THE IMPACT OF NURSING INFORMATICS
The Impact of Nursing Informatics on Patient Outcomes and Patient Care Efficiencies
Various challenges have affected patients’ outcome as well as hospital performance. The organization needs to implement effective strategies to improve patient outcomes and patient care efficiencies. The strategy includes the development of a value-based business solution to create value for care providers and patients. Patients are the most critical stakeholders in the hospital. The current proposal includes implementation and use of a health information system in the form of a Barcode Medication Administration to collect and record patient information for use in the continuum of care (Keers, Williams, Cooke, Walsh, & Ashcroft, 2014). While different information systems exist to support patient outcomes and patient care efficiencies, the Barcode Medication Administration is the most critical in improving safety and quality outcomes during drug administration.
Project Description
The proposed project entails the implementation of a Barcode Medication Administration to improve patient outcomes and patient care efficiencies. The hospital experiences challenges in managing patient data, a factor that has resulted in various inefficiencies, such as medical errors. Therefore, the proposal is to develop and implement the Barcode Medication Administration to address the current limitations. Seibert, Maddox, Flynn, and Williams (2014) indicate that the Barcode Medication Administration is an automated system that prevents medical errors. The system is used by hospitals and other healthcare organizations to collect and manage patient data to improve quality and safety outcomes.
The Barcode Medication Administration improves the process of ordering and administering prescription medicines to patients. The system comprises a bar code medication device, which is linked to an internet-enabled computer. The system has a bar code reader and the software system that supports its operation. Evidence from the research reveals that medical mistakes arise during the process of ordering and administering of medicines (Keers, Williams, Cooke, Walsh, & Ashcroft, 2014). Thus, the system will increase efficiency in the process by preventing medication issues and improving precision during the ordering and administration stages. Nursing professionals will use the system as a verification technology to reduce errors.
Stakeholders Impacted by the Project
When implementing a health information system, it is important to identify individuals and groups impacted by the project. The implementer should develop a clear strategy relating to the importance and value of the project to the organization and its people. Hence, to understand the value, it is necessary to conduct a stakeholder assessment to identify the affected and those that affect the new system. One of the stakeholder groups in the project is the hospital administration. Hospital leaders and nurse managers are important decision-makers in the adoption of the new information system. Therefore, their input and support determine the success of the project. Patients are also affected by the implementation of the new information system. Individuals and groups receiving care from the hospital will benefit from the proposed project; hence, reduced risk of medical errors and related expenses, such as the cost of extended hospital stays, will be recorded. Patient outcomes will be improved due to the adoption and use of the new system. Nurses and clinicians will play an important role in the information system implementation because they will use it to provide care to their patients (Pichon-Riviere, Soto, Augustovski, Garcia-Marti, & Sampietro-Colom, 2017). They will collect information from patients and use the system in ordering and administering medications. Therefore, their input is critical throughout the project cycle.
Patient Outcome(s) or Patient-Care Efficiencies
Evidence from previous implementations of the project has revealed its efficacy in improving patient outcomes, especially reducing medical errors by improving efficiency in ordering and administering drugs. It makes it efficient for nurses to understand what to do, when, and how (Wang, Kung, & Byrd, 2018). Barcode system is a form of intelligence in nursing that providers use to facilitate their work (McGonigle & Mastrian, 2017). The platform will implement a critical component in the continuum of care, drugs administration. Errors that happen during the process are one of the primary reasons for negative patient outcomes, such as extended hospital stays and increased cost for patients and healthcare facilities. The Institute of Medicine approximated that a million injuries and around 100,000 fatalities happen yearly because of errors in the medication process (Makary & Daniel, 2016). Therefore, the proposed system will overcome the challenge by improving efficiency during the dispensation, prescription, and administration stages of treatment. The automated system will ensure that nurses have an effective and efficient means to collect relevant patients’ information and use it throughout the treatment process.
Required Technologies
The implementing team should acquire all the necessary components of the Barcode Medication Administration to complete and implement the project successfully. One of the required technology is a barcode reader. The system will need a barcode printer and an internet-enabled mobile computer and a server. The platform will run on software. A unique barcode is used to label all drugs at the hospital for easy ordering and administration. The system should include the mechanism for labeling and reading the barcode (Staggers, Iribarren, Guo, & Weir, 2015). During the prescription process, the drug is faxed or sent electronically to the pharmacy. The process explains the need for the Internet connection. The information is recorded in a computer system for reference. The patient receives the barcoded dose of the medication. The provider administers the drug to the patient after confirming that all information is correct. In the process, a hand-held scanner is used for reading the barcode on the drug, the patient’s wristband, and the identification badge. In case the barcode point-of-care (BPOC) system does not correspond with the medication, a visual notice is sent to the clinician. Each system has critical patient information and the medication process.
The Project Team
The team will comprise a project manager who will oversee its successful implementation. The role of the manager is to ensure that the project is operational and is completed within the timeframe and the budget, as well as that it achieves its objectives. The individual ensures that all resources are available and maintains relationships and collaboration with other members and key stakeholders. The team will also include members who will collaborate with the manager to achieve the project objectives. They are responsible for the design, development, implementation, and maintenance of the system. Members work on different project’s phases. For instance, the nurse informaticist can play an important role as part of the project team by providing critical information about the hospital and the proposed system because of the direct involvement in its use. The project will also have a sponsor who is the driving force and champion of the system’s development process (Harrison & Lock, 2017). The individual will legitimize and support the achievement of project objectives.
Conclusion
Health information systems are an indispensable part of the operations of the modern nursing role. They support evidence-based care and improve the quality and efficiency outcomes. The Barcode Medication Management and administration is an example of a technology that can be implemented in healthcare to enhance precision in the drug ordering and administration phases to address the problem of medical mistakes.
