Significance of IT in Healthcare

The ubiquitous use of computer technology in medicine began in the early 1950s with the rampant increase in the use of computers worldwide. Ever since information technology (IT) in healthcare has seen a rise.

Health IT gives healthcare providers the ability to streamline intelligent healthcare processes and offer care with more efficiency. The convergence of healthcare and IT is transforming the quality and efficiency of everyday patient experiences.

The advancing need-based healthcare solutions are allowing healthcare providers to run everyday healthcare operations seamlessly. Patients and healthcare providers are experiencing quick and easy access to patient forms, patient medical history and patient prescriptions, which significantly improve the care provided and the overall patient experience.

IT in Healthcare has proven to be beneficial in the following ways:

1. Effective healthcare delivery:

The use of IT in Healthcare helps improve the level of high-quality care. When healthcare processes are streamlined, it leads to seamless patient experiences. With IT, healthcare providers quickly review and evaluate a patient’s health status, thus considerably increasing the prospect of the desired health outcomes. Technical disruptions or sluggish device performance leads to a major fall in an efficient and productive healthcare delivery.

2. Strengthensinteraction between patient and healthcare providers:

IT in Healthcare facilitates easy access to electronic medical records (EMR) which significantly contribute to a smooth healthcare delivery. Enhanced healthcare service and outcomes can be established with the help of online care via e-mails, etc. Also, feedbacks from patients can be obtained post check-up/ treatment to keep track of the outcomes of the treatment given.

3. Decreased medical errors:

The use of Health IT in hospitals, clinics and independent laboratories improves the quality of healthcare that is delivered by providing accurate patient records. It also allows the healthcare provider to better understand the patient’s medical condition. Without the pre-fed history of patient medical records, the healthcare provider would need to depend on the patient’s memory, which can often lead to inaccurate medical data.

Computerized provider order entry (CPOE), formerly called Computer physician order entry, can reduce total medication error rates by 80%, and adverse errors by 55%.

A 2004 survey by Leapfrog found that 16% of US clinics, hospitals and medical practices are expected to be utilizing CPOE within 2 years. Another study says that CPOE adoption reduced drug errors and concluded that CPOE could substantially reduce the annual number of errors if implemented.

4. Timely Care:

Providing easy access to health care includes avoiding delays in obtaining an appointment and waiting for your turn at the hospital or clinic. Today, chatbots are fast gaining popularity for tasks such as scheduling an appointment and also informing the patient of a ‘no-show’. These advanced IT in healthcare services, if utilized effectively, can prove to be a game-changer in the field of healthcare.

Information technology has proven to be an essential to the healthcare providing sector. The purpose of Health IT is to enhance patient experiences and boost the healthcare provider’s efficiency. In such a scenario, the mission of all Health IT providers should aim at maximising digitization and intelligent healthcare solutions for easing both patient and provider experiences.