Conduct a health information technology needs assessment. Then, in a 4–5 page executive summary, present your findings and recommendations regarding a new or upgraded telehealth technology for your organization or practice setting.
Note: Each assessment in this course builds upon the work you have completed in previous assessments. Therefore, complete the assessments in the order in which they are presented.
Nurse leaders play a key role in the decision-making processes associated with the purchase of a health information technology and any subsequent technology upgrades and improvements. A thorough and accurate needs assessment establishes a foundation for evaluating the overall value to an organization of the various technologies that can be used to support nursing and improve patient care.
The needs assessment you will conduct in your first assessment enables you to take a systematic approach to developing knowledge about a new or upgraded telehealth technology that would impact nursing practice. The needs assessment also identifies assessment work that may already have been completed and any gaps that still exist and must be addressed. The goals of completing the needs assessment are to:
1. Identify gaps in practice that must be addressed to improve patient care.
2. Understand the nature and scope of needed changes and identify associated opportunities and challenges.
3. Enable a thoughtful and systematic approach to change implementation and management.
This assessment provides an opportunity for you to work through the needs assessment process and present your findings in a way that will help you gain the support of executive leaders
Note: Your needs assessment will provide the basis for the remaining assessments in this course.
Telehealth technology can be representative of many different scenarios. For example, the technology could be designed to assist nurses with providing care, such as chronic disease management, to rural patients. It could also be designed to enable physicians to access enhanced care strategies from other providers in another part of the United States, or internationally. Such care strategies might include radiology readings or assistance in an operating room with a new procedure.
For this assessment and all remaining assessments, choose any new or upgraded telehealth technology that you would like to see implemented in your organization or practice setting. Be creative and imagine what it would be like to have any telehealth resources that would benefit your community. Then, imagine that executive leaders in your organization or practice setting are considering the purchase of those resources to improve the quality of care provided to patients and enable medical and nursing staff to extend coverage for patients in the region.
Finally, as a nurse leader with responsibilities in upper management, imagine that you have been asked to determine whether this purchase will adequately address key issues in patient care and lead to improved outcomes.
To prepare for the assessment, you are encouraged to reflect on performance gaps in your organization, what outcomes are measured, and how telehealth technologies can help to improve outcomes. Also, consider how you would effectively communicate the need for a new or upgraded technology to executive leaders in a way that will help you obtain their support. In addition, you may wish to:
· Review the assessment instructions and scoring guide to ensure that you understand the work you will be asked to complete.
· Review the Guiding Questions: Technology Needs Assessment [DOCX] Download Guiding Questions: Technology Needs Assessment [DOCX] , which includes questions to consider and additional guidance on how to successfully complete the assessment.
Note: As you revise your writing, check out the resources listed on the Writing Center’s Writing Support page.
Requirements
Determine the need for the new or upgraded telehealth technology. Present your findings and recommendations in an executive summary. Include any available assessments and gap analyses that may have been conducted previously.
Complete the Vila Health: Preparing for a Technology Needs Assessment simulation. Vila Health is a virtual environment that simulates a real-world health care system. In the various Vila Health scenarios, you will apply professional strategies, practice skills, and build competencies that you can apply to your coursework and in your career. The information you gather in this scenario will help you to complete the assessment.
The executive summary requirements, outlined below, correspond to the grading criteria in the Technology Needs Assessment Scoring Guide, so be sure to address each point. Read the performance-level descriptions for each criterion to see how your work will be assessed. The Guiding Questions: Technology Needs Assessment document linked above provides additional considerations that may be helpful in completing your assessment. In addition, be sure to note the requirements below for document format and length and for citing supporting evidence.
· Explain the relevance and importance of a needs assessment.
· Identify the key issues in nursing care affecting patient outcomes that the new or upgraded telehealth technology will address.
· Identify the safety requirements and regulatory considerations when using this technology.
· Identify the patient confidentiality and privacy protections that this technology must address.
· Describe the potential impact of internal and external stakeholders and end users on the acquisition of this technology.
· Support assertions, arguments, conclusions, and recommendations with relevant and credible evidence.
· Write clearly and concisely in a logically coherent and appropriate form and style.
Document Format and Length
Format your executive summary using APA style.
· Use the Student Paper Format for APA seventh edition. Be sure to include:
· A title page and references page. An abstract is not required.
· Appropriate level 1 section headings.
· Your executive summary should be 3–4 pages in length, not including the title page and references page.
Supporting Evidence
Cite at least five credible sources from peer-reviewed journals or professional industry publications to support your implementation plan.
Additional Requirements
Proofread your executive summary before you submit it to minimize errors that could distract readers and make it difficult for them to focus on the substance of your analysis.
Portfolio Prompt: You may choose to save your executive summary to your ePortfolio
RUBRIC
By successfully completing this assessment, you will demonstrate your proficiency in the following course competencies and assessment criteria:
· Competency 1: Evaluate technologies used to gather patient data; inform diagnoses; and enhance care quality, safety, and outcomes.
· Explain the relevance and importance of a needs assessment.
· Identify the safety requirements and regulatory considerations when using a new or upgraded telehealth technology.
· Competency 2: Develop a collaborative technology integration strategy.
· Describe the potential impact of internal and external stakeholders and end users on the acquisition of a new or upgraded telehealth technology.
· Competency 3: Develop a strategy for managing technology use that enhances patient care and organizational effectiveness.
· Identify the key issues in nursing care affecting patient outcomes that a new or upgraded telehealth technology will address.
· Competency 4: Promote effective technology use policies that protect patient confidentiality and privacy.
· Identify the patient confidentiality and privacy protections that a new or upgraded telehealth technology must address.
· Competency 5: Communicate effectively with diverse audiences, in an appropriate form and style, consistent with applicable organizational, professional, and scholarly standards.
· Support assertions, arguments, conclusions, and recommendations with relevant and credible evidence.
· Write clearly and concisely in a logically coherent and appropriate form and style.
# Executive Summary: Telehealth Technology Needs Assessment
## Introduction
As healthcare continues to evolve, leveraging advanced technologies such as telehealth can significantly enhance patient outcomes and streamline care delivery. This executive summary presents a comprehensive needs assessment for implementing an upgraded telehealth technology in our healthcare organization. The purpose is to identify gaps in current practices, assess the potential benefits and challenges, and recommend strategies to address identified issues to improve patient care quality and safety.
## Relevance and Importance of a Needs Assessment
A needs assessment is a systematic process for determining and addressing gaps between current conditions and desired conditions or outcomes. In healthcare, this process is crucial for identifying areas where technology can enhance care delivery and patient outcomes. Conducting a needs assessment helps to:
1. Identify specific performance gaps that impact patient care.
2. Understand the nature and scope of the needed changes.
3. Provide a foundation for evaluating the value of new technologies.
4. Enable a systematic approach to change implementation and management.
## Key Issues in Nursing Care Affecting Patient Outcomes
The proposed telehealth technology aims to address several critical issues in nursing care that impact patient outcomes:
1. **Access to Care:** Rural and underserved populations often face barriers to accessing healthcare services. Telehealth can bridge this gap by providing remote consultations and monitoring.
2. **Chronic Disease Management:** Telehealth can enhance the management of chronic diseases by enabling continuous monitoring and timely interventions, reducing hospital readmissions.
3. **Patient Engagement:** Telehealth technologies facilitate patient education and engagement, promoting adherence to treatment plans and improving health outcomes.
## Safety Requirements and Regulatory Considerations
When implementing new telehealth technology, it is essential to comply with safety requirements and regulatory considerations to ensure patient safety and data security:
1. **HIPAA Compliance:** The technology must comply with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) to protect patient information.
2. **FDA Regulations:** Ensure that the telehealth devices and software meet the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations for medical devices.
3. **Data Encryption:** Implement robust encryption protocols to protect patient data during transmission and storage.
4. **User Authentication:** Utilize multi-factor authentication to secure access to telehealth platforms.
## Patient Confidentiality and Privacy Protections
Protecting patient confidentiality and privacy is paramount in telehealth:
1. **Secure Communication Channels:** Use encrypted communication channels to prevent unauthorized access to patient data.
2. **Consent Management:** Obtain and document patient consent for telehealth services, ensuring patients understand how their data will be used and protected.
3. **Access Control:** Implement role-based access control to limit data access to authorized personnel only.
4. **Audit Trails:** Maintain audit trails to monitor access and modifications to patient data, ensuring accountability.
## Impact of Internal and External Stakeholders
The successful acquisition and implementation of telehealth technology require collaboration and support from various stakeholders:
1. **Internal Stakeholders:**
– **Nurses and Physicians:** Their input is crucial for selecting user-friendly and clinically effective technology.
– **IT Department:** Responsible for integrating the new technology with existing systems and ensuring technical support.
– **Administration:** Provides the necessary funding and policy support for implementation.
2. **External Stakeholders:**
– **Patients:** Their feedback on usability and effectiveness will guide improvements and ensure patient-centered care.
– **Regulatory Bodies:** Ensure compliance with legal and regulatory requirements.
– **Vendors:** Collaborate with technology vendors for customization, training, and support.
## Supporting Evidence
Research indicates that telehealth can significantly improve patient outcomes and satisfaction, particularly in managing chronic conditions and providing care in remote areas (Kvedar, Coye, & Everett, 2014). A study by Kruse et al. (2017) highlighted the cost-effectiveness and increased access to care provided by telehealth, further supporting the need for its implementation.
## Conclusion
The implementation of upgraded telehealth technology presents a valuable opportunity to enhance patient care quality, improve access to healthcare services, and engage patients in their health management. By addressing key issues in nursing care, ensuring compliance with safety and regulatory requirements, and protecting patient confidentiality, our organization can leverage telehealth to achieve better health outcomes and reduce disparities in care delivery. Collaboration with internal and external stakeholders is essential to ensure successful implementation and sustainability of the technology.
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**References**
Kvedar, J., Coye, M. J., & Everett, W. (2014). Connected health: A review of technologies and strategies to improve patient care with telemedicine and telehealth. *Health Affairs, 33*(2), 194-199.
Kruse, C. S., Krowski, N., Rodriguez, B., Tran, L., Vela, J., & Brooks, M. (2017). Telehealth and patient satisfaction: A systematic review and narrative analysis. *BMJ Open, 7*(8), e016242.
(Note: Please cross-reference the current APA guide for correct styling of citations and references in your academic work.)
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