Health Information and Technology Essay Paper
Health Information and Technology Essay Paper
Health Information and Technology Word count 2000. This assignment will explain the importance of Information Technology in Healthcare. It will cover why it is important for the information to be correct and up to date, and the consequences of it being incorrect. It will also explain each terminology of Confidentiality, Integrity and Availability and present a scenario for each of these relating to the use of electronic patient records. For reasons of confidentiality all names and settings will be omitted (NMC, 2009).
The data protection act of 1998 (HMSO, 1998) is an Act of Parliament that all users of personal information must adhere to by law; it sets out eight principles that apply to the keeping of computerised data. Security measures should always be taken to ensure data is only seen by those who need to see it, the quality of information is very important it should be accurate, up-to-date-not duplicated in any way and free from any confusion. Confidentiality Confidentiality is a crucial principle in health care, this being because it implements a boundary in the control of personal information and data statistics. Health Information and Technology Essay Paper
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The public expect their privacy to be protected at all times. What counts as confidential information and what does not, should never be assumed. To break confidentiality is a very serious matter and strong evidence is required to support the reasoning behind a decision to share information about patients and clients, (Cain, 1999). There are situations when patient confidentiality can raise major problems, this can happen when they do not want to know their diagnosis or prognosis.
Also when patients are unwilling to consent to relatives being informed of their condition, generally it is wrong to give confidential information to relatives about a patient. Only is it made possible for the relatives to receive confidential information and withhold the information from the patient, is when it is genuinely in the best interest of the patient (Henley, A et al 2004). If it is decided that confidential information is to be disclosed for whatever reason then the individual must be prepared to explain and warrant their decision.
Confidentiality is seen to be central in trust between the health care worker and the patient as they have the right to expect any information held about them will be treated in confidence. (General Medical Council 2002). Case Scenario Whilst working on a ward a recently qualified staff nurse who had earlier seen someone her mother knew, Mrs D being admitted to a gynaecology ward, decided to access that patients electronic notes to see what she had been admitted for and by doing so found out that the Mrs D had cancer of the vulva and was having a vulvectomy the following day.
She then decided to go and visit Mrs D during her lunch break and tell her that she knew what she had been admitted for and if she could do anything to help her in any way not to hesitate to get in touch. When the staff nurse had left Mrs D was very distressed and could not understand how someone had found out, when only her husband and no other member of her family knew the real reason why she had come into hospital, she felt her dignity had been compromised greatly and reported the incident to the ward manager. Health Information and Technology Essay Paper
Even though no malice was intended by the staff nurse concerned, she had seriously breached Mrs D’s confidentiality (Data protection Act, 1998) and by accessing the patient’s records when she had no need to do so, she was also guilty of professional misconduct. On this occasion she was given a written warning and it was made clear to her what her responsibilities were in regards to patient confidentiality. Precautions are being put into place where a special card is needed to access patient records.
The card identifies you, what your role is and how much access you need to what particular part of the patients notes and you could read only the part that was relevant. If you tried to access anything that was not relevant to what you needed to read an alarm will notify someone who manages patient’s confidentiality, NHS connecting for health (2006). This in this case would ensure that a repeat of the situation did not happen again. In every NHS organisation there should be a guardian at senior level responsible for promoting confidentiality within the organisation as suggested by the Caldicott
Committee (NHSE. 1999). It remains however a matter of both the law and professional practice that each and every individual health professional is personally and professionally accountable for their actions and this includes their decisions in relation to the disclosure of confidential information. All health care workers should be aware of the professional advice contained in their code of conduct and ensure that they are kept up to date with any changes in the law and professional guidance. Data Integrity
Data integrity refers to the ability to collect, store and retrieve correct complete and up-to-date data so it will be available to authorised users when it is needed (Hebda & Czar, 2009 p. 79). Because treatment decisions are based on information extracted from data, data integrity is one of the most important issues relating to computing and information handling in healthcare . If the data is faulty or incomplete the quality of the extracted information may be poor, resulting in decisions that may be inappropriate and possibly harmful to the patient.
Also if suitable security measures are not in place, Individuals could get unauthorised access to personal health data. These concerns are well founded; there has been a dramatic increase in reports of security incidents (Dimond, 2010). The benefits are, automation eliminates problems associated with illegible handwriting, allergies and vital signs need be entered only once, it is convenient because diagnostic images are a part of the record and can be viewed from various locations. It is better organised, more accurate and complete. Health Information and Technology Essay Paper
A database maintains its integrity as long as it remains uncorrupted by error. NHS connecting for health (2006) Case Scenario Whilst performing the mornings drugs round the nurse about to administer some penicillin asked Mrs D to confirm her details to check them against her wrist band and the prescription drugs chart she also asked if Mrs D was allergic to any drugs to which she replied “yes I’m allergic to penicillin” when asked the extent of the allergy she was told the last time that Mrs D had taken t, it had caused anaphylaxis. The patient was not wearing a red wrist band which would have alerted staff to this fact. The Staff Nurse asked Mrs D if she had reported this to anyone of this on her admittance to the ward to which Mrs D replied that she had mentioned it twice. When investigating the matter the Staff Nurse concerned accessed the patient’s electronic notes to find nothing had been recorded concerning this matter.
The outcome could have been very serious with dire consequences to Mrs D. This situation had arisen because the person that had uploaded all the patient details had omitted this crucial piece of data, she had collected the data relating to the allergies but failed to document it, so the quality of the derived information was poor and incomplete which resulted in decisions that may have been harmful to the patient.
Precautions that could be taken to help prevent this situation arising again are that as soon as a patient states that they have an allergy they have a red alert wrist band put on immediately so that is not over looked later on and then the patients electronic record accessed to check if the data kept already has this information on and if not put on immediately. Patient Data availability Availability of patient data is the quality of being at hand when needed. Meaning obtainable or accessible data and ready for use (Saba & McCormick. 2001).
Thus saving time looking for patients paper records, and getting almost immediate access to alerts, reminders, x-rays and clinical decisions. This means better efficiency, more accuracy when reading, reduces duplication and waste, and improves the cost effectiveness of health services. It can also reduce clinical errors and improve patient safety. To ensure system availability, one should consider using system data and communications backups, protecting and restricting system access and protecting against computer viruses. Case scenario
A nurse who was accessing a patient electronic record whilst at the nurses’ station on a busy ward, suddenly got called away and did not lock her computer screen or log off the computer leaving the electronic record on full view. Meanwhile a visitor who was the daughter of the patient had gone to reception to ask a member of the health team a question. In doing so she had noticed the unattended computer with her father’s details on. Whilst she waited for someone to come she started to read some of the information, she got to a point that stated the words S. O. Health Information and Technology Essay Paper
B and automatically assumed it meant “son-of-a–bitch”. She stormed off in anger thinking that who-ever had written it was offensively calling her father, which deeply distressed her to the point that not only did she want an explanation she wanted her father moving to a different ward, because she feared he was not being looked after properly if something like that was being written about him. When the nurse looking after her father returned to the station she was confronted by the upset visitor who demanded an explanation, she was shouting and clearly upset by the incident.
It was explained to her that it was an abbreviation meaning shortness of breath which her father presented, excepting the explanation the lady calmed down and extended her apologies to the staff nurse. The reason this unfortunate incident occurred was firstly because the nurse in question had caused a breach of confidentiality by leaving the data on show and unattended and secondly because the person who had stored the data or added to the data had used abbreviations that had been misinterpreted.
Data should always be wrote in full and not abbreviated in any way which would stop this situation arising again in the future also you should never leave a computer unattended unless you log off first. Clear information should be always written in full to ensure that all information is interpreted the same and right way by all health professionals. Conclusion In conclusion this assignment has clearly defined the terms, data confidentiality, Integrity and availability and scenarios have been included to support this.
The strengths or benefits of electronic data are, the immediate availability of it, more legible, and can be accessed by more than one location at a time. Making it more convenient for everyone, if someone is waiting for blood results or x-rays these can be added to the electronic data as soon as they become available. Electronic data does not get lost or destroyed unlike paper data and you don’t have to wait to see patient’s notes. This improves nursing. Health Information and Technology Essay Paper
Electronic data is more cost effective so more money can be reinvested to improve patient care. The weaknesses: data could be viewed by unauthorised persons if security measures are not followed. Data stored needs to be high quality and up to date, because failure of this would mean there could be consequences for patient care and safety. Sometimes the system maybe down because of upgrading or it could contain a virus. Doctors and nurses need to be able to rely on the accuracy of the information to be able to deliver the best possible care.
In completing this assignment I now have a greater understanding of electronic patient records, how they are stored and used along with the legal and professional implications that go with them and I will be able to use the information gained in my future learning as a student nurse making sure I keep up to date with data legislation not only for patient safety but also my professional development. Reference list. Cain. P (1999) Respecting and breaking confidences: conceptual, ethical and educational issues. Nurses education today 19; 175-181 cited in: Common foundation studies in Nursing 3rd ed.
Churchill Livingstone. London. Data Protection Act 1998 [online] Available at, http://www. legislation. gov. uk/ukpga/1998/29/contents. Accessed on 6th Feb 2011. Department of Health HSG (1996)18: DH Circular. March 1996 (superseded by Department of Health) NHS Confidentiality Code of Practice, 2003. Dimond. B. (2010) Legal Aspects of Patient Confidentiality. 2nd ed. Quay books, London: General Medical Council, (2002) Confidentiality, Protecting Providing Information. Centurion Press Ltd Hebda. T, Czar. P. (2009) Handbook of Informatics for Nurses and Health care Professionals. 4th ed. Pearsons books. Health Information and Technology Essay Paper
New Jersey. Henley, A et al, (2004) Culture, Religion and Patient Care in a multi-ethnic society. Age Concern. London: NHS Connecting for health (2006) NHS connecting for health [online] available at. http://www. connectingforhealth. nhs. uk accessed on 2nd Feb 2011. NHS Executive (1999) Caldicott Guardian, Health Service Circular 1999/021, 31st January. NHSE, Department of Health, London. Nursing and Midwifery Council (2009) Advice sheet: Confidentiality (A to Z Guidance) NMC, London Saba, V, McCormick, K. (2001) Essentials of computers for Nurses: Informatics for the New Millennium. 3rd ed. McGraw-Hill
There is no uncertainty that it is really of import to pull off wellness information particularly in realisation that patient information is normally scattered in different locations in the wellness attention system. There is demand to centralise wellness information in order to ease airing of wellness attention records therefore bettering quality of attention. On the same note. information direction in health care systems is a possible agency of cutting down wellness attention costs.
In malice of its importance. direction of wellness information is challenged complexnesss of implementing electronic information systems. every bit good information flow all of which are dearly-won to wellness attention suppliers. Electronic information systems and wellness attention quality Incomplete patient information has been associated with medical mistakes that have resulted into evitable deceases. Valerius ( 2007 ) for case studies that up to 98. 000 patients in the U. S. ere said to hold died as per the Institute of Medicine 2000 study due to evitable medical mistakes with most of them being due to missing patient information. Health Information and Technology Essay Paper
The hapless direction of patient records is partially attributable to failure to follow advanced information systems. Health attention systems are loath in following electronic wellness records ( ERH ) yet ERH have the possible to eliminate most of the jobs related to losing patient information. It should be noted that while an ERH system is encouraged. it is possible to utilize an electronic system together with a manual system.
Due to the complexness associated with switching from a manual system to an electronic system. medical practicians tend to reluctant to implement electronic systems ( Harrison & A ; McDowell. 2008 ) . As such. the chief focal point of such practicians is to supply medical attention to the patient and unluckily neglect record maintaining yet patient information is really critical in wellness attention. Information flow Information direction in wellness attention systems is a disputing facet in footings of sharing information.
Lack of a cardinal depository on patient information predisposes the patient to medical hazards. Stevens ( 2005 ) observes that when wellness information is non centralized. it leads to detain medical processs as clip is taken to look for the physician who may be holding the information. This is expensive financially and it is a clip blowing experience that predisposes the patient to inappropriate medical processs or decease in some instance. Even in instances where there is an information depository. information sharing may be a beginning of job. Health Information and Technology Essay Paper
In most wellness attention systems. the patient is mandated to roll up information on performed medical processs and so show the same to a general practician or a clinician. This procedure of information flow is non efficient and dependable since the patient can easy damage or mislay the medical study. Stevens ( 2005 ) references that the likeliness of the medical information non set downing into the custodies of the intended clinician is high. This is an issue that can be efficaciously addressed by centralising patient information. Confidentiality of patient information
Keeping patient information confidentially is one of the rules steering wellness attention practicians and interrupting such has legal deductions ( Dolan & A ; Barrister. 2004 ) . As such. healthcare information direction is supposed to adhere to this rule. This is nevertheless a hard undertaking with a centralized system which may to a greater extent allows handiness of information by unauthorised individuals. However. this is can be countered by proper hallmark of the users of the health care system. In add-on. the guaranting that the released information flows to the right individuals is a powerful manner of controling breach of confidentiality.
In decision. it is appreciable that healthcare systems experience challenges in keeping efficient information direction systems. Reluctance to follow electronic wellness record systems and small accent on demand to continue patient information is the chief cause. Healthcare systems must recognize that efficient information systems will cut down medical mistakes and costs related to such mistakes every bit good as enhance information flow. The possible job of breached confidentiality should be addressed by leting authorised entree to centralise wellness information. Health Information and Technology Essay Paper