Patient Satisfaction Quality Improvement Project

Patient Satisfaction Quality Improvement Project
Student’s Name
Institutional Affiliation
Patient Satisfaction Quality Improvement Project
1 Explain the types of information technology systems to gather data.
The electronic medical record is essential for gathering data pertaining to health systems. This is because it avails a range of information regarding the patient and the demography in a digital format. The information availed also includes; allergies, medication over time and billing information. Given that this system avails medical records, it is useful in facilitating studies that are meant to evaluate and ensure quality improvement in patient care. I also used bioinformatics to obtain medical data that was essential in the quality improvement project. This is attributed to the fact that such a system generates accurate information which is relevant in the healthcare sector. Through its artificial intelligence, the system is able to work on input data to provide meaningful results that represent the actual situation (Sheikh, et al. 2015). Additionally, health information system is resourceful in providing data for the quality improvement project. It avails data across different ethnicities and in a variety of languages for the purposes of comparisons, evaluation, and possible recommendations.
2 Explain how the use of nursing informatics applies to your department or unit, and how it relates to your quality improvement initiative.
Nursing informatics allows nursing to be integrated with a variety of information management and analytical sciences for the purpose of communicating data and wisdom essential to nursing practice. Its application achieves the intended purposes when nurses have computer skills and informatics knowledge and skills. Currently, healthcare settings are integrating activities such as prescribing medical care electronically and scheduling appointments online (Chiou, et al. 2015). This is beneficial to patients since it allows for medical processes to be conducted at their convenience. Moreover, nursing informatics facilitates for mobile laboratories which allow informatics nurses to ensure that computerized solutions are interfaced with each other. This concept is reliable to both the clinician who utilizes information technology in health and to the specialists who implement it healthcare setups. This is attributed to the fact that it has the ability to improve the quality of healthcare being offered. Patients are able to receive services which are personalized according to their preferences. Additionally, it results in coordinated healthcare practice from any region and safeguards infection control data. In turn, there is effectiveness in the care of patients. Given the resulting efficiency in medical workflow, nursing informatics promotes patient satisfaction. In this regard, it is relevant in facilitating the quality improvement initiative.
3 Evaluate the influence of information technology on patient care. Does in improve patient care?
Information technology is relevant in patient care because it results in discovery and generation of knowledge which impacts healthcare systems. Healthcare providers are easily and conveniently informed with data transmitted through technology. It is through information technology systems that practitioners in healthcare facilities (such as nurses) easily retrieve patient information, schedule appointments with patients and diagnose patients. Incorporating IT in patient care allows for speedy delivery of services and thus, saves time that would have otherwise been wasted in manual processes. Moreover, IT makes communication between involved stakeholders easy and fast. Information such as that pertaining to the medical history of a patient can be transmitted to different healthcare facilities in an instant. This ensures that patients receive care whenever they need it regardless of the place where they are. Additionally, information technology enhances the process of patient data storage (Sheikh, et al. 2015). It ensures that the data is well safeguarded and can only be accessed by authorized personnel within an institution. This boosts patient confidence as well as ensures that their legal right to privacy is upheld. However, when not adequately safeguarded, IT systems may cause patient data to land into unauthorized hands. This may infringe their right to privacy and result in legal suits with the involved healthcare facility. Moreover, IT may increase the cost of providing healthcare and thus make patient care expensive. This is attributed to high costs involved in incorporating IT and utilizing its auxiliary services. Evidently, information technology improves patient care when appropriately incorporated into healthcare systems.
4 How much nursing time does technology take away from patient care?
If not appropriately balanced, technology can take away much nursing time from patients. This is attributed to the time wasted by some nurses in finding technology equipment relevant to the patients they have to attend to at work. Moreover, some nurses may have a hard time understanding the use of technology in providing health care services. This time which they spend learning the use of technology deprives patients of time that would have been otherwise spent caring for them. Research indicates that about one-third of nurses spend between an hour to two of their shift locating and setting up equipment. After finding the equipment, they are forced to spend the little time remaining to attend to patients. For instance, nurses working in support services such as laboratories, surgical unit, and pharmacy are the main victims. This is because such units rely highly on advanced technology which requires accuracy for efficiency (Sheikh, et al. 2015). Ac...