Annotated Bibliography
AlHazme, R. H., Haque, S. S., Hal, W., & Rana, A. M. (2016). The impact of health information technologies on quality improvement methodologies’ efficiency, throughput and financial outcomes: a retrospective observational study. BMC Medical Informatics & Decision Making, 161(1): 154-165
The article by AlHazme et al. (2016) discusses Quality Improvement Methodologies (QIMs) through application of Health Information Technologies (HITs). The study aims to establish whether quality improvement is achieved through technology application. Indeed, the authors focus on various measures of quality improvement, including the efficiency of Quality Improvement Methodologies, outcomes regarding throughput and finances within the health care agencies, and improvement in the practices of the health care providers. The study applied a retrospective observational design, using the already available data to measure the effectiveness of the technology in improving quality in practice. The results of the study would indicate the outcomes concerning efficiency and improvement of quality within health care organizations to establish the significance of Health Information Technologies.
Using data from two sources, Analytics data from the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society and Dorenfest Institute dataset, the researchers revealed that implementing Health Information Technologies has been on the increase in health care facilities and physician practices in the United States. Implementation in the last 10 years has been on the increase, reaching as high as over 90 percent. Almost all hospitals are found to have the technology in one form or another. The researchers also revealed the same rate in terms of implementing Quality Improvement Methodologies, especially as based on technology. When the manual systems are the only ones in use, the researchers revealed negative impact on the measures relating to QIM, compared to the positive results in using Health Information Technologies.
The results from the study have major implications to studies involved in testing the impact of automated operations on quality aspects of health care organizations and physician practices. The results, indicating a positive impact of technology on quality of operations within the healthcare environments, suggests continued data quality improvement following the automation of services. The results also justify the continued implementation of technology to improve the quality of data used in the settings. The relevance of the article to research on data quality is evident from the rationale of the study investigating the cause-effect relationship in the implementation of Health Information Technologies, which reveals a positive relationship.
Cunningham, F. C., Ferguson-Hill, S., Matthews, V., & Bailie, R. (2016). Leveraging quality improvement through use of the Systems Assessment Tool in Indigenous primary health care services: a mixed methods study. BMC Health Services Research, 161(1): 583-594.
Quality of care is critical in health care systems, suggesting the significance of continuous quality improvement (CQI) approaches. Using a Systems Assessment Tool (SAT), Cunningham et al. (2016) assessed the modern systems used to assess and improve health care among the indigenous communities. The use of automated quality improvement systems is proving to be an effective way of ensuring that even the marginalized communities have access to quality of care, as revealed in the study. The study, based on a mixed research design, involved a review of records and internal reports associated with the experience in using the Systems Assessment Tool. The data was also obtained through interviews with important informants and experts on using the systems.
The results from the study revealed positive qualities of care in the environment where the entire team of care providers utilized the Systems Assessment Tools in evaluating the quality of care they provide. The quality data provided from such assessment offers the means for implementing positive measures to ensure that the providers offer quality care to the recipients, including the marginalized members of the community. The participants have suggested positive working environment changes since implementing the quality improvement tools. Such results recommend using Automated Systems Assessment Tools in all health care settings. In fact, when the application of ASAT is available to skilled users of the systems, the initiative will ensure that quality care is provided in all care settings.
The study directly impacts improving quality of care based on access to quality data. The information can be used in any study that is founded on the need for quality in health care settings. The choice of the article about the study on data quality is founded on its quality of evidence it provides, based on the need for effective assessment of the necessities and implementation of interventions to address them using the greatest quality data. In fact, it has value on providing improved care through the use of information systems and need assessment tools, thus directly related to the current study. In essence, it has serious implications in the research and practice in the country and beyond.
Scholte, M., van Dulmen, S. A., Neeleman-Van der Steen, C. M., van der Wees, P. J., Nijhuis-van der Sanden, M. G., & Braspenning, J. (2016). Data extraction from electronic health records (EHRs) for quality measurement of the physical therapy process: comparison between EHR data and survey data. BMC Medical Informatics & Decision Making, 161(1): 141-152.
The study by Scholte et al. (2016) aimed to test the effect of electronic health records (EHRs) on quality of data as it applies to quality measurements in health care. The development of electronic health records (EHRs) has been revealed to bring benefits and challenges in using medical data in quality improvement. The article shows that clinical data has always been used as the basis for providing quality of care, even before the introduction of information systems. However, there is a chance that the electronic records have contributed to even better quality outcomes, something that could only be proven through research. From the perspective of this study, the researchers sought to study quality measurements in relation to the quality of data, its availability, and compatibility.
From the quantitative study of electronic health records (EHRs) and compared to survey data, there is evidence of improved quality measurements in relation to the three measures. Thus, the idea presented in the article is that quality improvement is achievable in an environment where electronic health records (EHRs) are adequately implemented. Extraction of data from such records is in line with survey data obtained from sampled participants, indicating that health care organizations benefit from using the electronic records in providing care to their patients. Such systems have the potential to provide real-time feedback in research and practice. Therefore, the idea is that implementing such records has more benefits than drawbacks to health care organizations and practitioners.
Research stands to benefit from the article as it provides evidence of data quality using electronic health records (EHRs). The article is selected for the study on data quality in health care since it provides the framework for successful research comparing the use of electronic health records (EHRs) in real life and the use of survey data in comparing effectiveness. Regardless of some limitations, including the lack of standardization in this study, quality measurement research can improve learning from the limitations and making relevant changes. Overall, the article has diverse information on research, data quality, and the implementation of automated systems in the management of patient records to achieve quality of care.
References
AlHazme, R. H., Haque, S. S., Hal, W., & Rana, A. M. (2016). The impact of health information technologies on quality improvement methodologies’ efficiency, throughput and financial outcomes: a retrospective observational study. BMC Medical Informatics & Decision Making, 161(1): 154-165
Cunningham, F. C., Ferguson-Hill, S., Matthews, V., & Bailie, R. (2016). Leveraging quality improvement through use of the Systems Assessment Tool in Indigenous primary health care services: a mixed methods study. BMC Health Services Research, 161(1): 583-594
Scholte, M., van Dulmen, S. A., Neeleman-Van der Steen, C. M., van der Wees, P. J., Nijhuis-van der Sanden, M. G., & Braspenning, J. (2016). Data extraction from electronic health records (EHRs) for quality measurement of the physical therapy process: comparison between EHR data and survey data. BMC Medical Informatics & Decision Making, 161(1): 141-152