Why has implementation of information technology in health care and public health been so slow compared to other industries? Consider financial, cultural and environmental factors that many have influence.
The implementation of information technology in healthcare and public health has been slow compared to other industries because of financial, cultural, and environmental barriers . With respect to the financial barriers, most countries and organizations come across this barrier because they lack solid facts regarding the economic impact of information technology on healthcare. Moreover, there is no clarity with respect to the cost-benefit outcomes to every stakeholder in the public health, which leads to disagreements regarding who is supposed to incur the costs of IT implementation . Other financial barriers include the lack of financial rewards or incentives to improve healthcare and the perception that IT is a costly venture instead of a strategic enabler.
With respect to the cultural barriers that are the most important, physicians claim to be busy dealing with IT; therefore, they consider it as time-wasting without recognizing how beneficial it is to them. In addition, they fear IT will depersonalize healthcare in the sense that the patient-doctor relationship will be interfered with. Doctors perceive IT as a threat to their practice because of the concerns associated with the confidentiality and privacy of their patients .
In terms of the professional and technical barriers, the implementation of IT in public health is constrained by the absence of harmonization among the clinical workflow and information technology system; inadequate training; and lack of organizational commitment towards the implementation of IT. With regard to the environmental barriers to IT implementation in public healthcare, some of the barriers include several IT systems and regulations governing the confidentiality and privacy of healthcare information .
2. How can public agencies benefit from advances in information technology and data sharing among providers and payers?
Most health care providers are participating in data sharing for a complete and secure patient medical history. Advances in IT and data sharing have helped avoid mistakes, reduce duplicative treatments, and facilitate corresponding patient care. Data sharing among public agencies is growing since the need is significant and clear. Data sharing reduces medical and medication errors; therefore, it enhances the safety of patients. It has also eliminated handling of unnecessary formalities, hence resulting in increased efficiency. Moreover, advances in IT and data sharing lead to effective treatment and care since practitioners are provided with medical decision support apparatus. It has therefore eliminated unnecessary testing. Healthcare monitoring and reporting has also improved because of advances in technology. Through data sharing, patients are informed of their own health. Advances in IT and data sharing reduce healthcare costs, which can be exploited to improve quality of care . Advanced IT in healthcare has also created opportunities for care management, pattern and trend examination, and advanced clinical and financial analytics. IT advances have also improved the understanding of patients and residents about clinical requirements; in this respect, advanced IT systems can be used effectively in accessing the population health data and public health.
3. Discuss the components of public health performance management. What are the benefits of performance management in public health?
The four components of public health performance management are performance standards, performance measures, quality improvement, and reporting of progress . Performance management has the main objective of improving public health care with the help of performance data. In order to achieve objectives and targets, strategic utilization of performance standards and measures is involved. Multiple levels of performance management can be applied at state, community, organization, and program levels. Managers can be informed when adjustments are made, when allocating resources and prioritizing with the aim of meeting goals . In addition, quality improvement and reporting of progress are used to develop the value of health care practice and goals. Performance standards establish the goals, targets, and standards of performance for improving the practices of public health care. Performance measures are used to evaluate achievements of health care. Reporting of progress by caregivers involves reporting of development in achieving standards, targets, and documentation of such information shared through the feedback. Quality improvements focus on establishing how to deal with changes and attain quality development policies in public health care.
Performance management has improved the outputs, outcomes, and quality services of public health care. An agency can be impacted by these strategies in different ways. It has influenced the public, partners’, and employees’ understanding of public health priorities and accomplishments. Performance management emphasizes on quality instead of quantity; hence, it improves problem solving. Teamwork and cooperation has been encouraged because of performance management. Duplication efforts have been reduced, leading to an increase in public trust and greater funding accountability, which in turn increases the return on investment of dollars in health .

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