IT Research Paper

Submitted By Melkia-Waters
Words: 1892
Pages: 8
Open Document
Research Paper
MELKIA WATERS
Mwaters17@capellauniversity.edu
IT3006
PROF. JULIA KRUMMEN
Nov. 10, 2013
Identifying Improved Methodology to Procure HIT Software Benefits Users

Introduction
Researchers conducted a study conducted at The University of Utah
Healthcare system (comprising of 3 major hospitals) on the usability of their health information technology (HIT) software. Evaluators found 60 usability problems and
233 heuristic violations (Guo et al., 2011). Heuristic is defined by Oxford Dictionaries
(2013) as enabling a person to discover or learn something for themselves. Based on the research previously mentioned, users of the HIT software experienced difficulties both using the software and progressive learning its use. Users of HIT software are clinicians, nurses, pharmacists, and many other health­related personnel. When users have difficulty using HIT software the likeliness of a medical error is great.
Congruently, users become frustrated and dissatisfied with using the software. HIT software is a broad term incusing various types more specific software, including: electronic medical record (eMAR) and computerized physician order entry (CPOE) for example. It is in the best interest of HIT users and the population at large that I composed this document identifying how improved methodology in the design and evaluation of HIT software benefit users in healthcare settings. Current Methodology of HIT software Design and Evaluation Process

1

Healthcare entities are purchasing HIT software using a “cookie cutter approach”. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act mandate directs all healthcare entities to implement the use of HIT. To satisfy the mandate HIT software is purchased by the appointed person or committee within a healthcare entity.
Software vendors typically have base model health­related software to which the vendor designs to meet the specifications of the healthcare entity. Finally, the HIT software is implemented into the healthcare system for use by healthcare personnel with no further support by the vendor. Software design flaws and usability problems are realized by its users after the implementation phase. The Oxford Dictionaries defines usability as having ability or fit to be used (2013). “Nurses represent the greatest numbers of eMAR users and are recognized as the last line of defense in preventing medication errors in acute care settings” (Guo et al., 2011). “Usability issues such as poorly designed user interfaces can impact nurses’ activities and result in poor outcomes” (Guo et al, 2011). If the healthcare entity conducted an evaluation of the software prior to implementation phase user operational difficulties and structure flaws would be reduced. Healthcare entities currently have no universal standard of evaluating HIT software either before or after its procured from vendors. “The Agency of Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) stressed the need for usability evaluations” (Guo et al., 2011).

Need for Effective Evaluation of HIT Software

2

Ineffective evaluation of HIT software can have a severe negative impact on the progress of clinical information technology (Heathfield et al., 2013). Negatively affected also are software users who routinely experience difficulties while using the software and face problems as a result of software inefficiency. “Research shows that satisfaction with information technology is more correlated with users’ perceptions about a system’s effects on productivity than its effect on quality of care” (Heathfield et al., 2013). Randomized controlled trials are the current method of evaluation of HIT software based on the notion that clinical information technology is comparable to a drug and should be evaluated as one (Heathfield et al., 2013). The uses for HIT software in clinical settings are vast. The software should be evaluated by its intended
user
Show More

Related Documents: IT Research Paper

research paper

Research Paper 1 How safe are the government facilities? Rebecca Leon Empire State University Business Continuity Planning and Disaster Recovery Diane Delucia April 01, 2015 Research Paper 2 On March 9th 2015 an email was sent out to every Army…

Words 1122 - Pages 5

Research Paper

25099373 CNF15_3 Research Methods Research Proposal Word Count: 1210 A look into the Memory Retention: Can stimulants increase a person’s memory? A quantitative research proposal. For this research proposal, memory will be looked into to see whether a person’s memory can be increased via the intake of stimulants. This quantitative research will then look into whether there are any future benefits in consuming stimulants if memory is found to be increased. There is already research similar in nature…

Words 1359 - Pages 6

Research Paper

Research papers are a common type of paper for students to write, especially when they are attending college. These papers require students to perform research, such as utilizing primary and secondary sources to draw new conclusions. For students who have not written this type of paper before, it may seem daunting. There are many free sample research papers online for those who want to see how to structure their paper and other details.Diane Hacker, an author who writes manuals for students writing…

Words 307 - Pages 2

Research Paper

Research Paper EDUC 600 Pamela Noble Dr. Albright Liberty University Abstract Billions of dollars are spent every year on psychologist, psychiatrist, and counselors only to discover that one of the key elements missing in their child is resiliency. Resiliency for the purpose of this study is defined as the appropriate personality such as strength and positive adaptation that help a person or family cope with stress or life difficulties, increasing the likelihood of…

Words 514 - Pages 3

Research Paper

Research Paper How does an imposed requirement of regularly identifying exposure to operational risk benefit an insurance company? Executive Summary The topic of this research paper is how an imposed requirement of regularly identifying exposure to operational risk benefits an insurance company. Risks occur naturally in all business, but if risk is not controlled, there are plenty of consequences that can arise. Insurance companies deal with risk everyday, ranging from fraud, car theft, health…

Words 2609 - Pages 11

Research Paper

Comparison of the Sciences SSC101 Research Assignment Module 7 Saint Leo University December 08, 2012 The three social sciences below are defined as according to the Merriam-Webster on line dictionary. www.merriam-webster.com Anthropology 1: the science of human beings; especially : the study of human beings and their ancestors through time and space and in relation to physical character, environmental and social relations, and culture 2: theology dealing with the origin,…

Words 2578 - Pages 11

Research Paper

amount Americans drink today by three and you'll have an idea what much of the nineteenth century was like.” So how does someone become an alcoholic? This has to do with a combination of genetic, physiological, psychological and social factors. Research have discovered that children of alcoholics are four times more likely to become alcoholics themselves. Children of alcoholic parents are raised in the environment where drinking is okay and they tend to pick up the drinking habit from their parents…

Words 1766 - Pages 8

Research paper

groups, sexual preferences, sex, size, etc. So to fathom being in a society where it is essentially a "free for all" towards being prejudice, or genuinely prejudice towards these types of groups is very hard to imagine. Prior to doing any definite research, I thought I had a pretty clear idea on how exactly equal opportunity could both benefit, and hurt today’s workplace. As I was reading “Advantages & Disadvantages of Equal Opportunity Employment” (Casey Reader) a short online article by Casey Reader…

Words 1332 - Pages 6

Research Paper

you commit yourself to. This way of thinking really reflects on the type of writing process I endure. While writing I really focus on how I want to identify myself, what questions I wish to discover, and how this idea might change me. To begin my paper I use an outline. On this outline at the top of the page I write my main topic that I wish to write about. After I have created the topic, I then write a list of ideas that relate to what I want to talk about. Out of the ten ideas I create I choose…

Words 2972 - Pages 12

research paper

hand, energy efficiency can be maximized, on the other hand, energy loss and emissions of pollutants can be minimized, thus paving a way for a more sustainable future, and energy recovery can be the answer to address this issue. Hence, this research paper investigates whether it is cost effective to increase the scale of energy recovery (e.g. incineration) across the country (Australia) to build a more sustainable environment; moreover, comparisons are made between Australia and Sweden to justify…

Words 1625 - Pages 7