Leadership in Technology in Healthcare

Leadership in Technology in Healthcare

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Leadership in Technology in Healthcare

I.          The healthcare sector is at a point where it is bombarded by considerable transition influenced by inclination towards technological advancements. Undeniably, the current environment has provided significant opportunities and platforms that are capable of transitioning the field of healthcare into evidence-based models via social collaboration, health information technology, and progressed data analytics. There are actually various illustrations depicting the transition between healthcare and technology within the present context.

A.        Nearly 80 percent of physicians have engaged in the implementation of electronic health records (Olsen, Goolsby, & McGinnis, 2013).

B.        Exchanges based on health information are beginning to adapt the sharing of data as well as application of analyses that assist real-time learning among people.

C.        Patients are becoming considerably engaged in accessing their medical treatment via Internet searches, social media discussions, and medical chatrooms.

II.        Because of the opportunities that the current environment provides to the field of healthcare, it would be imperative for management to focus on the implementation of specific measures and approaches that exploit the respective resource. More specifically, leadership within healthcare institutions may concentrate on the adoption of various technological advances in order to increase effectiveness in the delivery of services.

            A.        Several trends within the healthcare setting are capable of transforming medical treatment within the contemporary environment.

            B.        One particular trend involves the increase in patient involvement regarding aspects of medical treatment, particularly wellness, prevention, and treatment.

                        1.         Patients usually supplement data and information from health providers.

a)         Accordingly, patients accessing treatment within a medical institution can increase information by using a myriad of resources such as discussions among family members or friends and electronic sources based on the issue researched.

b)         In addition, patients are also capable of accessing information surrounding the aforementioned components of medical treatment such as wellness, prevention, and treatment by using digital technology (Olsen, Goolsby, & McGinnis, 2013).

c)         Access to digital technology enables patients to access the most recent information, which further assists them in making informed decisions and choices regarding their treatment.

                        2.         Using this information, leaders can engage in the implementation of activities that actually take advantage of the respective trend in order to improve effectiveness in the provision of healthcare.

a)         Managers can implement learning programs based on evidence-based models within the environment. With this, the programs can be used in order to educate members of the care-provider fraternity regarding their positive impact on the implementation of patient-based care (Ortiz & Clancy, 2003).

b)         Managers can encourage the patients to participate actively together with collaborative healthcare providers within the process of decision-making, especially in respect to the provision of patient-based care.

            C.        Another trend is based on the online collaboration of activities between healthcare providers and patients. Accordingly, the number of patients that have exhibited involvement in the provision of healthcare in respect to healthcare providers has increased significantly.

                        1.         Within the consumer level, patients have begun sharing their ailments, symptoms, as well as treatments. With this, they have been able to receive advice and responses from other individuals.

a)         Online platforms are assuming a significant role in the education of patients and assist considerably in the reduction of their demand for in-patient care (Ortiz & Clancy, 2003).

b)         Online communities offer a large quantity of patient-reported information that can act as a valuable asset for evidence-based medical studies.

c)         Online platforms may be implemented by leaders as data sources that are capable of potentially reducing the considerable expenses associated with medical study by patients and physicians in a collaborative setting.

III.       In conclusion, various trends within the contemporary environment are applicable in the provision of healthcare. Such trends, which specifically involve technological advancements, are capable of ensuring the effectiveness as well as quality in care services provided to patients in the long-term.

References

Olsen, L. A., Goolsby, W. A., & McGinnis, J. M. (2013). Leadership commitments to improve value in health care: Finding common ground. Washington, D.C: National Academies Press.

Ortiz, E., & Clancy, C. M. (2003). Use of information technology to improve the quality of health care in the United States. Health Services Research, 38(2), 11-22.