Heath Care Technology and Nursing Leadership

            The look of healthcare has changed since the introduction of Health Care Reform and the Affordable Care Act which afforded the opportunity for many American to have health insurance coverage.  There was also a large focus on primary and preventative care, focusing on population health.  Population health refers to the many healthcare entities working together to improve health outcomes in the communities in which they live (Academy Health 2013). In 2009, the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) act was introduced as a means to support and facilitated the adoption of EHR. With this advance of the Electronic Health Record, information can now be collected and that data can be stored. These vast amounts and types of data collected is so large and thus unable to be analyzed using traditional methods. Data mining then becomes increasingly important as a way to look at these large volume of data and discover patterns and trends that will allow for improved decision making in the world of health care (Koh & Tan, 2011). This collected data is now capable of effecting the way that care is delivered and performed. Benefits of the EHR include (Health IT):

·         Improving patient outcomes

·         Improving care coordination

·         Increase in practice efficiencies and cost savings

·         Improving patient participation in health care prevention

Nurse leaders must embrace the technology and facilitate and encourage its use with all clinical staff members.  Nursing Informatics is a powerful field and one that must continue advanced the profession.  This role combines nursing science with information management to realize and analyze data that will effect nursing practice (HIMSS, 2011).  Nurses can be key drivers of incorporating technology with patient care.  Positioning nurses in key positions such as nurse informatics, allows for a body of knowledge that incorporates both nursing practice as well as technology.  This leadership position will be critical as we continue to advance in the world of IT, as well as strive for population health management.  Nursing leaders across all domains will need to support and advocate for such positions in organizations, and engage staff members at all levels.

References

HIMSS Position Statement on Transforming Nursing Practice through Technology &
     Informatics. (2011). Critical Care Nursing Quarterly, 34(4), 367-376. 

Koh, H. C., & Tan, G. (2011). Data mining applications in healthcare. Journal of 
Healthcare Information Management, 19(2), 64-72.

Retrieved from:www.academyhealth.org/files/AH2013pophealth.pdf. August 11, 2015

Retrieved from: http://www.healthit.gov/providers-professionals/benefits-electronic-health-records-ehrs  August 11, 2015