...Why Healthcare Must Embrace Cloud Computing Regulatory compliance for the healthcare industry is a hot-button issue. The overriding compliance requirements that this industry faces are dictated by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), enacted by Congress in 1996. HIPAA was designed to protect the privacy of patients’ medical records and restrict who has access to them. Regulatory compliance for the healthcare industry is a hot-button issue. The overriding compliance requirements that this industry faces are dictated by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), enacted by Congress in 1996. HIPAA was designed to protect the privacy of patients’ medical records and restrict who has access to them. The latest HIPAA standards surrounding the security and privacy of patient data makes many in the healthcare industry understandably cautious about adopting new technologies. In the past, healthcare companies preferred to keep any electronic data concerning business operations and patient care behind a secure firewall. Now, HIPAA omnibus and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) requirements stipulate everyone in the healthcare industry begin migrating patient records and other data to cloud computing. Essentially, by 2015, all medical professionals with access to patient records must utilize electronic medical and health records (EMR and EHR), or face penalties. A recent study by the firm MarketsandMarkets indicates that...
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...Article Summary Julka Harsimran, the author of this piece of writing, describes the potential in the information technology sector within the healthcare industry. Recent changes in the United States Healthcare system led by the Obama administration has brought a tremendous opportunity to revamp/upgrade the healthcare insurance records with new electronic projects from conversion of data, to creation of new health and insurance records and processing of claims and sales of insurances to the management of all healthcare data. Globalization plays an important aspect in the sense that the opportunity to obtain this large contract managing all the American healthcare coverage information is not restricted only to U.S. companies, but to international companies as well. Nasscom, an Indian international information technology (IT) service provider, is a major prospective company with the potential to obtain a $20 billion contract managing creating and managing all electronic U.S. health records. Outsourcing and restructuring internatioanlly job opportunities can have a large impact in the local job market. Understanding globalization can help local companies prepare better to meet the challenges of today’s competitive work environment. Relevancy to Human Resource Management - Article Critique Due to the unpredictability of the economic trend of the global market, some companies have opted to outsource functions sacrificing tangible and intangible assets to save money in operations...
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...Performance of Healthcare Abstract This paper explores eight published articles, and one book that report on results from research conducted on three big ideas that represent great opportunities to improve the performance of healthcare organizations. Three articles explain the helpfulness of virtual teaming, two articles and one book explains the benefits of outsourcing, and the last three articles explain why customer relationship management, also known as CRM, is a helpful resource. This paper will define the management practice or breakthrough idea, discuss the expected impact on improved patient outcomes, higher levels of customer satisfaction, and identify the critical success factors associated with implementing these programs in a health services organization. These management practices or breakthrough ideas, in my judgment, will be ranked the greatest, second greatest, and third greatest potential benefit for healthcare organizations. Healthcare is one of the biggest organizations around. Because of its size, and the many departments within a healthcare cooperation there is much need for organization between management, staff and their patients. There are many ways to make sure that a healthcare system operates smoothly. I agree with Martin Van Buren when he stated that it is easier to do a job right, then to explain why you didn’t. In this paper there will be three ideas that may get the job done right such as, virtual teams, outsourcing, and customer relationship...
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...(TQM) There are always great opportunities to improve the performance of healthcare in organizations. In today’s economy, coupled with overwhelming changes in healthcare policy, requires solid, on-going performance improvement in healthcare. What does that mean? It means healthcare providers at every level must examine their organizations from the most strategic level on down to the simplest routine process for opportunities to streamline, improve and optimize the care given and the costs associated with that care. I will later discuss three big ideas in order based on their greatest potential benefit in the healthcare organization which includes total quality management, outsourcing, and customer relationship management. Quality improvement in health care has developed gradually as emerging ideas have been explored and implemented within various clinical and non-clinical settings. One of the more recent methods of quality improvement which has been introduced into healthcare organizations is Six Sigma. Six Sigma is a rigorous set of processes and techniques to measure, improve, and control the quality of care and service based on what is important to the customer (Liberatore, Page 440). The goal of this approach is to bring procedures to defect-free levels by trying to eliminate variation in processes. Defects are seen as any factors which lead to customer dissatisfaction. Many processes in healthcare require a near-zero tolerance for error, especially in the clinical setting...
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...EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Trends come and go, and this is especially true in the healthcare industry where everything is currently constantly changing. It is always important to analyze pros and cons of business trends when deciding whether to implement them in an organization. While there are countless trends to consider, six in particular will be the topic of this discussion: Mergers and acquisitions, consumerism and the role of the patient, outsourcing, Lean Six Sigma, Medicaid Expansion, and Bring Your Own Device. In the ever-changing health care world, different business and finance trends come and go. In the midst of all the uncertainty, there is only one thing for certain and that is the goal of improving the bottom line. There are countless trends on the horizon for healthcare but there are six in particular that will be discussed: Mergers and acquisitions, consumerism and the role of the patient, outsourcing, Lean Six Sigma, Medicaid Expansion, and Bring Your Own Device. Careful consideration of the pros and cons of each trend can help determine whether implementing one or more of them is right for an organization. Mergers and acquisitions are expected to grow within the healthcare industry in the coming months and even years due to the Affordable Care Act. According to KPMG, 60 percent of the healthcare executives it recently polled said they plan to make more deals in 2013 than in 2012. Many of the deals are expected to be mid-market sized or smaller...
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...Outsourcing in Healthcare Outsourcing in the health care industry continues to grow in an effort to cut the raising cost, to increase efficiency and quality of care by hospitals nationwide. As annual healthcare spending in United States hit $3.8 trillion (Munro, 2014), and aging population in America is increasing with the retirement of baby boomers and higher demands for patient care, the cost of healthcare will continue to grow. In response to increasing cost, many hospitals will employ outsourcing to save money and combat rising costs. This paper will examine outsourcing trends in healthcare. Prevalence and Trends Outsourcing is not a new trend in healthcare. In the past, medical centers successfully outsourced support services, such as construction, IT, translation, laundry services, housekeeping and food services. Today, in an attempt to reduce rising cost of healthcare services, hospitals increasingly turning to outside contractors for patient care and clinical services, such as medical staffing, radiology services, laboratory services and clinical specialties. The clinical specialties most frequently outsourced are anesthesia, emergency department, dialysis services, diagnostic imaging and hospitalist services (Waller, 2012). For information technology, 97% of respondents report outsourcing one or more of these services, such as EMRs, patient satisfaction surveys, help desk, CPU and peripheral maintenance and local IT support (Waller, 2012). According to Modern Healthcare...
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...A White Paper on Strategic BPO in the US Healthcare Industry The Current Healthcare Environment The healthcare environment today faces challenges that it has never seen before. The industry is under attack from every possible direction from cost containment, HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability & Accountability Act) compliance, lack of stability, to an uncertain future. After trying various managed care techniques and concepts the onus to contain costs is now on the healthcare consumer. Concepts such as defined contribution mutated into various consumer driven health plans are being touted as the nirvana pill for an aching industry. Medical and disease management is expected to play a key role for payors as they try to manage healthcare delivery. While executives are trying to grope for answers in an ever changing environment, the light at the end of the tunnel seems far away and a dim one at that. Regardless of the concepts that will or will not be around three years from now, one thing is certain, the degree of COMPLEXITY is increasing by the day. Healthcare Payors are facing the following points of pain: 1. Managing increasing medical costs and balancing customer satisfaction 2. Reducing operating back-office costs 3. Complying with HIPAA standards and requirements 4. Upgrading IT infrastructure and moving to the web to provide real-time connectivity 5. Focusing on survival...
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...Is Offshore Outsourcing of Medical Business Practices Ethical? Abstract The healthcare industry is one of the largest in the United States. The United States spends an estimated $2 trillion annually on health care expenses, more than any other industrialized country (Johnson, 2010). The growth of this industry is expected to continue well into the future. However, today more than ever, healthcare providers are faced with many financial pressures. Offshore outsourcing offers companies substantial savings on costs which improves profitability. Managed care organizations and healthcare providers realize how outsourcing business processes to experts allows them to focus on their core business without worrying about back-office functions (Namasivayan & Bell, 2006). Despite the cost savings, it is important not to overlook some of the issues that may be associated with outsourcing. Is Offshore Outsourcing of Medical Business Practices Ethical? The healthcare industry is one of the largest in the United States. The United States spends an estimated $2 trillion annually on health care expenses, more than any other industrialized country (Johnson, 2010). The growth of this industry is expected to continue well into the future. As the baby boomer population gets older and medical treatments become more and more advanced, those needing medical care will increase exponentially giving rise to an already growing field. Yet, despite...
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...in U.S. dollars unless otherwise noted. Outperform Recommendation: Buy Sector: Technology Exchange: NASDAQ Symbol: CTGX Beta: 1.22 Price: $18.49 Price Target: $ 21.59 Implied All-In Return: 16.77% Dividend Per Share: NA Yield: NA 52-Week Range: $11.89-$19.12 Shares Out. (MM): 18.7 Market Cap. (MM): 345.86 January 19, 2013 This report is priced as of market close January 7, 2013. All values in U.S. dollars unless otherwise noted. Our Four Reasons to Own Computer Task Group Inc. 1. Focus on healthcare,...
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...Globalization of Health Care Principles of International Business (BUS301.90) Post University Abstract For leaders in business and those few economic elite members, globalization is virtuous. Low-cost labor overseas facilitates production facilities in locations where labor and healthcare costs are low, and sell the finished goods in nations where wages are high. With the exception of the United States, almost all wealthy nations provide universal health care. These provisions are challenging due to increasing costs, as well as social, political, economic, and cultural environments. Globalization of Health Care Numerous global industries have resulted in offshore operations; the medical industry has become not dissimilar. With modern developments in technology in recent years, outsourcing of medical procedures has become a reality. The internet has vastly expanded the realm of possibilities for the medical industry, and has made it possible to transmit large amounts of information to countries; such as India, where it is then processed and returned. The United States has some of the highest costs for medical care globally; which has led to its’ citizens to search for economic alternatives. Outsourcing medical procedures to medical professionals in nations with lesser pay would undoubtedly benefit consumers; however, the United States holds a higher standard of care than those where treatment standards may not take precedence. This process would then take some control out...
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...Assignment 2: Outsourcing Federal Healthcare Many of the services and tasks performed and provided by the federal government of the United States are outsourced to private businesses. Like anything performed by any business, organization or government body, there are potential improvements that could be implemented. Here, I will discuss the stakeholders involved in the federal healthcare systems of Medicare and Medicaid, and how the strategies might be improved within outsourcing practices. Multiple groups hold interest in the strategies used by Medicare and Medicaid to provide healthcare to patients. Medicare contracts with private health insurance companies to provide specific benefits to people with Medicare. People eligible for Medicare include those over 65 years old, or those who are disabled. Medicaid is operated at the state government level, and generally covers disabled, and people over 65 years old with low income and minimal assets. In addition to the people covered under these systems, additional stakeholders include doctors, hospitals, insurance brokers and agents, and public policy-makers (legislators). An easily forgotten group of stakeholders within these systems are taxpayers not currently receiving direct benefits from these systems, but who are directly contributing funds which are used to fund Medicare and Medicaid expenditures. Those who are recipients of Medicare and Medicaid benefits want to receive the best possible care, with the least amount of...
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...Healthcare in the United States Ten years ago we wouldn’t have thought of medical procedures moving offshores, but today we see it more often than none. People are going to places like India, Singapore, and even Mexico to receive care. Technological advancement has made outsourcing of medical work possible in recent years. The Internet makes it possible to quickly transmit large amounts of data to countries such as India where the information can be processed and returned. Countries like the U.S. have costly medical care facilities prompting people to consider cheaper alternatives. A heart surgery in India is cheaper and affordable compared to that of U.S. The outsourcing of medical procedures to nations where medical professionals are paid lower could clearly benefits consumers. However, the treatment standards in countries such as India may not be up to the standards found in the United States, and that the process takes some control out of the consumer’s hands. The United States health care professionals see the outsourcing as a negative trend, however, medical insurance companies view any means of cutting costs as a positive move. The middle class has been fueling the economy in the US for the last decade but as it shrinks, it is no longer able to do so. I think we are witnessing the long term effect of globalization. High unemployment, stagnant wages, credit evaporated and reduced spending. The globalization of health care should result in a more efficient industry. The...
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...purpose of this paper is to convey the author’s positive stance on healthcare organization’s (HCO) outsourcing of information technology (IT) functions and services. The author will provide an overview of IT functions and some of the advantages and disadvantages of outsourcing. INTRODUCTION With huge advances in IT and health care services, HCOs have realized the benefits of IT to improve the quality and accuracy of their operations. The IT function is responsible for implementing strategies that improve the efficiency, reliability, and performance of IT systems and business processes in alignment with the HCO’s goals. HCO activities must adhere to government guidelines, include providing IT support and services, communication and collaboration tools, hardware, and software maintenance, establishing policies and procedures to govern the use of IT, ensuring security and integrity of IT...
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...E-Healthcare Adviser System Acquisition Plan Hamlet A. IT424-1303A-01 Prof. Ashley Lee Colorado Technical University August 11, 2013 Contents Project Outline 4 About the Hospital 4 Our Service 4 Project Requirements 6 Functional 6 Non-Functional 6 Constraints 7 Technologies to be used 7 Sourcing 8 Alternative 1: Outsourced development 8 Alternative 2: Off-the-shelf software 8 Alternative 3: customized software 9 Request for Proposal 11 Company Name 11 Project Title 11 E-Healthcare Adviser System Acquisition Plan for New York City Medical Center 11 Project Functions and Requirements 13 Assumptions and Agreements 14 Contracts 16 Scope 16 DELIVERY AND INSTALLATION OF THE SYSTEM 17 SUPPORT SERVICE 17 TECHNICAL 17 COST 17 DELIVERABLE 19 Comparative Analysis 20 In-Source Alternative 20 Resources 20 Budget 20 Timeframe 20 Outsourcing vs. In-sourcing Alternatives Comparison 20 Summary Recommendation 20 References 21 Project Outline The main objective of this project is to implement a system that is a process-oriented clinical management; this system will allow doctors, nurses, paramedics, and other staff to provide patients in the different service area of the hospital with the best care that this hospital have to offer. This are some of feature that the system will included: handling workstation, nursing care, distribution and application of medications as well as other administrative data inherent the patient...
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...Indian Institute of foreign trade | Critical Analysis | Identifying International Marketing Opportunities in Medical Services | 04-Nov-12 | Background Medical tourism is becoming a popular option for tourists across the globe. It includes primarily and predominantly healthcare facilities, combined with travel and tourism. The term medical tourism describes the rapidly growing practice of travelling across international borders to obtain cost-effective and high quality medical care. Various countries like Thailand, Malaysia, India, etc are promoting medical tourism aggressively. The key competitive advantages of India in medical tourism stem from the following: low cost advantage, strong reputation in the advanced healthcare segment (cardiovascular surgery, organ transplants, eye surgery etc.) and the diversity of tourist destinations available in the country. The key concerns facing the industry include: absence of government initiative, lack of a coordinated effort to promote the industry, no accreditation mechanism for hospitals and the lack of uniform pricing policies and standards across hospitals. Medical tourism or health care tourism is a rapidly growing multibillion-dollar industry around the world. It is an economic activity that comprises trade in medical services and represents the mixing of two of the largest world industries: medicine and tourism. The case identifies the strengths of India’s medical tourism service providers and points at a number of problems...
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