Discussion: Successful Implementation of Electronic Health Information
Technology
Discussion: Successful Implementation of Electronic Health Information
TechnologyDiscussion: Successful Implementation of Electronic Health Information
TechnologyCLICK HERE TO ORDER YOUR ASSIGNMENTSince the inception of the HITECH
Act, health organizations have faced increased pressure to update their health information
technology (HIT) resources. As discussed last week, many believe that the increased use of
electronic health records and the quick and efficient communication afforded by HIT can
lead to improved quality of patient care. Yet there are significant costs associated with
implementing such systems. What can organizations do to ensure that the correct system is
selected and that the system will be appropriate for those required to use it? Who should be
involved in those decisions?This week introduces the systems development life cycle and
discusses how it can guide an organization through the complexities of adopting a new HIT
system. In this Discussion, you are asked to consider the role of nurses in the SDLC
process.To prepare:Review the steps of the systems development life cycle.Think about
your own organization, or one with which you are familiar, and the steps the organization
goes through when purchasing and implementing a new HIT system.Consider what a nurse
could contribute to decisions made at each stage when planning for new health information
technology. What might be the consequences of not involving nurses?Reflect on your own
experiences with your organization selecting and implementing new technology. As an end
user, do you feel you had any input in the selection or and planning of the new HIT
system?BY DAY 3Post an analysis of the ramifications of an organization not involving
nurses in each stage of the systems development life cycle when purchasing and
implementing a new HIT system. Give specific examples of potential issues at each stage and
how the inclusion of nurses could help avoid such issues.Week 6: A Nurse’s Role in the
Systems Development Life CycleWhile the process of developing and implementing a health
information technology system may seem overwhelming at first, the systems development
life cycle (SDLC) provides organizations with a framework to deliver efficient and effective
information systems. Though the SDLC is a common overarching structure for
implementing information systems, it is not a one-size-fits-all process. In fact, there are a
multitude of approaches that can be used to guide the systems development life cycle. The
SDLC approach that is most appropriate for a particular organization will be highly
contextual and subject to organization-specific differences.This week prompts you to

analyze the process of selecting an appropriate health information technology and then
evaluate techniques that positively impact the steps of the systems development life cycle in
an EHR implementation. You also determine what barriers might occur at each stage and
how these could be overcome.Learning ObjectivesStudents will:Analyze how a nurse can
contribute to each stage of the systems development life cyclePhoto Credit: Jose Luis Pelaez
Inc]/[Brand X Pictures]/Getty ImagesCreditLearning ResourcesNote: To access this week’s
required library resources, please click on the link to the Course Readings List, found in the
Course Materials section of your Syllabus.REQUIRED READINGSMcGonigle, D., & Mastrian,
K. G. (2015). Nursing informatics and the foundation of knowledge (3rd ed.). Burlington,
MA: Jones and Bartlett Learning.Chapter 10, “Systems Development Life Cycle: Nursing
Informatics and Organizational Decision Making”This chapter explains the systems
development life cycle and explores various methods of applying it. The chapter also
examines the importance of interoperability in implementing HITECH.Chapter 11,
“Administrative Information Systems”This chapter provides an overview of agency-based
health information systems. The text also details how administrators can use core business
systems in their practice.Boswell, R. A. (2011). A physician group’s movement toward
electronic health records: A case study using the transtheoretical model for organizational
change. Consulting Psychology Journal: Practice and Research, 63(2), 138–148.Retrieved
from the Walden Library databases.The authors of this article present a case study on an
EHR implementation in a multispecialty physician group. The case study attempts to
determine actions that promote successful EHR implementation and the pros and cons of
implementation.Hsiao, J., Chang, H., & Chen, R. (2011).A study of factors affecting acceptance
of hospital information systems: A nursing perspective. Journal of Nursing Research, 19(2),
150–160.Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.The focus of this article is to
determine what factors are most important in predicting the acceptance of new health
information technology. The results of the study indicated that self-efficacy, top
management , and the quality of information retrieved are the most important
determinants of the willingness of nurses to adopt and use a new technology.Kelley, T. F.,
Brandon, D. H., & Docherty, S. L. (2011). Electronic nursing documentation as a strategy to
improve quality of patient care. Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 43(2), 154–162.Retrieved
from the Walden Library databases.This article summarizes a literature review of the
relationship between electronic health records (EHRs) and quality of patient care. The
article identifies deficiencies in existing research regarding the daily interactions of nurses,
patients, and electronic documentation, and it provides a comparison between electronic
and paper-based documentation and its effect on quality of care.Nurse leaders discuss the
nurse’s role in driving technology decisions. (2010). Virginia Nurses Today, 18(1), 8–
9.Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.This article summarizes a roundtable held
with a number of nursing executives to discuss the role nurses should take in the selection
and adoption of new technologies for health care. The executives concluded that the nurses’
goals should be to select technology that will further their ability to provide safe, quality
care to their patients.Page, D. (2011). Turning nurses into health IT superusers. Hospitals &
Health Networks, 85(4), 27–28.Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.This article
highlights the importance of involving nurses with all phases of the decision and

implementation process surrounding new health information technology. The author
stresses the importance of communication in the process as well as defining success.Swab,
J., & Ciotti, V. (2010). What to consider when purchasing an EHR system. hfm(Healthcare
Financial Management), 64(5), 38–41.Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.In this
article, recommendations are given for purchasing health information technology. These
include selecting the appropriate vendor, carefully considering the cost of both new
equipment and personnel, and involving clinicians in decisions.REQUIRED MEDIALaureate
Education (Producer). (2012g). Systems development life cycle. Baltimore, MD: Author.The
systems development life cycle (SLDC) provides a framework for all of the steps necessary
to implementing a new technology or process within an organization. This video explains
the SDLC and how it is used in the health care field.OPTIONAL RESOURCESAgency for
Healthcare Research and Quality. (2005). A toolkit for redesign in health care. Retrieved
from http://www.ahrq.gov/legacy/qual/toolkit/index.htmlThis website supplies strategies
for reconfiguring and transforming a hospital’s care processes. The text breaks down the
redesign process into a series of steps.