Risks and Benefits of Database Connectivity Standards, Essay Example

The integration of the Internet and implementation of computers has changed the way almost every business conducts its daily activities, whether the business focuses its concentration in accounting or healthcare. The term ‘information technology’ has become synonymous with our daily language and this aspect has led to important advances in the way businesses have begun to conduct themselves globally as well as the way businesses have begun improving their infrastructure locally to ensure protection to clientele in order to ensure safety and repeat visits (Daft, 2003). It is because of this information technology that companies have become used to performing more of their work by way of electronic mechanisms as opposed to the manual methods and this has led to an increase in productivity as well as an increase in the safety of patients in general.

With that being said, however, it is important to understand the risks and benefits associated with the implementation of database connectivity and the standards therein (Daft, 2003). There are important issues to consider when implementing technology into one’s workplace and these issues are not necessarily confined to the simple learning curve that will obviously be related to learning a new electronic way to perform tasks. So many changes have occurred within the healthcare system and technology is changing on such a rapid basis that database connectivity standards should be of the utmost importance; therefore, the risks and benefits should remain at the forefront of any administration’s though process when implementing a new technological piece of equipment or a new computer system that will have the potential to be accessed by multiple personnel.

One benefit of database connectivity standards would obviously be the time factor. It would take less time for information to be processed between systems and patients could be treated in a more efficient manner (Open Clinical, 2010). This would allow for healthcare personnel to focus on the most obvious factor which indeed is the patient. With the advent of a database connectivity implementation, there would be no need for extensive paper charts and escorts running up and down halls delivering medical records to doctors while the patient is waiting on a procedure of utmost importance (Open Clinical, 2010). The information would literally be at the fingertips of the healthcare professional with a few keystrokes and the question could be answered in a much shorter amount of time.

With that being said, however, there is also going to be a risk of database connectivity standards. When one speaks of computers and networks, there is always the inherent ability for hackers to jeopardize a system and gain access to a patient’s private and/or financial information (Open Clinical, 2010). This is not only pertaining to the healthcare world. It pertains to any world that uses a network of computers and today that encompasses over 90% of our lives. There is also a risk of the entire system going awry and younger employees not being trained in the older methods (Daft, 2003). The older staff will have the ability to fall back on this method, of course, but the younger staff is not used to manual methods and their brains are wired differently due to the way they have been trained.

Database connectivity standards are important for a variety of reasons as we can see from the preceding information. Even with the risks, there are benefits and the risks may be avoided as much as possible by maintaining staff to supervise the safety of the information. Computers and technology will only grow exponentially during the next decade. It is time that we join in the growth process.

References

Daft, R. (2003). Management (6th ed.). Mason, Ohio: South-Western.

Open Clinical. (2010). Electronic Medical Records. Retrieved from Electronic Health Records: http://www.openclinical.org