for Health IT Toolkit Essay. The workflow assessment for health IT toolkit is a resource that provides nurses and institutions during the planning, implementation, and use of the IT health system (U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, n.b.d). When reviewing this tool three concepts were identified as useful to apply when redesigning a workflow in the institution where I work. The first of these concepts is to learn more about the workflow (U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, n.b.d). Analyzing the workflow provided workflow tools examples in which you can create checklists during each phase of the implementation of new technology (U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, n.b.d). These checklists identify tasks and system requirements that are necessary to the established workflow before the implementation of the technology (U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, n.b.d). Creating flowcharts of current workflow is essential when choosing the correct system for the organization (U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, n.b.d). This could be applied during the meeting that take place with the executives and design representatives during the planning phase (U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, n.b.d). Workflow Assessment for Health IT Toolkit Essay. Evaluating these workflows that are in existence will lead the company to pick the technology or system that best matches the current flow (U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, n.b.d). The second concept that was identified is to present educational presentations to staff and explain why we care about the workflow and how it changes with the technology (U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, n.b.d).

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This can be applied by powerpoint presentations that are performed in groups during the implantation of the technology (U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, n.b.d). The power points include a description of what workflow entails, how others implemented the system and it positively changed workflow, and specific questions and answerers directed to how the new system will affect current workflows (U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, n.b.d). Getting staff input will help the system be more effective and identify areas in which the workflow can be better (U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, n.b.d). The third concept identified when redesigning the workflow is to use current tools to measure the current workflow and redesign existing workflows (U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, n.b.d). These tools include benchmarking, flow charts, interviews, and usability (U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, n.b.d). Benchmarking has evaluated the best practices from other institutions and applying them to the current organization (U.S.Workflow Assessment for Health IT Toolkit Essay.  Department of Health & Human Services, n.b.d). Flow charts are a visual way to show workflows and steps in the process of adopting new ones (U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, n.b.d). Interviewing individuals helps to gain knowledge in their current beliefs about workflow and the need for change, and the opinions on how workflow can be improved (U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, n.b.d). Usability is the identification of how user-friendly the system is and if it is simple enough to increase workflows instead of cumbersome enough to decrease workflow (U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, n.b.d). The IT nurse and organizational leaders can apply these tools during each step of the implementation process (U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, n.b.d). Article summarization and application The article I selected was “Implementing Clinical IT in Critical care” this due to my current position in the intensive care unit, and I wanted to know how specific technology systems would improve workflow (Ginny, 2003). The article pointed out that when selecting a system for the critical care unit, it would have to match the fast-paced workflow and complex data requirements (Ginny, 2003). The article made several points to identify when selecting the right clinical information system for the workflow (Ginny, 2003). The first point is that the patient data must be integrated and seamless between all caregivers and departments (Ginny, 2003). With complete integration of the rest of the system in other departments, physician orders, and pharmacy this will increase the workflow and decrease time wasted (Ginny, 2003). The second point was the point of care capabilities must be functional where the patient’s clinical data can be viewed at all times in every environment so that decisions can be made quickly on a real-time basis (Ginny, 2003). The third point made was the system must include medication safety and efficacy (Ginny, 2003). The system should include a barcode scanning system that checks the five medication rights, that is then linked with a system to check medication interactions specific to the patient this will increase the safety of the patient and make the nurse’s workflow both safer and more efficient (Ginny, 2003). Workflow Assessment for Health IT Toolkit Essay. The system should also include automated alerts and reminders (Ginny, 2003). Timely notifications that provide the physician alerts of crucially ill patients have shown to decrease the time the physician reviews each case daily (Ginny, 2003). Therefore, improving workflows and highlight where time is best spent in the ICU for the physician (Ginny, 2003). These alerts will be customized for each hospital according to protocols and best practices. The article points out that integration with medical devices is an essential part of the workflow and patient safety when selecting a clinical IT system (Ginny, 2003). The system should be synced with the patient’s cardiac monitors, so that information such as vital signs are recorded in real time and flow over to the electronic health system (Ginny, 2003). This ensures accuracy and efficiency and data collection (Ginny, 2003). Next streamlining the documentation that allows the nurse to copy and forward, update charting, and review previous histories of the patient to prevent re-entry of the information can increase the workflow (Ginny, 2003). The point is also made that nurses should chart by exception in order to decrease the amount of time spent at the computer (Ginny, 2003). Providing snapshots of the information in the electronic system allows physicians to view pertinent data instead of having to sort through each tab which increases workflow (Ginny, 2003). Lastly, the article points out that the system should have the ability to retrieve required documentation for standards of care to ensure compliance with JACHO standards that can be accessed quickly and thus, reducing the amount of time nurse managers spent reviewing charts (Ginny, 2003). Implementing these tactics will increase the workflow in my organization. This article points out several ways the workflow can be increased when implanting an electronic health record (Ginny, 2003).Workflow Assessment for Health IT Toolkit Essay.  In my institution in the ICU, we have all of these above suggestions and utilize an electronic health record daily. This has given the bedside nurse quicker access to the patient’s labs, diagnostic testing, and vital signs (Ginny, 2003). This increases the awareness, and better compartmentalizes my day as a nurse (Ginny, 2003). The workflow is dramatically increased when these considerations are taken into account when using the electronic health record (Ginny, 2003). Importance of monitoring the effect of technology on workflow Although the use of technology has proven to increase patient safety and improve patient delivery it should be monitored regularly (McGonigle & Mastrian, 2018). However, just the existence of the electronic health record or technology does not guarantee it will be used to promote better patient outcomes the technology significantly slows workflow due to poor design or slow implantation it can dramatically affect the patient and the nurse (McGonigle & Mastrian, 2018). Monitoring how the technology affects workflow can determine if it meets the needs of patients and clinicians (McGonigle & Mastrian, 2018). A team dedicated to monitor and address these concerns is necessary to ensure that all areas of the system are positively affecting the clinician’s workflow (McGonigle & Mastrian, 2018). When the workflow matches the system it is more likely to achieve the purpose of increasing patient outcomes and safety (McGonigle & Mastrian, 2018). As nurses in order to be a change agent one must become involved in this process and promote the ideas of others to better ensure an increased workflow (McGonigle & Mastrian, 2018). References Ginny, M. (2003). Implementing Clinical IT in Critical Care: Keys to Success. Nursing Economic$, (2), 89. Retrieved from https://ezp.waldenulibrary.org/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=edsovi&AN=edsovi.00006073.200303000.00010&site=eds-live&scope=site McGonigle, D., & Mastrian, K. G. (2018). Nursing informatics and the foundation of knowledge (4th ed.). Burlington, MA: Jones and Bartlett Learning U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. (n.b.d.). Workflow assessment for health IT toolkit. Retrieved, January 6, 2019, from https://healthit.ahrq.gov/health-it-tools-and-resources/evaluation-resources/workflow-assessment-health-it-toolkit. Workflow Assessment for Health IT Toolkit Essay

Analyzing workflow

The discussion on workflows within the health care environment offers some important points on workflows and their value in management especially when handling new technology. In fact, it mentions that workflow is important during the whole lifecycle of technology to include the planning, implementation and use steps. In addition, the discussion presents learning about the workflow, education presentations to stakeholders, and use of current tools to measure performance as important concepts when redesigning existing workflows. Besides that, the discussion presents points on the importance of monitoring workflows, noting that this step aligns performance with expectations while identifying the need for changes to how the workflow is structured and implemented (McGonigle&Mastrian, 2018. Although the discussion is informative, there are some points that may have been overlooked. Firstly, the discussion on the important concepts should have mentioned the need for understanding clinical and administrative aspects of workflow, need for regular evaluations to support improvements, and need for linking workflow to the technology lifecycle that includes the planning, design, implementation and use phases(Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, 2019). Secondly, the discussion should have drawn a direct correlation between using workflow in the right way and reporting improved efficiency and performance in the health care environment. This would be an acknowledgement that the wrong use of workflow would have a negative effect on resource utility and value (Koppel &Kreda, 2010). Finally, although the discussion acknowledges the importance of evaluating workflows, the implications of failing to monitor workflows has not been well discussed. In fact, it should be mentioned that while workflows allow for efficient and effective use of resources to maximize value, using workflows in the wrong way could have a negative impact on performance (Ellis & Bach, 2015). Overall, it can be summarized that workflows are important management tools that seek to improve performance through directing the efficient and effective use of resources.Workflow Assessment for Health IT Toolkit Essay

References

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (2019). Workflow assessment for health IT toolkit. Retrieved from https://healthit.ahrq.gov/health-it-tools-and-resources/evaluation-resources/workflow-assessment-health-it-toolkit

Ellis, P. & Bach, S. (2015). Leadership, management and team working in nursing (2^nded.). Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications.

Koppel, R., &Kreda, D. A. (2010). Healthcare IT usability and suitability for clinical needs: Challenges of design, workflow, and contractual relations. Studies in Health Technology and Informatics, 157, 7–14.

McGonigle, D., &Mastrian, K. G. (2018). Nursing informatics and the foundation of knowledge (4^thed.). Burlington, MA: Jones and Bartlett Learning.Workflow Assessment for Health IT Toolkit Essay