The Current Marketing Trends, Healthcare And Clinical Health Act

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.).

In this paper we will discuss an innovation that has been developed in the last 20 years that has influenced the health care industry. That innovation is telemedicine.

eHealth is an application of information and communication technologies which can help manage and improve healthcare. According to McClure, “The global impact of e-Health is being manifested in the reduction of healthcare costs and improved efficiency through better retention and retrieval of records, better management of chronic diseases, shared health professional staffing, reduced travel times and fewer or shorter hospital stays” (as cited in Isabalija, Mayoka, Rwashana, & Mbarika, 2011). One of the most important factors that influences eHealth adoption amongst the healthcare organizations and providers is the financial incentives provided by the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act. The HITECH Act of 2009 was signed into law to promote widespread use of electronic medical records (EMRs) and supporting technologies. As per the provision in the HITECH Act, the healthcare providers who adopt EMR system and manifests the “meaningful use” (MU) criteria by 2015 will receive incentives under

It is interesting that technology has evolved vastly particularly in the healthcare industry some important examples are the Electronic Health Record EHR, Personal Health Records PHRs, Electronic Prescribing E-prescribing. HIT is important to healthcare as it is used as storage and also to share among healthcare workers such as from a primary care physician to that of a specialist in the treatment of a patient.

Telemedicine has provided better access to health care to many individuals that would otherwise not be able to get required health care services. Telehealth is a means to improve access to care, while reducing costs of transportation and increasing accessibility to patients in obtaining care. Telemedicine allows for healthcare information to be shared with treatment team members that are separated miles from each other with the ability to communicate in a timely manner. For information technology to impact care, one has to be knowledgeable about the use of technology

The Telehealth services will include the use of technology to deliver telemedicine. The budget will fund the hospital with videoconferencing software, computers, webcams, and trained employees to set up and document the process. The equipment will allow physicians or patients to consult virtually with other physicians and specialists. Instead of missing a day of work or school and commuting hours for an appointment with a specialist, patients will be able to visit their local hospital and consult with the specialist via technology. Consultations, examinations, and monitoring are services that can easily be provided through

With the respect of healthcare providers, so it has been seen that the providers are not willing to accept new technology as it requires their time for new trainings. There is a hesitance that has been observed from health care providers to adopt HIT system because of the

Physician demographics also impact community health. The current ratio for primary care physicians (PCPs) to patients in Pocahontas County is 1,730:1, 2,890:1 for dentists, and 2,170:1 for mental health providers (County Health Roadmaps & Rankings, 2016). Perhaps as a result, Pocahontas County exceeds West Virginias average mortality rates for many diseases (WV Department of Health and Human Resources [DHHR], 2014). Subsequently, improving physician demographics should improve health outcomes.

Rural areas tend to be underserved and often excluded from new advancements in technology and healthcare. Small and rural communities often need help overcoming issues in the healthcare environment related to distance, personnel shortages, and implementing new technology. According to AHRQ, although adoption rates for new technology have progressed over recent years; however, overall rates are still low. “Clinical health information technologies, such as electronic health records (EHRs), computerized provider order entry (CPOE), and electronic medication administration record (eMAR) systems are problematic areas (AHRQ, 2011). The Agency for

ask for help when needed. The community health assessment completed for Pocahontas County noted transportation and distance as major problems to access for the aging population (PMH, 2013). To compound the challenges, there is a significant physician shortage with a ratio of primary care providers nearly 19% lower than the national average (PMH, 2013). Pocahontas County is designated as a Health Professions Shortage Area with portions of the county identified as Medically Underserved Areas (PMH, 2013).

The Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Policy was enacted and ratified

The delivery of health care has always been influenced by technological developments and innovations. This is particularly true in modern health care professionals where they are obsessed with technology and rush to apply them. One of the most recent applications of ICT – Information and computer technology- is telehealth. Telehealth is the use of communication, diagnostic and information technology to provide health care when patients and providers are geographically separated [2], Technologies include videoconferencing, the internet, store -and-forward imaging, streaming media, terrestrial and wireless communications. Telehealth could be as simple as two health professionals discussing a case over the telephone or as

With the epic changes and alterations to our current healthcare system, the Federal Government has made great strides in order to make healthcare more effective and efficient. In order to do so healthcare reforms have been enacted in order to have medical professionals and facilities use technology and informatics. Technology in the medical field helps create databases and offer medical professionals a higher level of patient care. Meaningful Use is part of a 2009 law called HITECH, which in turn is part of the American recovery and Reinvestment act . HITECH stands for Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health. Meaningful use is also part of a 3 stage system, that helps medical providers and facilities

The hospital board has clear roles and expected initiatives in regards the health information technology of the hospital (HIT). The run involves the application of information processing that includes both the software and hardware of the computer that is involved with storage, sharing, retrieval and use health care information within the networked system.

The adoption of information technology in healthcare has dramatically improved patient care, and the practice of medicine in its entirety. Health information technology (HIT or Health IT) has created, among other things, free flow and improved communication amongst all healthcare workers and providers, patients and the community as a whole. HIT has also availed the healthcare sector better and easier access to information. So many people have placed their hopes on health information technology. The hospitals have high hopes for HIT in helping them to reduce human errors on their medical reports. Health care providers need improved care, so they place their hopes on HIT to help in having access and sharing patient information without the stress. The government and those in healthcare for business purposes also have high hopes for HIT; to help improve efficiency and at the same time save money and make more profits. With all the hype and rave of HIT, some health care providers are still on the fence in fully embracing the use of these technologies. This is primarily because, for some small group practices, the high implementation cost is a deterrent factor.