Assignment 2: Health Care Technology and Health Care Trends
Due Week 4 and worth 150 points
Part I. Develop a graphical taxonomy of the different health care technologies using
Microsoft Excel. The taxonomy should include information on the following:
- Type of health care technology.
- Brief discussion regarding how each technology contributes to the health care system in
the US when applicable. - Assess how each medical technology type affects or affected clinicians and organizations.
Part II. Provide a 75-100 word response to the following questions: - Discuss trend(s) that have directly impacted the U.S. population and health care over the
last 50 years. Provide specific details. - Determine one (1) important factor that has had the greatest impact on the health care
utilization pattern(s).
Your assignment must follow these formatting requirements:
�Be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins
on all sides; references must follow APA or school-specific format. Check with your
professor for any additional instructions.
�Include a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student’s name, the
professor’s name, the course title, and the date. The cover page and the reference page are
not included in the required page length.
Healthcare Technology and Healthcare Trends
Technology has been embraced in the healthcare systems to help improve delivery of
care. The conventional ways of communication has continued to change as technology advances.
This paper delineates on the various information technologies in use in various health care
systems and how they have impacted on healthcare systems as well as the clinician.
Different information technologies do exist. These include computerized provider order
entry (CPOE ), Electronic health record (HER), Clinical decision support system (CDSS), Bar
coding, picture archiving and communications system (PACS), Automated dispensing machines
(ADMs), Radio frequency identification (RFID), Electronic materials management (EMM)
(Medpac, 2004).
Computerized provider order entry (CPO) is an ordering and fulfillment system that
facilitates transfers and ordering of various materials in the organization. It includes referral,
HEALTHCARE TECHNOLOGY AND HEALTHCARE TRENDS 2
procedures, orders and transfers among many others. This system helps to reduce medication
errors. It also impacts on the clinicians because it helps them to avoid errors and provide quality
healthcare. Electronic health record (HER), is yet another information technology that has
greately impacted on the healthcare system. This technology allows recording of all data
concerning patient. Information of patient can be integrated and accessed in all the departments.
This system has improved the level of data recording and has reduced the time it takes to retrieve
information of the client (Medpac, 2004). Clinicians and organizations have also benefitted from
these systems, as they can be able to retrieve information of the patient and provide better
diagnosis. Clinical decision support system (CDSS) allows the healthcare professional to access
real time diagnostic and treatment information that helps them to make appropriate decisions. It
has helped to improve the quality of healthcare provided. Nurses can be in a position to offer
better treatment as this allows them to make sound judgment about the status of the clients. Bar
coding, is also an information system that operates or captures data through optical scanning. It
helps to match the information of the medication and that of the patients it reduces errors.
Clinicians can therefore, be assured of minimized errors when it comes to medication for their
clients. Picture archiving and communications system (PACS), is also an information technology
system used in healthcare. This system captures and integrates diagnostic and radiological
images from various images such as X-rays (Medpac, 2004). It has assisted in providing up to
date data information which has improved provision of healthcare to the patients.
Automated dispensing machines (ADMs) helps in distribution of medications. It ensures
quality of care and helps clinicians reduce errors in doses. Radio frequency identification (RFID)
is technology for tracking patients and following how they are doing. It improves patient care
and ensures that clinicians reduce time for locating their patients and following whether they are
HEALTHCARE TECHNOLOGY AND HEALTHCARE TRENDS 3
adhering to their medications or not. Electronic materials management (EMM) on the other hand,
deals with the distribution of materials and management of inventory. It functions like the
enterprise resource planning and ensure that there is proper distribution of medical supplies and
materials. It therefore, ensures that clinicians do not run short of any supplies hence enhancing
the quality of healthcare provided.
Part II.
There are noticeable differences in the healthcare systems currently as well as 50 years
back. The trends have moved from healthcare system based on indemnity plan which was
primarily based on what the patient required to a managed care system. A managed care system
is concerned about putting in place prior measures even before the person becomes sick. Such
measures include education about various ways of preventing disease and taking of insurance
covers to meet the cost of medication among others. Changes in cultures, beliefs and values and
changes in situations and economic trends have also contributed to spiraling costs of medication
evidenced by the per capita expenditures as well as measuring expenditures in healthcare in
relation to the gross domestic product (Conklin, 2002). Rising costs of individual and family
healthcare insurance is one of the factors that have greatly impacted on health care utilization.
Insurance cover plans have impeded many people from seeking quality healthcare services.
HEALTHCARE TECHNOLOGY AND HEALTHCARE TRENDS 4
References
Conklin, T. (2002). Health Care in the United States: An Evolving System.