...Application of cost-benefits analysis (CBA) in Hospital Setting Introduction “Cost-benefits analysis measures the benefits and costs of projects in money terms: this often requires that we place dollar values on years of life or improvements in health and well-being” (Folland, Goodman, & Stano, 2010 Pp 67). Studies related to the post-acute rehabilitation of the traumatically brain injured (TBI) have centered on quality-of-life issues. There has been little attention paid to cost/benefit relationships. The study showed a statistically important benefit and cost savings, over time, for those patients receiving post-acute rehabilitation. These benefits are in addition to improved quality-of-life benefits. Another cost-benefits analysis in the hospital setting is the implementation of electronic medical record (EHR). Electronic medical record systems improve the quality of patient care and decrease medical errors, but their financial effects have not been as well documented. Electronic medical record systems have the potential to provide substantial benefits to physicians, clinic practices, and health care organizations. These systems can facilitate workflow and improve the quality of patient care and patient safety. Cost and benefit of post-acute rehabilitation in hospital “Post-acute rehabilitation services may be provided to some patients at the same or lesser cost when compared to the cost of the living status category prior to admission” (Ashley & Kirch, 1990). It...
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...A Cost-Benefit Analysis of Electronic Medical Records in Primary Care Cost & Economic Analysis Kaira Ellis Maribel M. Howell Electronic medical record (EMR) systems are used to improve quality of care while increasing efficiency. However, there is little classified evidence regarding the benefits and costs of EMRs’. It is believed that by implementing an EMR system, there will be a significant increase in the facilitation of work flow and quality of patient care and safety (Bardon et al., 2003). The Cost-Benefit Analysis of Electronic Medical Records is conducted to estimate the net financial benefits or cost of implementing an EMR system in primary care. The hypothesis is that implementation of an EMR system in primary care can provide financial benefits and improve return on investments. A cost-benefit analyses was performed to study the financial effects of electronic medical record systems in ambulatory primary care settings from the perspective of the health care organization. The data was collected from studies at Partners HealthCare System and from published literature. The reference strategy for comparisons was the traditional paper-based medical record. The primary outcome measure was the net financial benefit or cost per primary care physician over a five-year period. A hypothetical primary care provider patient panel was created using average statistics from the Partners HealthCare System. The panel included 2500 patients which three fourths of whom were...
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...CONTENTS I. Advantages of EHRs 2 a. Cost Containment 2 b. Empowerment 3 c. Improved Communication 4 d. Less Waste 4 e. Compliance 5 II. Disadvantages of EHRs 6 a. Lack of Standardization 6 b. Security & Privacy Concerns 7 c. System Infrastructure Issues 8 d. Risk of Liability and Patient Uncertainty 8 III. EHR Technology 9 a. EHR Benefits 10 b. EHR Types 11 c. EHRs Future Evolution 13 d. EHR Technology versus Handheld SMART devices 14 IV. Trends and Consequences 15 a. Aggressive Implementation 16 b. High Costs 16 c. Labor Investment 17 d. Opportunity Cost 17 e. Impact on Researchers, Policymaker and Educators 18 V. Final Opinion 19 VI. Bibliography 22 VII. Appendix I 28 VIII. Appendix II 31 I. Advantages of EHRs In an effort to reign in rising health care costs and increased health care disparity and inequality in the U.S., former president George W. Bush doubled the funding for Health Care Information Technology to 100 million in 2005 (The White House). It was part of a larger plan to utilize latest information technology to standardize patient and health records, which despite spending 1.6 trillion dollars, attributed to 98,000 medically related errors in 2004. The plan was part of his campaign promise and was reiterated in his January 20, 2004 State of the Union address when, President Bush remarked, “by computerizing health records, we can avoid dangerous medical mistakes, reduce costs, and improve care.” Considering that...
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...developers, what measures are necessary to ensure the development of an effective health information system? Since the early 1980s, the healthcare industry has been discussing the need for electronic health records. And indeed, the past 20 years have seen the industry move toward a completely computerized medical record. A variety of technologies have contributed to this evolutionary process, including point-of-care clinical documentation, clinical data repositories, and automated results. The cumulative effect has resulted in slow but steady progress toward a complete electronic health record for the healthcare industry. Clinical and administrative data needed to assess and improve quality, identify potential cost savings, and make strategic decisions have become important as the pressure on healthcare rises. Current trends in healthcare that will drive information technology priorities in the immediate future include the following • Concern about medical errors and overall quality of care • Continued pressure for cost containment • Consumer empowerment • Growth in the use of evidence-based medicine • Demand for protection of privacy and confidentiality of information Effective health information systems are ones that improve health outcomes and reduce healthcare delivery costs. Since most developers are not clinicians, and most clinicians are not developers, to implement these health information systems successfully we must have some understanding of the healthcare...
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...Electronic health records (also known as ‘e-notes’, EMR or EHR) have commonly replaced the conventional paper records used in medical facilities. EHRs are a longitudinal electronic record of patient health information generated by one or more encounters in any care delivery setting. Included in this information are patient demographics, progress notes, problems, medications, vital signs, past medical history, immunizations, laboratory data, and radiology reports”. Some of the basic benefits associated with EHRs include being able to easily access computerized records and the elimination of poor penmanship, which has historically plagued the handwritten medical chart. This technology can offer a more consistent method for open communication among physicians, nurses, labs and other clinical staff without relying on handwritten notes stored in a single-location, electronic health records can help with the time it takes to treat someone. Electronic health records have provided a solution to a range of health care procedures, have offered cost savings and benefits, and still have greater potential for improvement through future efforts. It is evident that the EHRs have shortcomings that are commonly noted and targeted, but they have solved many more problems inherent in previous systems, they are the ideal path for development and improvement for patients and healthcare providers. Electronic health records have allowed healthcare organizations to provide quality care all of its...
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...The federal government has mandated that all medical records need to be converted to electronic form by 2014. Providers also have to prove their meaningful use of electronic medical records. Starting in 2015, Medicare and Medicaid payments will be reduced, starting at 1% for not complying with this mandate. Federal grants and funding were made available by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to assist health care providers to adopt electronic medical record format. As a result of the mandate there have been numerous articles that have been published by medical and trade journals. The articles cover a wide range of topics as they relate to electronic medical records covering topics such as cost, benefits, cons, patient safety, human error, and federal requirements. This is brief summary of some of the available articles as they relate to health care delivery and electronic medical records. Annotated Bibliography Amatayakul, Margret. (2010, December) Healthcare financial management : journal of the Healthcare Financial Management Association, ISSN 0735-0732, 12/2010, Volume 64, Issue 12, p. 104, 106. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com.ezproxy. apollolibrary.com/docview/1019985327 This article provides six steps of implementation for electronic health record. The model mirrors the steps of implementation developed by James Prochaska; however, the model was specifically tailored for electronic health record implementation. The process could be used by any facility...
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... According to Mr. Aaron E. Carroll, a pediatric professor who write for the New York Tines, tell after reviewing the medical literature in year 2014 that pay for the performance in US and UK has created a disappointing mixed results. Sometimes even though large incentives it will not change the way doctor practice medicine. Critics say that pay for performance is a method borrowed from the corporate management which the main results or outcomes is for profit. In the practice of healthcare and medicine, many important outcomes and aspects such as spending time with the patient, can’t be quantified measured. Pay for performance is also known P4P’s or value based purchasing this payment method rewards the doctors, nurses, and other healthcare staffs for meeting a certain criterion for quality and efficiency. It penalized staffs or caregivers for poor outcomes, medical errors, and increases cost. Electronic Medical Record (EMR) and pay performance are one of the methods for health reformers to use for improving patient care. It is a fundamental shift in how physician practice, with more practices adopting the expensive. And with the accountability reason, doctor will be compensating by quality measures. Advantages and Limitations of IT adoption decision with regards to cost benefit analysis. The advantages of cost benefit analysis for IT are two the cost reduction and additional revenues. A. Reduction of the...
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...year. For the purpose of this paper the capitol purchase discussed is one of the electronic medical record. The federal government wants all medical providers to have an Electronic medical record by the year 2014. To keep up with the growing changes in technology allotting for this purchase will greatly affect the hospital system in many ways and prove its return on investment (ROI). According to Health Revenue.com, “ The goals of the EMR are: * EMR will help to streamline the medical records process by bringing structure to how it is done * EMR will help to ensure medical records are more complete and correct * EMR will help to providers follow drug authorization more thoroughly to protect against errors and abuse * EMR will reduce transcription costs * Fewer charts will have to be pulled because physicians will have easier access to information, no matter where they are * EMR will improve clinical messaging and thus improve the work flow and care of patients * EMR will help make charge capture more accurate (2011)”. This paper will explore the management and organization goals, the impact on the economic environment, and justifiable expenses and relate them to the mission of the organization in regards to the purchase. This purchase is beneficial in many ways to the health care organization and will overtime pay for itself many times over. Electronic medical records are a move all health care agencies are moving towards. They serve to improve the...
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...Are Electronic Medical Records a Cure for Health Care? Abstract In the United States, healthcare remains a top priority and is consistently part of the national public policy agenda. Political leaders and healthcare providers attempt to address issues of quality, access, efficiency and affordability. Solutions to these challenges are being pursued through a great variety of strategies and methodologies ranging from adoption of best practices of patient care to negotiated contracts between payers and Care Delivery Organizations (CDO.) (Gonzalez, 2014) This writing assignment will take a look at the adoption of Electronic Medical records and show the strengths and weaknesses of overhauling medical records from paper to digital. Context The purpose of writing this paper is to give me a better understanding on how information systems can help the medical field. However, it is important to understand that you cannot just overhaul the current system in place. There needs to be a process involved to get everyone at stake the proper training and information needed to undergo such a large transition. Introduction Electronic Medical Records are basically electronic versions of paper-based medical records. An Electronic Medical Record (EMR) is essentially an electronic record of health related information on an individual that can be created, gathered, managed and consulted by authorized clinicians and staff in one healthcare organization. Electronic medical record systems...
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...Recoletos de Bacolod Graduate PhD-Business Management University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos Bacolod City Business Research NAME: Evans B. Sansolis Acceptability of a Low-Cost Medical Diagnostic Test System in Philippine Barangay Health Centers CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION Project Context The Philippines is a third world country wherein a large number of its citizens living in urban and rural areas subsist below the poverty line. Millions of people are unemployed, and countless citizens earn an income below Php 5,000 a month. In fact, a lot of families in the country have been struggling to survive. According to the book, "Poverty in the Philippines" published by Asian Development Bank, "Economic growth has gone through boom and bust cycles, and recent episodes of moderate economic expansion have had limited impact on the poor. Great inequality across income brackets, regions, and sectors, as well as unmanaged population growth is considered some of the key factors constraining poverty reduction efforts.” This idea tells us that a lot of families in the country are suffering from extreme poverty which eventually affects their health and medical needs. Thus, our government is lacking in an adequate, systematic, elaborate collection and storage of medical data for our underprivileged countrymen. In light of this, open-source hardware that is open for modification can easily be converted to form a new machine, gadget, or instrument, wherein its hardware schematics...
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..."Does the EMR actually protect patient privacy and what are the regulatory ramifications in the US on EMR implementation?” Table of Contents: INTRODUCTION LITERATURE REVIEW ANALYSIS I. MEDICAL RECORDS THEN AND NOW A. Paper-Based Medical Records VS. Electronic Medical Records B. Benefits, Potential Problems and Cost of the EMR II. HEALTH CARE PRIVACY LAW A. HIPAA 1.What is HIPAA? 2. HIPPA Privacy & Security B. HIPAA and EMR III. CAN ANYTHING BE DONE TO PROTECT PATIENT CONFIDENTIALITY/ PRIVACY? A. Why Should Patient Privacy Be Afforded Privacy Protection Regulation? B. Patient Privacy Within EMR IV. SPANNING THE MILES Intranet & Extranet Software & IM/IT CONCLUSION GLOSSARY REFERENCES Introduction: Healthcare companies all over the world are slowly recognizing the benefits on an EMR. Although EMR’s were implemented over 30 years ago but as of 2006 fewer than 10% of hospitals were utilizing the system. In 2009 the he U.S. Department of Health and Human Services enacted a privacy rule under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) in an attempt to protect the privacy of patients medical records. But one question still arises; “Does the EMR actually protect patient privacy and what are the regulatory ramifications in the US on EMR implementation?” In this paper I will address EMR, patient privacy and the regulatory ramifications of EMR implementation. Literature Review The literature shows that there is...
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...Electronic health records are becoming more common as a means of recording patient information. In some cases, the transition from paper charting to the use of electronic medical records has not been easy. Nurses may find the system more time-consuming and more difficult to use initially. Without modern technologies decision support systems cannot be effectively integrated into routine clinical workflow. Electronic health records present many advantages over writing medical records. As with any new system, electronic health records will take some time in adjusting. As the use of electronic health records becomes more common, nurses will undoubtedly adjust as they become more familiar. “Acquiring immediate access to key information such as patients' diagnoses, allergies, lab test results, and medications is readily available. It has improved caregivers' ability to make sound clinical decisions in a timely manner. The ability for providers participating in the care of a patient in multiple settings quickly access new and past test results would increase patient safety and the effectiveness of care” (New England Journal of Medicine 348, no. 26, 2003: 2635–2645). “The ability to enter and store orders for prescriptions, tests, and other services in a computer-based system should enhance legibility, reduce duplication, and improve the speed to execute orders. Using reminders prompts, and alerts, computerized decision-support systems would help improve compliance with best...
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...Final Organizational QI Plan Hani Mortada HCS 588 October 7, 2013 Ronald Konnick Final Organizational QI Plan Executive Summary The concept of using computer technology to improve the management of patient information is not new. Research into the implementation of health care information systems spans more than thirty years at a cost of millions of dollars (Zheng, McGrath, Hamilton, Tanner, White, Pohl, 2009). In spite of those costly efforts, patient records continue to be primarily paper-based. The Institute of Medicine (IOM) (1991) of the National Academy of Sciences recognized the magnitude of the problems associated with paper medical records systems and called for the adoption of computer-based patient records (CPR) or electronic medical records (EMR) as the standard for all patient records by the year 2001. EMR systems have been shown to have value in patient care; they are not widely used by clinicians in community-based practice. Although there are barriers to the productive use of EMR systems in primary care and there are situations in which such systems have failed, there are early adopters of this technology who have successfully implemented the systems and made them an integral part of their organizations. Gaining better understanding of the usefulness of EMR systems and how they might be broadly utilized...
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...review 2 Problem analysis and discussion 3 Electronic Health Records (EHR): 4 Computerized physician order entry (CPOE): 8 Conclusion 9 Recommendation 10 References 11 Introduction The healthcare industry is undergoing a drastic change in the modern world where the imprints of information technology (IT) are expanding and the combination of these two industries is leading to a new era of computerized hospital information systems. Baker (2008). The importance of information technology cannot be over emphasized for two major reasons, first, where a high level of accuracy is required (which can be fulfilled by digital mediums) and second, where a large size of transactional data exists and the requirement of analyzing this data supersedes (which can be fulfilled by having large databases and analyzing them using IT tools). There are numerous IT based applications in the environment and it has really become a challenge for the CTO of a healthcare facility to decide over the progressive plan for adoption of IT based systems in the purview of health information technology (HIT), computerized physicians order entry (CPOE), electronic health record (EHR) and many other similar programs found across the world. The primary question raised against any kind of IT investment is “how the proposed IT system will improve productivity, tender financial benefits and achieve administrative excellence?” There exists a rich literature on the analysis of IT-based applications...
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...Ambulance Outline I. Introduction: EMRs for Ambulances/Paramedics – The term EMR is an electronic medical record system used to replace paper medical records with an online record which tracks a patient’s hospital history and medical care. A. Benefits: To incorporate the use of EMRs in ambulances would help not only the improvement of the clinical standards in health, but also the ability to manage key performance indicators, and health research. 1. This program is designed to improve such tasks as training for paramedics, review clinical standards, conduct pre-hospital research, audit dispatch priority codes, and design services for the future. 2. Health services will always adapt to meet growing population needs. The EMR will significantly improve the delivery and quality of patient care as well as streamline clinical workflow, therefore is in the best interest to adopt this program. II. Demand Analysis: The expected demand is substantial because of the extent of the geographic service area covered, the huge number of ambulances where EMR’s will be installed in the geographic service area, the real and urgent need the product will address. A. The geographic service area which will benefit from EMR would be the entire United States considering that ambulance service is made available to patients by all hospitals all over the country and by Emergency medical teams in every city. B. The total number of ambulances all over the country would represent...
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