Healthcare Informatics: Project Management Assignment

Electronic Health Records
Name
Institution of Affiliation
Date
Electronic Health Records
For several years, healthcare stakeholders have tried to improve the efficiency of the health care systems. One of the areas they have focused is the information sector, a field that has undergone significant transformations in the present era. One of the changes that have been adopted is the electronic health records (EHR). The EHR software enables storage and retrieval of patients care information for use by physicians or by the patient (Gartee, 2012). The electronic data is readily available; thus, enabling clinicians to give safe and more effective decisions concerning patient’s health. Besides, the EHR helps hospices screen, expand and report fitness information especially on safety and quality. Hence, the study moves focusing on the challenges facing adoption of this technique and how they can be solved.
Vendor selection process
One of the major hindrances health care organizations face in the adoption of EHR is the uncertainty of returns from the investments. Though there could be enough resources to invest in EHR, care providers are less likely to back the initiative without understanding the possible return on investment. Hence, for healthcare stakeholders to grip EHR adoption, assurance must be presented showing that the system would be profitable to the organization. Cost-benefit analysis is the best methodology to solve this problem. The approach makes an evaluation of the total cost of a project and the expected monetary value of the benefits; hence, determining whether the assignment will be undertaken or not (Keating & Keating, 2014). The first step in cost-benefit analysis is determining project goals, followed by an assessment of the scheme's expenses and paybacks, next is discounting the outflows and expected returns at a proper rate and last is determining if its net present value is negative or positive. If the net present value is positive the EHR project is endorsed, and the vendor selection process proceeds unless rejected. Thus, cost-benefit analysis is the primary determinant in the vendor selection process.
A request for information, (RFI), is a document send to vendors by establishments in demand for clarification or definite information about a product or a service (Keating & Keating, 2014). Conversely, a request for a proposal, (RFP) is a document; sent to dealers to hasty the bids. The RFP is highly preferred since the proposal encompasses service description. However, use of both the RFI and RFP will be better in vendor selection. The RFI feedback will be used to determine who will be sent the RFP. The RFP embraces submission details, the introduction and executive summary, detailed specifications, terms and conditions, selection criteria, an overview of the business, constraints and assumptions. Each member of the team should participate in the gathering of the proposal information. Besides, no one is restricted to a particular element of the plan; hence, each of us will gather all the information available. In the end, a meeting would be called to evaluate the success of the process. To enhance a good relationship throughout the process, a focus has to be drawn to good communication skills. This will be utilized in relating both internal and external members.
EHR Applications needed in Acute Care
EHR systems can support health care professional in the acute care setting. Some of the EHR applications used in this context include the applications used in nurse assessments, imaging and laboratory results retrieval, electronic prescribing and portals. The nursing assessments application is employed in the process of assessing patients or in medical examination (Gartee, 2012). This is applicable especially in preventive health where electronic systems are used to monitor symptoms and support early detection of physiological deterioration of patients. These systems are very appropriate especially when handling cases of communicable or contagious diseases. The imaging and laboratory results retrieval software is essential to health care providers. The images are scanned electronically giving finer and accurate details of the scanned image. Its application is mainly in body scanning of injuries and internal bleeding in patients. The laboratory results are also analyzed electronically giving accurate analysis of the patient’s health condition. Electronic prescribing permits a doctor to write a prescription which is electronically sent to the pharmacy. This system is very appropriate in disseminating a prescription in a quick manner. This eliminates acts of data re-entry at the pharmacy; thus, saving time and minimizing chances of human error. In case of need for hard copies especially for references, the electronic prescribing data can be printed. Additionally, printing will enable the EHR system work with the old process, especially where records are requ...