Nursing Informatics Proposal: Use of Telehealth Nursing to Improve Patient Outcomes
NURS 5051 Module02 Week04 Assignment – The Impact of Nursing Informatics on Patient Outcomes and Patient Care Efficiencies
Nursing informatics entails practically integrating nursing care science and information technology skills, providing immense healthcare benefits. As such, the application of modern technology and digitization of care leads to substantial benefits such as decreased cost of care and reduced medical errors, thus improving the patient experience and outcomes. Therefore, nursing informatics has become a valuable resource for any healthcare organization. Healthcare organizations should integrate effective nursing informatics strategies to make their operations feasible. This nursing informatics proposal project will portray the impact of an integrated healthcare informatics system on patient outcomes and patient care efficiencies in a local healthcare organization.
Project Description
Nursing informatics systems allow effective data collection, analysis, and management, improving healthcare delivery. Healthcare organizations can also interpret and transmit data through modern technology, leading to informed decision-making (Seckman, 2019). Healthcare demand is increasing while conditions become more complex due to resistant strains of infection and communicable diseases. However, implementing practical nursing informatics projects and integrating the required financial input, technical infrastructure, and stakeholders will improve the outcomes.
The proposed nursing informatics project entails implementing an integrated healthcare informatics system with electronic health records, automated task allocation, new nurse training, and performance evaluation. The integrated nursing informatics systems will handle and coordinate patient data, improve the allocation of new patients to nurses, facilitate the training of new nurses, and improve the decision-making process. The systems will also be vital to collect crucial health data or information and generate comprehensive reports that can be used to inform management decisions (Seckman, 2019). The integrated nursing informatics systems will allow nurses to manage patients effectively, administer correct doses to suitable patients, and promote documentation and reporting that prevent adverse events. By doing so, the project will improve the quality of care and patient safety, which are linked with improved care outcomes and efficiency.
Stakeholders Impacted by the Project
The proposed project will impact several stakeholders, including patients, healthcare professionals, administrative staff, IT staff, health executives, insurance companies, regulatory bodies, vendors, and suppliers. The patients will be primary recipients of healthcare services, while healthcare professionals such as physicians and nurses will apply the proposed systems to improve the quality of care. The administrative staff in the organization will be responsible for managing operations relating to integrated healthcare informatics. The facility’s healthcare executives will decide whether to implement the proposed project, while the IT staff will maintain and secure the system. Insurance companies that finance the facility will be affected positively owing to reduced care costs associated with implementing the new systems. Regulatory bodies such as the government will ensure that integrated healthcare informatics is implemented within the guidelines and regulations. At the same time, the vendors and suppliers will provide and implement the system in the facility.
Patient outcome(s) or patient-care efficiencies associated with the project
Implementing the integrated healthcare informatics system will immensely improve patient safety and enhance care efficiencies in the healthcare organization. First, electronic health records will improve accessibility and accuracy. For instance, up-to-date and accurate patient information will allow healthcare professionals to make better decisions (Tsai et al., 2020). Electronic health records will also enhance care continuity and coordination since the healthcare professional can access complete patient information and share it with other caregivers. Secondly, automated task allocation will improve efficiency and reduce potential errors (Zayas-Cabán et al., 2021). Through automation, healthcare professionals can streamline workflow to save time and reduce administrative work burdens, allowing them to spend more time with their patients.
Thirdly, new nurse training enhances their skills while promoting adaptability to complex health problems. For instance, training the nurses about the proposed and other new systems will make them proficient in adopting the modern technology that leads to effective care. Ongoing training will aid the nurses in adapting to new technology and processes as technology evolves, leading to standard care. Importantly, performance evaluation promotes quality improvement, motivation, and accountability. For instance, the nurses can use evaluation to improve areas relating to the proposed project and devise suitable interventions. Regular assessments motivate healthcare professionals to maintain high performance that directly benefits patient outcomes.
The synergy of the discussed components will ensure that the proposed integrated healthcare system improves patient outcomes and patient care efficiencies. The project will lead to reduced hospital admissions. For instance, accurate access to patient records and coordinated and efficient care will lower admission rates. Efficient workflows imply that patients recover fast and have shortened hospitalization. A responsive, effective, and streamlined healthcare system improves patient experience and satisfaction.
Technologies required to implement the project and their Significance
The healthcare organization requires a combination of software, hardware, and network technologies to implement the proposed integrated health informatics system. Electronic health technologies will be vital to improve patient outcomes. First, the health information system will be necessary to manage patient data. Database servers will be utilized to store and retrieve patient data, and user interface devices such as mobile computers will be used for data entry. In contrast, interoperability solutions such as Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR) will promote information exchange (Torab-Miandoab et al., 2023).
The discussed EHR technologies promote nursing informatics by offering comprehensive data on patients’ information, treatment, and outcomes. The technologies enhance care coordination and reduce medical errors for better patient outcomes. Using interoperability solutions will facilitate communication, leading to integrated care delivery.
Secondly, the project will require automated task allocation technologies. In this case, the resource management software will assign tasks based on the staff’s skills and availability. At the same time, mobile communication devices and communication systems will ensure that healthcare professionals receive real-time task updates (Zayas-Cabán et al., 2021). The automated task allocation is instrumental in ensuring that the right tasks are allocated to the right staff when needed, thus reducing time wastage while optimizing the available workforce. Notification systems also ensure that staff receive tasks promptly in the dynamic health environment.
New nurse training technologies are needed to guarantee the success of the proposed projects. Simulation software will offer reality tools for training nurses based on real scenarios, while a learning management system will ensure that nurses have online modules and assessments to compete. The new nurse training technologies ensure that nurses are prepared to meet the standards of the proposed project. The technologies offer a controlled and safe platform for nurses to learn and exercise their skills during healthcare delivery. Multimedia tools and simulations offer diverse learning styles that improve nurses’ engagement with the learning materials.
Performance evaluation tools will also be instrumental in determining whether the proposed project was successful. Analytics software will aid in analyzing and tracking performance metrics while reporting software produces performance reports staff for reviewing the staff (Batko & Ślęzak, 2022). Feedback tools are vital for patient feedback collection and peer reviews among the staff. Analytics software is vital to measure and comprehend staff performance. The analyses will allow the healthcare organization to identify areas that need improvement and devise strategies to achieve them. The feedback tools are fundamental for a comprehensive evaluation to incorporate opinions and perspectives from patients and peers. Lastly, the reporting software visualizes performance data, allowing the healthcare organization to make informed decisions.
Project team (by roles) and explain how you would incorporate the nurse informaticist in the project team
The project’s delivery team will primarily implement the proposed integrated healthcare nursing informatics systems. First, a project manager will oversee the project to ensure it remains on track with the budget, timeframe, and scope. Secondly, the clinical analysts will also be instrumental in ensuring that the proposed system meets the established standards to meet the clinical requirements. IT specialists will ensure that technical aspects of the systems, such as database management, software development, and network systems, work efficiently. A change management specialist will ensure the organization adopts the proposed system successfully while supporting ongoing implementation and post-implementation maintenance. A financial advisor will offer a financial visibility of the project to guarantee success.
Of importance is the need to incorporate a nurse informaticist in the project team. The informacist should be involved in all project development stages, from problem identification to implementation. The informacist bridges the gap between technical solutions and clinical needs. First, the nurse informacist collaborates with clinical analysts to assess the needs of the nurses and other healthcare professionals to ensure the proposed system enhances clinical workflow (Reid et al., 2021). The nurse informacist participates in designing the system to ensure it aligns with nursing practice and provides education and training to ensure the nurses and other healthcare professionals are aware of the proposed changes. The nurse informacist also provides support to solve potential problems and conducts performance evaluations to determine the impact of the proposed system on nursing practice and patient outcomes.
Conclusion
Nursing informatics has become a valuable resource for any healthcare organization. Healthcare organizations should integrate effective nursing informatics strategies to make their operations feasible. The proposed nursing informatics project entails implementing an integrated healthcare informatics system that includes electronic health records, automated task allocation, new nurse training, and performance evaluation. Collaboration among the relevant stakeholders and integration of relevant technologies will guarantee success. A project team led by the project manager will be primarily responsible for implementing the project. The nurse informacist bridges the gap between technical solutions and clinical needs to ensure the proposed system enhances clinical workflow.
References
Batko, K., & Ślęzak, A. (2022). The use of Big Data Analytics in healthcare. Journal of big data, 9(1), 3. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40537-021-00553-4
Reid, L., Maeder, A., Button, D., Breaden, K., & Brommeyer, M. (2021). Defining Nursing Informatics: A Narrative Review. Studies in health technology and informatics, 284, 108–112. https://doi.org/10.3233/SHTI210680
Seckman C. (2019). Summer Institute in Nursing Informatics 2019 Healthcare Informatics: Catalyst for Value-Driven Care Transitions. Computers, informatics, nursing: CIN, 37(11), 558–563. https://doi.org/10.1097/CIN.0000000000000599
Torab-Miandoab, A., Samad-Soltani, T., Jodati, A., & Rezaei-Hachesu, P. (2023). Interoperability of heterogeneous health information systems: a systematic literature review. BMC medical informatics and decision making, 23(1), 18. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12911-023-02115-5
Tsai, C. H., Eghdam, A., Davoody, N., Wright, G., Flowerday, S., & Koch, S. (2020). Effects of Electronic Health Record Implementation and Barriers to Adoption and Use: A Scoping Review and Qualitative Analysis of the Content. Life (Basel, Switzerland), 10(12), 327. https://doi.org/10.3390/life10120327 Zayas-Cabán, T., Haque, S. N., & Kemper, N. (2021). Identifying Opportunities for Workflow Automation in Health Care: Lessons Learned from Other Industries. Applied clinical informatics, 12(3), 686–697. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0041-17317449
Paper details
The Impact of Nursing Informatics on Patient Outcomes and Patient Care Efficiencies
In the Discussion for this module, you considered the interaction of nurse informaticists with other specialists to ensure successful care. How is that success determined?
Patient outcomes and the fulfillment of care goals is one of the major ways that healthcare success is measured. Measuring patient outcomes results in the generation of data that can be used to improve results. Nursing informatics can have a significant part in this process and can help to improve outcomes by improving processes, identifying at-risk patients, and enhancing efficiency.
To Prepare:
- Review the concepts of technology application as presented in the Resources.
- Reflect on how emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence may help fortify nursing informatics as a specialty by leading to increased impact on patient outcomes or patient care efficiencies.
The Assignment: (4-5 pages not including the title and reference page)
In a 4- to 5-page project proposal written to the leadership of your healthcare organization, propose a nursing informatics project for your organization that you advocate to improve patient outcomes or patient-care efficiency. Your project proposal should include the following:
- Describe the project you propose.
- Identify the stakeholders impacted by this project.
- Explain the patient outcome(s) or patient-care efficiencies this project is aimed at improving and explain how this improvement would occur. Be specific and provide examples.
- Identify the technologies required to implement this project and explain why.
- Identify the project team (by roles) and explain how you would incorporate the nurse informaticist in the project team.
- Use APA format and include a title page and reference page.
- Use the Safe Assign Drafts to check your match percentage before submitting your work.
Submit your completed Project Proposal.