Reflection Week 2 Using Technology to select access to care
docx
keyboard_arrow_up
School
American Military University *
*We aren’t endorsed by this school
Course
501
Subject
Health Science
Date
Feb 20, 2024
Type
docx
Pages
4
Uploaded by PrivateRockPuppy40
Reflection- Week 2: Using Technology to select access to care.
Name
American Military University
HCAD501 Technology Application in Healthcare Organizations Dr. Barbara Cliff
November 16, 2023
Technology such as websites, mobile applications, and telehealth have helped benefit
healthcare consumers, from disease management to provider-patient communication technology,
and have positively impacted all aspects of healthcare. The innovation of diverse diagnostic tools
allows healthcare providers to quickly and effectively identify illness and disease processes that
would otherwise not be found sooner. The implementation of cutting-edge technology
applications such as the Insurance marketplace and mobile applications such as the My Plan
mobile app has made it possible for healthcare consumers to shop for healthcare plans that meet
their needs and provide immediate access to information needed to select healthcare providers
that participate in network with the chosen healthcare plan. As technology continues to redefine
how we access and utilize healthcare and shop for health insurance plans, it is paramount to
highlight that several factors continue to drive the technological changes in healthcare, some of
which include but are not limited to the increasing access to health care and need to reduce cost,
facilitation of chronic disease management and prevention, the need to respond to demographic
change in healthcare utilization and the need to minimize waste and consolidate healthcare
delivery and coordination. Technology continues to facilitate providers’ ability to offer care to
more people while also allowing providers to serve more patients with a broader range of
services while helping to reduce costs through economies of scale and scope (Litwin, 2020).
Healthcare consumers who shop for health insurance are often faced with complex
decisions as shoppers look to minimize their financial exposure and maximize their health plan
benefits; however, since the implementation of innovative technology such as the marketplace in
"2014, 10-12 Million people have been able to enroll in the marketplace plan annually" (Hero et
al., 2020). The implementation of Electronic Medical Records and Electronic Health Record
Systems EMR and EHR, respectively, have significantly improved and expedited the
coordination of care as healthcare providers are now able to share patient information across the
country with the click of a button, thus, improving interdisciplinary coordination of care and
eliminating delay in care. As the healthcare system continues to grow across the globe, the
implementation of innovative technology has not only aided fast and more accurate access to
patient records but also improved access to care and diagnostics. Electronic Medical Records and
Electronic Health Record Systems such as Bestosys, Jane, PCC Praxis CampDoc, and IQ health
are technological systems that remove the delay in patients learning about their lab test results,
thus allowing the patient to access their medical records and lab test results through their patient
portal in addition to the ability for the patient to communicate with their provider and schedule
appointment online at the comfort of their home. Access to healthcare also defines the quality of
health; however, technology continues to help close the access to healthcare gap through a
different type of telehealth application that allows patients to have a physician visit at the
comfort of their home, remove the cost, distance and physical limitations barriers that often
prevent access to healthcare. Technology is an invaluable innovation for healthcare professionals, Healthcare
Consumers, and Healthcare Organizations as a whole; as technology continues to expand, it is
expected that it will become inevitable and absolute in all areas of healthcare practices, while the
use of apps and other technology present great advantage and benefit to the healthcare industry, it
is however imperative to also understand the risk. As such, "Rigorous evaluation, validation, and
the development of best-practice standards for medical apps are greatly needed to ensure a
fundamental level of quality and safety when these tools are used in order to serve the healthcare
consumers better and improve patient health outcomes" (Ventola, 2014)
Your preview ends here
Eager to read complete document? Join bartleby learn and gain access to the full version
- Access to all documents
- Unlimited textbook solutions
- 24/7 expert homework help
References
Hero, J. O., Sinaiko, A. D., Kingsdale, J., Gruver, R. S., & Galbraith, A. A. (2020). Decision-making experiences of consumers choosing individual-market health insurance plans. Health Affairs, 38(3), 464–472. https://doi.org/10.1377/hlthaff.2018.05036
Litwin, A. S. (2020, July 23). Technological change in health care delivery. UC Berkeley Labor Center. https://laborcenter.berkeley.edu/technological-change-in-health-care-delivery/
Ventola, C. L. (2014, May). Mobile devices and apps for Health Care Professionals: Uses and benefits. P & T : a peer-reviewed journal for formulary management. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4029126/