Health care access is often referred to as the ability to obtain health care services such as prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and the management of diseases, illnesses, and other health-impacting conditions (Fleming, 2009). The latest technological innovations in the health care industry today have enhanced social justice and enabled many individuals and populations all around the world to receive equal access to effective health care treatment and management in a much easier and quicker way. For instance, Moreira (2009) revealed that more and more people, through the increased domestic access to the internet, are found to be using the web to access health related sources and information. In fact, Powell, Darvell and Gray (2003) have stated …show more content…
Not only does the internet allow individuals around the world to look up their symptoms and consult a health professional at any time, from any particular location, but it also sanctions each individual to obtain reliable and accurate expert information, share health experiences and help empower other health consumers. Moreover, both telehealth and telemedicine is also being touted as a means to increase social justice and improve access to care, while reducing costs of transportation and expanding convenience to individuals in obtaining care (Brian, 2008). Brian (2008) has stated that access to care is a major issue in many regions where doctor-to-patient ratios are inadequate, or where there are not enough health care professionals available to meet the needs of certain populations. Concerning this, Oudshoorn (2011) discussed that over the past 40 years, modern technology and its continuously advancing innovations like telehealth and telemedicine have made it all possible for individuals and populations around the world to receive health care in many different …show more content…
Moreover, specialist and other health care professionals are also able to expand their reach through telemedicine and telehealth. As a result, it can be said that both telehealth and telemedicine have a unique capacity that increases access to services for millions of people and professionals around the world. These advanced technological creations certainly serve their purposes, as they enhance social justice by giving individuals and populations a fair and equal opportunity to receive the best level of care to which everyone is entitled to. Furthermore, due to the implementation of Electronic Health Records (EHRs) over the past decade, many health care institutions were able to provide seamless care and improve the speed and the quality of care given to the members of the public (Weinfeld, Davidson, and Mohan 2012). Weinfeld, Davidson, and Mohan (2012) expressed that there have been many improvements since EHRs were first introduced, especially among disadvantaged health care practices. These include reduced waiting times, duplicate tests, improved access to services, better management of health conditions and enhanced patients
Did you ever think about how much time is spent on computers and the internet? It is estimated that the average adult will spend over five hours per day online or with digital media according to Emarketer.com. This is a significant amount; taking into consideration the internet has not always been this easily accessible. The world that we live in is slowly or quickly however you look at it: becoming technology based and it is shifting the way we live. With each day more and more people use social media, shop online, run businesses, take online classes, play games, the list is endless. The internet serves billions of people daily and it doesn’t stop there. Without technology and the internet, there would be no electronic health record. Therefore, is it important for hospitals and other institutions to adopt the electronic health record (EHR) system? Whichever happens, there are many debates about EHR’s and their purpose, and this paper is going to explain both the benefits and disadvantages of the EHR. Global users of the internet can then decide whether the EHR is beneficial or detrimental to our ever changing healthcare system and technology based living.
It was just yesterday when Electronic health records was just introduced in healthcare industry. People were not ready to accept it due to higher cost and consumption of time associated in training people and adopting new technology. Despite of all this criticism, use of Internet and Electronic Health records are now gaining its popularity among health care professionals, as it is the most effective way to communicate with patient and colleagues. More and more hospitals and clinics are getting rid of paper base filling system and investing in cloud base storage.
Telemedicine is a tool that enables providers to deliver health care services to patients at distant location, and it is often promoted as a means of addressing the imbalances in the distribution of health care resources (Wager, Lee, & Glaser, 2013, p. 156.)
Unfortunately, the quality of health care in America is flawed. Information technology (IT) offers the potential to address the industry’s most pressing dilemmas: care fragmentation, medical errors, and rising costs. The leading example of this is the electronic health record (EHR). An EHR, as explained by HealthIT.gov (n.d.), is a digital version of a patient’s paper chart. It includes, but is not limited to, medical history, diagnoses, medications, and treatment plans. The EHR, then, serves as a resource that aids clinicians in decision-making by providing comprehensive patient information.
Horan, T., Botts, N., & Burkhard, R. (2010, August 4). A multidimensional view of personal health systems for underserved populations. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 1438-8871. Retrieved from http://web.ebscohost.com.ezp.waldenulibrary.org/ehost/detail?hid=15&sid=4b469aed-3a4c-4e9e-bb4a-1ddf188da74e%40sessionmgr13&vid=2&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZSZzY29wZT1zaXRl#db=mnh&AN=20685644
The purpose of telemedicine is to remove distance as a barrier to health care. While telehealth is an accepted resource to bridge the gap between local and global health care, integrating telehealth into existing health infrastructures presents a challenge for both governments and policy makers (HRSA, 2011). Today there are policy barriers that prevent the expansion of telehealth, including reimbursement issues raised by Medicare and private payers, state licensure, and liability and privacy concerns.
“Telemedicine is the use of medical information exchanged from one site to another via electronic communications to improve a patient’s clinical health status” (American Telemedicine Association, 2013). Telemedicine is the use of technology such as email, mobile devices, and computers to communicate health information (Mayoclinic.com, 2014). Telemedicine has enabled the use of communication technologies by healthcare professionals for the evaluation, diagnose, and the treatment of patients in rural areas (GlobalMed.com, 2014). Telemedicine is used in a variety of health care services like primary care, patients monitoring, health information sharing, health education (America Telemedicine Association, 2013). These services are delivered using various mechanisms such as video conferencing, personal health apps, e-visits (Mayoclinic.com, 2014). These technologies have been proven to increase access, to be cost efficient, to improve quality, and intensify patients’ satisfaction according to the America Telemedicine Association.
Among the main aims of health care reform and improvement is expanding healthcare access to different populations, which have been subjects to underserving for a long period. These include the poor, the previously uncovered, rural societies, and the minorities, to mention just a few. Great challenges definitely lie ahead, since several individuals start seeking access to the primary healthcare clinicians (Arnaert & Delesie, 2001). Telenursing assures to be a crucial tool to meet such needs. It refers to making use of the telehealth technology in conducting nursing practice and delivering nursing care. Because of the quick telemedicine technology adoption within the healthcare institutions, telenursing emerges as a fresh tool that provokes discussions
The purpose of this article is to review, summarize, and outline the key aspects to the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act of 2009. The outcomes discussed in this article are based on clinical, organizational, and societal outcomes based on EHR’s. Included in these outcomes is improvement in the quality of care, increase in financial and operational performance, patient and clinician satisfaction and conduction of research. The author also implicates disadvantages to EHR’s such as financial issues, changes in workflow, loss in productivity due to the learning curve caused by EHR’s and this is just to name a few. This article will use the benefits and drawbacks to further expand on the topic of electronic medical and health
The health industry has existed ever since doctors bartered for chickens to pay for their services. Computers on the other hand, in their modern form have only existed since the 1940s. So when did technology become a part of health care? The first electronic health record(EHR) programs were created in the 1960s around the same time the Kennedy administration started exploring the validity of such products (Neal, 2013). Between the 1960s and the current administration, there were little to no advancements in the area of EHR despite monumental advancements in software and hardware that are available. While some technology more directly related to care, such as digital radiology, have made strides medical record programs and practice management programs have gained little traction. Physicians have not had a reason or need for complicated, expensive health record suites. This all changed with the introduction of the Meaningful Use program introduced in 2011. Meaningful use is designed to encourage and eventually force the usage of EHR programs. In addition, it mandates basic requirements for EHR software manufactures that which have become fragmented in function and form. The result was in 2001 18 percent of offices used EHR as of 2013 78 percent are using EHR (Chun-Ju Hsiao, 2014). Now that you are caught up on some of the technology in health care let us discuss some major topics that have come up due to recent changes. First, what antiquated technologies is health care are still using, what new tech are they exploring, and then what security problems are we opening up and what is this all costing.
Advances in technology have influences our society at home, work and in our health care. It all started with online banking, atm cards, and availability of children’s grades online, and buying tickets for social outings. There was nothing electronic about going the doctor’s office. Health care cost has been rising and medical errors resulting in loss of life cried for change. As technologies advanced, the process to reduce medical errors and protect important health care information was evolving. In January 2004, President Bush announced in the State of the Union address the plan to launch an electronic health record (EHR) within the next ten years (American Healthtech, 2012).
Improving health is in the best interest of everyone, including non-health professionals. Health managers need to be constantly looking for ways to improve access to health care, the quality of the care, and cost containment. Often, the biggest barriers to accessing healthcare are cost and location. Lower income individuals just do not have the resources to have optimal healthcare, or cannot take the time away from employment to deal with health issues. One potential solution to help with these problems could be “telehealth.”
Studies have implied that, healthcare professionals who practice clinical features through EHR were far more likely provide better preventive care than were healthcare professionals who did not. (page 116). From 2004, EHR has initiated, even the major priority of President Obama’s agenda is EHR (Madison & Stagger, 2011). Health care administration considers EHR as the introduction of advanced technology which can improve patient satisfaction are can increase the financial incentives of the healthcare organization. Studies have pointed out that the federal policy is proposed to transform all medical records into EHR (Hebda & Calderone, 2010).
Governments and those in power from different parts of the world put more emphasis on the health of their followers to ensure that they are healthy and strong enough to contribute to the economic development of those regions. Public health refers to the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health through organized efforts and informed choices of society, organization, public and private, communities and individuals. However, it is worth noting that despite having many stakeholders and players who work towards the provision of this crucial service to the public, public health policies still face some challenges that make it difficult for health-care providers. Access to health care services is one of the widely
From state and federal levels, the healthcare industry has come a very long way, experiencing changes along the way. The development of advanced technology that has enhanced the quality of healthcare delivery systems will help all patients to be able to benefit. Doctors are able to access patient records at a faster rate and respond to their patients in a much more timely fashion. E-mail, electronic transfer of records and telemedicine will give all patients and physicians the tools needed to be more efficient, deliver quality care and deliver quality telecommunication at a faster pace than before.