Innovative Health Care: The Intersection of ICT and Medicine

Introduction

In the current times, the health care facilities are striving to adopt more sophisticated healthcare systems to achieve effectiveness, efficacy and quality in healthcare facilities for the people. This can be achieved through proper implementation of highly innovative information and communication technology (ICT) also known as eHealth. Basically, ICT application for the health sector is to provide better services over a range of functions affecting the healthcare sector. Consequently, through the great intervention of the innovative technologies and managing systems the quality of healthcare is improved by constraining the increasing costs. In Health Care and ICT essay this topic will be considered.

It is therefore regarded that, inventing and establishing an effective ICT Healthcare System will facilitate a milestone for the improvement of health care services and high-quality information management. Thus enabling the healthcare services provider to shift from manual information management systems to an automated electronic system which is more reliable and effective.

Features for ICT System in Healthcare

The key features of eHealth process and technology are better access to electronic health records of an individual, enhancing intelligent clinical support and decision system, well responsive equipment and staff while reducing the administrative costs, unnecessary delays and wastes. The infrastructure of ICT makes it possible to work better and differently. ICT gather, store, retrieve, process, evaluate, analyse and then transmit the information. Therefore, ICT infrastructure contributes in improving the interaction and communication between clinicians and patients, give better access to patient information, make effective knowledge management (for both English & non-English) and provide computer-aided decision supporting tools for both clinician and patient.

Requirements for ICT System in Healthcare:

The establishment of an ICT system in healthcare includes the following phases:

A preparation & planning phase

In this phase any healthcare provider, hospital, a health association or centre establish a public-private partnership. Both long-term and short-term benefits of ICT system must be ensured through careful planning. For this, professional and responsible experts from both the hospital, healthcare sector, consumers and state government would be needed. In the first phase, the operational plan will be developed with mutually agreed contracts among vendors and participants incorporating financial and business plan, authentication and security plan, and procedures and policies for data management and access.

Secure platform for data exchange and communication:

the establishment of such platforms facilitates access to patient’s history and information in real-time through computer and internet. This system includes, participants (patients, clinicians, physicians, laboratories, hospitals) require an internet connection and web browser to participate, the portal remains secure through peer-to-peer data exchange and only authorized users can view patient data.

Comprehensive infrastructure of ICT:

In this phase, an internet-based communication must be facilitated between clinicians and patients, between a group of patients, and between a group of clinicians. This infrastructure should be capable of ensuring eligibility verification, process and claim payments, clinical data management for patients and clinicians (i.e. guidelines), reminders, telemedicine (in-house monitoring, consulting specialists), disease observation and fast alert system for public health.

Some consideration must be taken in account before designing the ICT system plan for the healthcare system. These are as follow:

• Clarify problems that will be tackled with the help of technology.
• Developing agreements.
• Considering available options.
• Select an affordable system meeting clinical needs.
• Establish appropriate Infrastructure.
• Staff training.
• Continuous progress evaluation.
• System maintenance
• Ensuring System stability.

Work Breakdown Structure

For proper implementation of the ICT based healthcare systems, the breakdown of the work specifying the detail and task at different stages of the project implementation, this involves the number of days to be taken in each stage or phase along with the required resources for that particular phase of the project implementation.

The work breakdown structure (WBS) for the eHealth system is divided into four major deliverables which are further divided into sub deliverable key achievements. This complete information gives the result to an efficient and vast eHealth system. These deliverables are as follows:

Public-Private Venture

• Health sector professionals accept their responsibility.
• The government accept the need for technology implementation in the health sector.
• Mutual agreement between hospital authorities, government and vendors.

Infrastructure Development

• Patient Information System
• Admission, Transfer and Discharge of patients
• Registration of Patients
• Clinical History of Patients
• EMPI of patients
• Patient Scheduling

Clinical Information System

• Clinical reminders and alerts
• CRE (Clinical Rule Engine)
• Track consultations
• Management order
• Medical report results
• Clinical documentation
• Computerized clinician’s entry
• Health Education
• Effective Measurements

Laboratory

• Chemistry
• Anatomic Pathology
• Microbiology

Pharmacy

• Tracking record of adverse reactions
• The administrative record for electronic medication
• Examination of bar code medications
• Pharmacy for outpatients and inpatients

Conclusion

In conclusion to essay about ICT System in Health Care, as the healthcare system across the globe is facing challenges of the nursing shortage, chronic disease, demographic changes, escalating costs and medical accidents. Moreover, most of the medical services are provided inside specific premises. Thus, effective remote care and monitoring are required in such cases. The main purpose ICT is to improve the patients’ health and to provide secure and cost-effective use of information and technology for health-related facilities. According to WHO, eHealth includes health surveillance, health services, health education, online therapies, consultations through emails and skype, virtual clinics, online pharmacies, telehealth and home monitoring systems for patients.