Health Information Technology In Health Care

Technology has changed the way Nursing homes (NH) document their patients plan of care, medical records, and outside doctor visits (Podiatrist). Health Information technology (HIT) applies the use of information systems for the administration, the operations management of the Nursing home, and direct clinical functions (Nauert & Fields, 2012). Policymakers have decided that electronic communication will make improvements on the quality, safety, and efficiency of care to Medicaid and Medicare clients. Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (HITECH) mission is to provide a virtual network to all health care providers, but long term care (LTC) facilities was not incorporated in the legislation. Nevertheless, Nauert

and Fields (2012) state how “ Knowledge of current HIT use in LTC is important as policymakers address technology use in LTC -- an environment with significant and a setting that will expand as the population ages. However, for over a decade LTC facilities have electronically submitted claims and a minimum data set (MDS) of standardized clinical assessment data on their residents. The MDS transmittal is in accordance with the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (OBRA) of 1987, the Resident Assessment Instrument and other aspects of nursing home reforms “ (p. 5-11). When it comes to doctors visiting the Nursing home, like Podiatrist, they now use their smartphones to document the patient's care to prevent Medicare fraud in the U.S.. Technology allows the podiatrist to record the date, time and the actual location of the of the photographs (Rosenblatt 2014). Using smartphones with sufficient cameras can get a podiatrist pictures of the patients toes and feet in very closeness.