Kristi Henderson's Strategic Goals

The purpose of this paper is to discuss how technology has impacted the health care delivery system. Health care technology is advancing at an increasingly rapid rate in the United States, and globally. Patients and providers are witnessing these changes through the use of telehealth, and telemedicine applications. Telehealth, and telemedicine are often used interchangeably, however there is a difference between the two applications. Telehealth is the use of technology to deliver health care, health information, or health education at a distance (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, n.d.).

Over the past decade, virtually every major industry invested heavily in computerization. The heath care industry was no exception to the rise in the use of technology. These technologies are starting to allow health care practitioners to offer faster, and more efficient patient care than ever before. No doubt this is the right direction we expect health care to follow.

Since the mid 1990’s, a predominant concept of healthcare is the iron triangle of care, consisting of three competing issues: quality, access, and cost. (Carroll, 2012). William Kissick, who introduced the model, suggested that if you improve one or two of these issues areas, it comes at the expense of the third. If quality of care is increased, it comes at the expense of access or through increased cost. If access to care is improved, it is at the expense of quality or increased cost. If an institution is successful at cost containment while providing care, it is at the expense of quality and/ or access. (Kissick., 1994, p.13). Despite this deeply ingrained concept, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) viewed the use of Health Information Technology (HIT) in the nation’s healthcare delivery as a resource to promote quality and access while potentially decreasing overall cost. (U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, 2003). (Page 175 of Delivering Healthcare in America) In efforts to promote the use of HIT, AHRQ provided five goals of implementation that would best impact the healthcare provided throughout the federal and private healthcare systems. These goals, when applied to the federal

Advances in modern technology surrounds us in our day to day lives, allowing conveniences and efficiency at our fingertips. Great strides have been made over the years with technology, and the healthcare industry along with many other industries have adopted this new way of functioning; electronically. The effects of technology have come to the forefront in where our government has acknowledged the benefits and opportunities. “The promise of Health Information Technology for improving quality and safety of health care while reducing costs has caught the eye of policy makers and other leaders in health care” (Hersh, 2006). It deeply affects how we connect, interact, and communicate internally and externally, but also gives us a sense of control on how we engage ourselves to the innovative software and systems.

Currently, the DVAMC’s telehealth department is fully staffed with ten nursing coordinators that manage a variety of chronic diseases and health promotion topics such as smoking cessation and weight loss. The telemedicine service includes: TeleRetinal, TeleMental Health, TeleDermatology. Furthermore, educating the staff and patients about the department’s services is an established activity delegated to the telehealth coordinators as well as marketing all the service to other medical staff. In addition, the technology as well as the reports to be utilize to measure the outcomes of the project are existing, functioning systems within the facility. Therefore, there will be no additional cost associated with purchasing equipment nor manhours to implement this project.

In today’s hospital environment, our main focus is placed on technology, medications and treating a diagnosis. Often patients are wheeled from one examination to another with little personal interaction received from their healthcare provider. Patients are hooked up to monitors alarming endlessly due to staff being either unavailable to silence them or not having the compassion to comfort. Technology has become so dominant in hospital settings that we have lost sight of providing the

We will also work with VMS to create a satisfaction survey or any other information needing to be collected from your patient’s. We want to make sure that we are working together in building your telehealth program.

The health care industry has become increasingly reliant on technology. From medical translation tools to mobile apps, these devices are helping healthcare institutions save money and improve patient treatment.

The health care industry is one of the most dynamic and delicate industries in the U.S. having experienced healthy and substantial changes for the last thirty years most of which have aimed to improve health care management and services delivery to the patients. The changes have enabled the integration of technology into the industry such as in the area of informatics, science and research and payment services and clinical treatments. The health care sector has introduced various changes to address disease and health care management such as the Modernization Act of 2003, the Patient Protection Act and Affordable Act, which aim at improving health provision and most

In observation, (Fahnestock, McComb, & Deshmukh, 2013) stated "Information technologies are transforming the way healthcare is delivered. Innovations such as computer-based patient records, hospital information systems, computer-based decision support tools, community health information networks and new ways of distributing health information.” (p.3.2). In the sector of delivering healthcare using technology, has made it easier for healthcare professionals to access medical records, digitization of prescriptions and view test results. With the use of high-performance devices being used in the hospital, helps to make the jobs of healthcare professionals a little easier. As well as relieve anxiety from anxious patients that may be awaiting lab results to come back. Therefore, IT devices and services has been and continues to be a tremendous help and game changer for the healthcare system. However, there is still a lot of work to be done to help shape and reform the healthcare

In order to accomplish this goal there has to be a mindset shift, along with a paradigm shift away from a fee for service model of healthcare that we have been accustomed to. Cason suggests that in order to be successful at changing this mindset we must focus on the tenets of the Triple Aim. This includes improving the patient experience of care through quality and satisfaction. Improving the health of populations. Reducing the per capita cost of care. Cason argues that tele-health is a vehicle that can help achieve these

With the enforcement of both the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (HITECH) and the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), our health care systems have undergone drastic and continuous change in health care policy, regulations, and reforms. This has significantly changed the way our health care organizations have provided medical services to patients, and at the same time meet new health care law requirements. The issue, however, in meeting these reforms lies in ensuring patients receive quality care at an affordable price, and that health care organizations meet these goals through technological improvements with Healthcare Information Technology (HIT). In doing so, health care organizations can not only meet the new health care law requirements, but, at the same time, save financial resources to improve quality standards of care for patients in the present and in the future.

Information and communication technology has been adopted and implemented within various sectors of the economy. This is attributed to the benefits of technology in facilitating organizational activities and processes and its use in meeting the changes which characterize the modern society. The health sector is one of the industries which have significantly implemented technology. The health sector’s technological applications have been achieved within health information systems. The implementation of technology in this sector has resulted into both positive and negative implications on health

As we move forward and refine these technologies, access to high quality health care should not only be a privilege, but also an obtainable right.

Virtual care technologies that encompass digital, as well as broadband, tools are quickly becoming recognized as a necessary component in providing more efficient, more convenient, quality healthcare at a time of increasing healthcare resource constraints. These technologies are effectively used by healthcare professionals to treat and manage a wide array of acute and chronic conditions. Inconsistencies, however, in virtual care modalities and artificial government limitations, such as geographical restrictions, create unnecessary barriers to the full utilization and potential of virtual care.