In The Last Few Years The Health Care Organization Had Taken The Nece ✓ Solved

In the last few years, the health care organization had taken the necessary steps that are required to implement various safety measures and to ensure the well-being of all the patients in the hospital. Documents were translated from paper documentation into the electronic medical record (EMR) on portable mobile devices or electronic tablets (Nagle et al., 2017). Each patient in the inpatient unit has a wristband to safeguard the six rights of medication administration to reduce the likelihood of medical errors. The health care organization has made exceptional advancement. However, some areas require revision, particularly the nurse in hospital homecare.

During one event while utilizing the MUMMS software to gather data such as lab reports, clinical documentation, and vital signs. A patient was diagnosed with bradycardia and was discharged from the health care organization with the wrong drugs or medication due to the medication reconciliation error (McGonigle & Mastrian, 2017). The health care organization realized that the software misplaced prior orders for the medication unintentionally. Now that I am out in the field, paying a visit to the home of patients, I understand how errors can occur. We have switched to a system known as MUMMS that gathers information such as the history of the patient, vital signs, medication profiles, and physicals.

To prevent the errors from occurring, I think that another common or known EMR such as EPIC should be used to access, share, organize, and store electronic medical records. EPIC is more suitable for more prominent hospitals. Nursing informatics has been advancing to ensure the safety of patients in hospitals. Nursing informatics involves computer science, nursing science, and information science to communicate and manage information, knowledge, and data within the nursing practice. The use of informatics, the health care facilities have converted into technological systems where patient’s information is gathered, and healthcare professions can retrieve data, (Sweeney, 2017).

Electronic health care records have also helped improve the safety and quality of patient's care. Also, information technology has improved the communication of patient's medical information. Integrated systems allow nurses and management to examine any problems in the current setting and look for ways it can improve. References McGonigle, D., & Mastrian, K. G. (2017).

Nursing informatics and the foundation of knowledge (4th ed.). Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning. Nagle, L. M., Sermeus, W., Junger, A., & Bloomberg, L. S. (2017).

Evolving Role of the Nursing Informatics Specialist. Forecasting Informatics Competencies for Nurses in the Future of Connected Health , 212. Sweeney, J. (2017). Healthcare informatics. Online Journal of Nursing Informatics , 21 , 4-1.

Paper for above instructions

Title: Enhancing Patient Safety through Effective Nursing Informatics in Healthcare Organizations
Introduction
In recent years, healthcare organizations have increasingly recognized the importance of implementing safety measures and maintaining the well-being of patients. One significant advancement has been the transition from paper documentation to electronic medical records (EMRs), which facilitate more efficient data management. This transition allows for better communication and sharing of information among healthcare providers, thus improving patient safety and care quality (McGonigle & Mastrian, 2017). However, challenges remain, particularly in managing nursing informatics in home care settings. This paper discusses some incidents of medication errors, their implications for patient safety, and the potential benefits of adopting widely-used EMR systems, such as EPIC.
Incidents of Medication Errors in Healthcare Organizations
Despite improvements in technology and data management practices, medication errors continue to pose a significant risk in healthcare settings. In one instance, a patient diagnosed with bradycardia was discharged with incorrect medication due to a medication reconciliation error while utilizing a military communications management system (MUMMS) for electronic documentation (McGonigle & Mastrian, 2017). This error arose from the software’s inability to accurately handle prior medication orders. Such incidents can lead to serious complications for patients and indicate a need for reevaluation of the tools used in medication administration.
Nurses play a crucial role in medication safety as they are often the last line of defense before a patient receives their prescribed medications. An effective nursing informatics system can help mitigate risks associated with medication errors. The system would provide nurses with instant access to patients’ medication profiles, allergies, and histories, enabling them to make informed decisions. Miscommunication and data-entry errors can be addressed through robust training and continuous evaluation of the informatics tools used by nursing professionals (Sweeney, 2017).
The Role of Nursing Informatics
Nursing informatics is an interdisciplinary field that integrates computer science, nursing science, and information science to manage and communicate nursing data effectively (McGonigle & Mastrian, 2017). The utilization of informatics facilitates error reduction and enhances patient outcomes by integrating technology into everyday tasks. Properly implemented nursing informatics can streamline communication, providing nurses with vital information at their fingertips.
Healthcare organizations must prioritize nurturing nursing informatics competence among staff. As highlighted by Nagle et al. (2017), evolving the role of nursing informatics specialists involves forecasting the required competencies for the staff, ensuring that personnel are equipped to handle the demands of connected health environments. This focus on competence enhances the nursing workforce, empowering them to utilize the technology available effectively.
Need for Enhanced EMR Systems
While MUMMS has made significant strides in organizing patient care data, it has become clear that the system may have limitations that jeopardize patient safety. To address these issues, deploying a more established EMR system such as EPIC could significantly enhance patient safety and increase nurse efficiency. EPIC is a robust, comprehensive solution that allows users to access, share, and organize electronic medical records across multiple departments within a healthcare organization (Nagle et al., 2017).
EPIC's infrastructure allows the integration of various functionalities, including clinical workflow, data analytics, and patient engagement tools, which can lead to improved continuity of care (Sweeney, 2017). Enhanced tracking capabilities help healthcare providers better monitor patient progress, resulting in informed clinical decisions. Additionally, EPIC's built-in safeguards can help ensure compliance with medication administration protocols, effectively reducing the risk of errors.
The Impact of Technology on Patient Safety
The integration of technology and nursing informatics in healthcare has demonstrated a positive correlation with patient safety (McGonigle & Mastrian, 2017). Electronic health records (EHRs) have improved the safety and quality of patient care by creating platforms for healthcare providers to share essential medical information seamlessly. These systems reduce duplication of efforts, enable better tracking of patients’ progress, and facilitate timely interventions when necessary (Sweeney, 2017).
Moreover, integrating standardized templates and protocols in EHR systems allows for better adherence to evidence-based practices. Policymakers should encourage healthcare organizations to invest in robust EHR solutions that prioritize patient safety and enhance the competencies of nursing staff (Nagle et al., 2017). Continuous education and training in informatics are vital to ensure that nursing professionals are well-equipped to navigate such systems effectively and address problematic areas, such as medication errors.
Conclusion
As healthcare organizations work towards improving patient safety, it is essential to address the impacts of inadequate medication administration processes and poorly integrated electronic systems. The examination of incidents involving medication reconciliation errors highlights the need for advanced and user-friendly EMR systems. By adopting comprehensive systems such as EPIC, healthcare organizations can create more resilient safeguards against medical errors.
Furthermore, embracing nursing informatics as a vital component of patient care will empower nursing professionals to deliver safer and more efficient patient-centered care. It is crucial for healthcare organizations to prioritize ongoing evaluation of informatics technologies and promote nurses’ competencies through educational programs. Only through these collective efforts can the ultimate goal of providing safe, high-quality healthcare be achieved.
References
1. McGonigle, D., & Mastrian, K. G. (2017). Nursing informatics and the foundation of knowledge (4th ed.). Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.
2. Nagle, L. M., Sermeus, W., Junger, A., & Bloomberg, L. S. (2017). Evolving Role of the Nursing Informatics Specialist. Forecasting Informatics Competencies for Nurses in the Future of Connected Health, 212.
3. Sweeney, J. (2017). Healthcare informatics. Online Journal of Nursing Informatics, 21, 4–1.
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