Computers and Technology in Health Care: Changing the Way Health Care is Delivered

1. Chapter 18 Computers and Technology in Health Care

2. Computers in Health Care • Computer applications influence every aspect of modern health care • Changing how health care is delivered • Performing repetitious tasks • Increasing speed and accuracy of operations

3. Major Functions of Computers • Store huge amounts of information • Calculate and manipulate data quickly and accurately • Enable high-speed communications

4. Computer Literacy • Efficiently perform computer tasks required for one’s work • Have basic understanding of how computers work • Be aware of current health care applications

5. Question • True or False: • The majority of jobs in health care today require computer literacy.

6. Answer • True • Most health care jobs require computer skills

7. Information Management • Means of storing and accessing data • Database • Data organized in structured way • Record • Collection of related data

8. Information Management • Means of storing and accessing data • Field • Space on record for entering data • File • Group of related records

9. Question • When entering new patient information into the computer, an administrative medical assistant would enter the patient’s name in a _____ . • Field • File • Record

10. Answer • A. Field • Field contains piece of data • E.g., name, date

11. Question • True or False: • Some standardized forms use codes or abbreviations to identify various fields.

12. Answer • True • When using computerized forms, sometimes necessary to learn and use codes and abbreviations

13. Database Features • Quick, easy information retrieval • Multiple user access to information • Many ways to sort records • Additions and changes entered easily • Reports generated as needed • Enabling of quality improvement studies

14. Examples of Databases in Health Care • Disease profiles • Insurance company records • Patient records • Research projects and results • Pharmaceutical records • Personnel files • Patient mailing lists

15. Electronic Health Records (EHRs) • Federal government encouraging use • May increase efficiency and cost effectiveness • Federal funds available for technology purchases • Significant increase in use of EHRs in recent years

16. Electronic Health Records (EHRs) • Barriers to implementation • Time to select and learn • Cost • Lack of computer skills • Concern about security of records • Worry about disruption of personal relationships with patients

17. Question • True or False: • The majority of physician’s offices in the U.S. have an electronic health record system in place.

18. Answer • True • As many as 78% have some type of electronic health record system in place.

19. Creation of Documents • Word processing software • Create and save all types of documents • Design appearance • Move text • Edit and check spelling and grammar • Share documents with others • Print and/or send documents

20. Examples of Health Care Documents • Announcements • Letters • Patient education materials • Medical reports • Memos • Research reports • Home care instructions

21. Special Application Software • Desktop publishing • Combine text and graphics to create newsletters, brochures, etc.

22. Special Application Software • Voice dictation • Converts spoken words to text • Used for patient charting • Faster and more cost effective than traditional dictation • Has become very accurate

23. Question • True or False: • Reports created using voice dictation software tend to be more complete than those created from written notes.

24. Answer • True • Reports tend to be more complete • People speak faster than they write

25. Electronic Spreadsheets • Permits high-speed mathematical calculations • Data entered must be accurate

26. Electronic Spreadsheets • Used for accounting and financial management • Computerized billing • If…then scenarios • Graphs and charts

27. Question • True or False: • Medicare only accepts bills that are sent electronically.

28. Answer • True • Since 2000, Medicare claims must be submitted electronically

29. Diagnostics • Diagnostic imaging • Computed tomography (CT) • X-rays taken from many angles converted to cross-sectional views • Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) • Hydrogen atom activity measured and converted into images

30. Diagnostics • Diagnostic imaging • Positron emission tomography (PET) • Radioactive substance injected and scanned • Electrical impedance tomography (EIT) • Electrical currents measured to detect differences in tissues • Still experimental

31. Diagnostics • Diagnostic imaging • Ultrasonography • Echoes from sound waves used to form images • Digital X-rays • Used in dentistry • Can reduce amount of radiation exposure by 80%

32. Question • Which of the following diagnostic methods is safest for use with pregnant women? • CT • MRI • Ultrasonography

33. Answer • C. Ultrasonography • Ultrasonography uses sound waves • Rather than X-rays • Might harm fetus

34. Diagnostics • Fiber optics • Transmission of data through hair-thin cables • Used with tiny cameras to view inside body • May be used to perform surgery guided by images on screen

35. Diagnostics • Remote diagnostics • Web-connected devices transmit data • Examples of uses: • Heart and lung sounds • Sleep apnea diagnosis • Blood pressure

36. Diagnostics • Expert systems • Form of artificial intelligence • Decision-making capability of computers • Operates by asking series of questions

37. Diagnostics • Expert systems • Examples: • ATHENA • Hypertension decision support system • Clinical Evaluation and Monitoring System (CEMS) • Mental health decision support system • TherapyEdge HIV • Decision support system for treating HIV

38. Treatment • Robotic-guided surgery • Robots guided by human surgeons • Benefits: • Increases accuracy • Is minimally invasive • Reduces healing time • Reduces chance of infection

39. Question • True or False: • Robotic technology is used in only a few types of surgery.

40. Answer • False • Robotic technology is used in many types of surgery • E.g., cardiac, various cancers, urological procedures

41. Treatment • Lasers • Focused light rays • Cut and remove tissue • Three-dimensional modeling • Assist plastic surgeons and dentists

42. Treatment • Image-guided surgery • Three-dimensional mapping system • CT plus real-time information

43. Treatment • Rehabilitation • Increased independence for people with disabilities • Improved prosthetic devices

44. Treatment • Pharmaceuticals • Databases improve safety and decrease harmful drug interactions • Examples: MEDI-SPAN, MEADERS • Computers speed testing and FDA approval

45. Question • Adverse drug incidents are estimated to aff approximately _____ individuals annually. • 10,000 • 100,000 • 1,000,000

46. Answer • C. 1,000,000 • Approximately 1,000,000 million people are victims of adverse drug incidents each year

47. Patient Monitoring • Physiological monitoring • Heart and respiratory rates • Point-of-care charting • Bedside computers • Laptops for home health professionals • Track patient recovery

48. Research • Literature databases • Access millions of articles and research reports from more than 3,000 journals • E.g., MEDLINE/PubMed, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature

49. Research • Bioinformatics • Organization of biological information into databases • E.g., Human Genome Project • Identified all genes in human DNA • Stored in organized manner

50. Education • Distance education • Courses accessed on Internet • CD-ROMs and DVDs • Self-paced learning • Computerized simulations • Licensing exams