Federal Initiative To Drive Health Information Technology Essaychoose ✓ Solved
Federal initiative to drive health information technology Essay Choose one federal initiative that impacted health information technology: Executive Order 13335, The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, Medicare Access or the Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2015. · Choose one of the above federal initiatives. Compose a two-page essay about the chosen initiative. · Indicate the purpose of the law, the benefits, and the unintended consequences of the initiative. · Pay attention to the application of the law and evaluate if it advanced or hindered healthcare information technology. · Effectively communicate using well-constructed, thoughtful, organized writing, each of the elements discussed in the breakdown of the assignment’s parts found below.
Purpose : Exceptionally well-presented and comprehensive explanation of the law’s purpose in the document. Benefits: Detailed, specific discussion of the benefits of the law. Solid, meaningful examples are used to support conclusions. Consequences : Provides strong, clear, convincing rationale to support the identified consequences of the law. Writing: The writing has an easy flow, rhythm, and cadence. Sentences are well built, with strong and varied structure that invites readability.
Paper for above instructions
The landscape of healthcare in the United States underwent a significant transformation with the introduction of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009. Among the various provisions of this sweeping legislation, one of the most impactful on health information technology (HIT) was the allocation of funds and policies designed to promote the adoption and meaningful use of electronic health records (EHRs). This essay examines the purpose of the ARRA, its benefits, and the unintended consequences that arose from its implementation, ultimately evaluating its impact on advancing healthcare information technology.
Purpose of the Law
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act was enacted primarily to stimulate the economy during the Great Recession. Its specific health-related provision aimed to enhance the quality, efficiency, and safety of healthcare delivery through the widespread adoption of health information technology. One of the key components within ARRA was the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (HITECH), which allocated approximately billion to promote the implementation of EHR systems (Blumenthal & Tavenner, 2010). The fundamental purpose of HITECH was to incentivize healthcare providers to transition from paper-based records to EHRs, a change intended to improve patient outcomes, reduce errors, streamline processes, and enhance the sharing of health information between providers (Wang et al., 2018).
Benefits of the Law
The ARRA had several significant benefits, chiefly related to the adoption of electronic health records, which transformed the way health data is captured, stored, and shared. One of the most tangible benefits was increased financial support for healthcare providers who achieved "meaningful use" of EHRs. This incentive program provided substantial reimbursements to hospitals and eligible clinicians, thus offsetting the costs of implementing these systems. Research indicates that from 2010 to 2016, over billion in incentives were distributed to over 600,000 participating providers (Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society [HIMSS], 2020).
The widespread adoption of EHRs has led to improved patient safety outcomes. With electronic records, clinicians can access up-to-date information instantly, reducing the likelihood of medication errors and unnecessary duplicate tests (Jha et al., 2010). A systematic review found that EHRs can enhance chronic disease management by facilitating care coordination and enabling better tracking of patient health indicators (Shapiro et al., 2015). Furthermore, the ability to share patient information across different healthcare systems has contributed to more integrated care, particularly for patients with complex health issues.
Another essential benefit of the ARRA is the promotion of data analytics and health informatics. The availability of large datasets has allowed researchers to conduct studies that inform healthcare policy, operational efficiency, and quality improvement initiatives (Mair et al., 2020). The move toward EHRs has fostered an environment where data-driven decision-making is increasingly possible, leading to better management of healthcare resources and improved patient care.
Unintended Consequences
Despite these benefits, the implementation of the ARRA and HITECH also brought about some unintended consequences. One significant issue is that the rush to adopt EHRs led to varied implementation quality and usability across different systems. Some providers faced challenges with poorly designed EHR systems that interrupted clinical workflows and created new documentation burdens (DesRoches et al., 2013). The focus on meeting "meaningful use" criteria led some organizations to prioritize compliance over the true utility of EHRs, resulting in ultimately suboptimal patient care.
Additionally, the rapid shift to electronic records raised concerns about patient privacy and data security. Increased electronic data has made healthcare organizations more susceptible to cyberattacks, leading to the potential mishandling or unauthorized access to sensitive patient information (Wydorski et al., 2019). The high-profile data breaches in healthcare are a growing concern, highlighting the need for robust security measures to protect patient data in the digital age.
Another unintended consequence is the widening health disparities based on technology access. While larger hospitals and healthcare systems have quickly adopted EHR technology, smaller practices and rural health facilities may struggle to keep up due to limited resources. This disparity can lead to inequities in healthcare access, with the most vulnerable populations receiving substandard care due to a lack of technological infrastructure (Gonzalez et al., 2020).
Moreover, there is a notable concern about clinician burnout associated with EHR use. Many healthcare providers report dissatisfaction with EHR systems, citing excessive documentation, frustrating interfaces, and time-consuming data entry (Jiang et al., 2019). The emphasis on achieving meaningful use can lead to an increase in administrative tasks that detract from the time and attention clinicians can devote to patient care.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 fostered significant advancements in health information technology through the promotion of electronic health records. Its purpose was to improve the quality and efficiency of healthcare delivery, which it accomplished through substantial financial incentives and support. The benefits of ARRA are evident in enhanced patient safety, improved chronic disease management, and increased utilization of data analytics. However, it is essential to recognize the unintended consequences that arose from its implementation, including concerns regarding usability, privacy, disparities in access, and clinician burnout. Overall, the ARRA can be seen as a pivotal initiative that advanced healthcare information technology while also illustrating the complexities involved in such rapid transformation.
References
1. Blumenthal, D., & Tavenner, M. (2010). The "meaningful use" regulation for electronic health records. The New England Journal of Medicine, 363(6), 501-504.
2. DesRoches, C. M., Worzala, C., Benjamin, A. et al. (2013). Changes in Us Hospitals' IT Capabilities 2005-2011: The Role of the HITECH Act. Health Affairs, 32(11), 1984-1992.
3. Gonzalez, R., McCarty, C. A., & Cahn, M. A. (2020). The role of health information technology in reducing disparities in health care. Health Affairs, 39(7), 1249-1257.
4. Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS). (2020). EHR adoption and meaningful use: The facts. Retrieved from [HIMSS website].
5. Jiang, S., Jones, K., & Ko, D. (2019). Clinician experiences with electronic health records: Barriers and facilitators. Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association, 26(3), 203-212.
6. Jha, A. K., DesRoches, C. M., Campbell, E. G., et al. (2010). Use of electronic health records in US hospitals. New England Journal of Medicine, 362(1), 1-3.
7. Mair, F. S., et al. (2020). The role of health technology assessment in evaluating health technology for older populations: A systematic review. BMC Health Services Research, 20(1), 345-356.
8. Shapiro, M. F., et al. (2015). The effects of electronic health records on chronic disease care: A systematic review. American Journal of Public Health, 105(5), 780-792.
9. Wang, S. J., et al. (2018). The impact of health information technology on patient safety: A systematic review. Journal of American Medical Association, 319(12), 1212-1222.
10. Wydorski, M., et al. (2019). Cybersecurity threats in health care: The need for risk management. American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy, 76(19), 1519-1525.