Developing Strategies for Improving Healthcare Delivery, Essay Example

Evaluating health information technology systemsfrom other types of evaluation in health care.

Health information technology systems’ evaluation is distinct from any other evaluations conducted in health care. Precisely, health information technology evaluation reflects how the mechanism works to enhance health care delivery. This includes data storage; clinical decision making, billing and data exchanges. Consequently, other forms of evaluation in health care encompass health care quality assessment; health care system quality; adherence to specific intervention protocols and educational evaluations (Strom &Schinnar, 2011).

Importantly, strategies to evaluate heath information technology (HIT) systems includeidentifying user-facing  system functionality; finding out the  processes and functions employed in non-user initiated phases; anticipating user activity and developing adequate understanding of user potential  interactions apart from  those previously anticipated. It is also desirable as an efficient HIT evaluator to adopt techniques for developing a framework to test as well as produce alternative architecture. Simultaneously, it is important to design an actual user-friendly model while identifying other processes/practices, which maybe integrated within the foundation architecture (Winter &Haux, 2011).

Essentially, these techniques give the evaluator access towards profiling system functions and processes. It entails meeting with stakeholders to obtain the purpose of the system along with business goals compatibility. The next important exposure these strategies afford are estimating user conditions. This relates to how applications function in data exchange activities. Ultimately, capturing the physical and logical architecture through assessing software abstraction and coding devices. Further, physical structure evaluation is facilitated by conducting interviews with vendors for clarifications pertaining to designs and devices employed in the database organization(Winter &Haux, 2011).

Some basic differences, however,exist when evaluating health care systems rather than Information technology within healthcare system functions. Precisely, the immature evaluator could blindly begin a health care systems’ evaluation by examininghealth information technology functioning, when this is just a small part of the health care systems’ structure. Consequently, it can be articulated that strategic differences lie in information technology systems’ evaluations, being a subset of health care evaluation systems (Lovette – Scott & Prather, 2014).

For example, Lovett-Scott and Prather (2014) devised the eight factor model strategy of health care systems evaluation. The authors advocated application of personal innovation whereby the evaluator takes advantage of previous experinces in health care interventions and designs his/her own strategies. The authors insist on examining eight health care factors before decisions are made about the health care systems being reviewed. This could be interpreted as being similar to the health information technology system evaluation approach, wherebyprofiling system functions and processes becomes an integral technique in the process. Eleven health care systems have been identified as being applicable for this model.  However, evaluators must understand twosignificant variables, which are access and health disparities (Lovette – Scott & Prather, 2014).

Finally, factors to consider along with probable challenges that might be encountered when designing a health information technology system evaluation protocol, include the expertise of persons conducting the evaluation. Also, individuals’ experience with health information technology and attitude of evaluators towards health Implementation of the systemas an aspect of modernization and social change (Bradley, Pallas,  Bashyal, & Curry, 2010).

These factors are important in establishing a relevant protocol. Many health care managers do not readily accept health information technology within their systems. Even though the implementation has been mandatory through Affordable Care Act provisions reluctance in utilizing the opportunities this intervention brings has been one of the greatest challenges. It would be the same if information technology system protocols are designed within the health care settings.

References

Bradley, E.  Pallas, S. Bashyal, C., & Curry, L. (2010). Developing strategies for Improving healthcare delivery.Guide to Concepts, Determinants, Measurement, and Intervention Design. Retrieved on November 12h, 2014 fromhttp://siteresources.worldbank.org/healthnutritionandpopulation/Resources/281627-1095698140167/DevelopingStrategiesforImprovingHealthCareDelivery.pdf

Lovette – Scott, M., & Prather, F. (2014).Global Health Systems: Comparing Strategies for Delivering Health Services.New York. Brockport.

Strom, B., &Schinnar, R. (2011).Evaluating Health Information Technology’s Clinical Effects. Institute of Health Economics. IssueBrief retrieved on November 12^th,  2014 from http://ldihealtheconomist.com/media/evaluating-health-information-technology-s-clinical-effects.original.pdf

Winter, A.,&Haux, R. (2011). Health Information Systems: Architectures and Strategies. New York, London:Springer