NURS FPX 8012 Assessment 3 SAFER Guides and Evaluating Technology Usage

Name

Capella University

NURS-FPX 8012 Nursing Technology and Health Care Information Systems

Prof. Name

Date

SAFER Guides and Evaluating Technology Usage

In the modern healthcare landscape, the integration of technological advancements has become increasingly prevalent. However, healthcare professionals must thoroughly understand the potential risks associated with the implementation of such innovations. This is particularly crucial for Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) nurses, who may be tasked with leading large-scale informatics implementation projects. Identifying and mitigating these risks is essential to safeguard patient data integrity and ensure safety within healthcare environments (Scantlebury et al., 2021).

The SAFER Guides offer a structured approach to assessing the implementation of electronic health record (EHR) systems as a solution to address safety, process, or quality issues in healthcare settings. This study examines the application of these guides in evaluating the implementation of an EHR system at Allen Hospital (Aguirre et al., 2019). Findings from this assessment will help inform the development of a risk mitigation plan in future evaluations. By utilizing the SAFER Guides, DNP nurses can comprehensively understand the risks of implementing informatics solutions in healthcare, which is vital for ensuring patient safety, data integrity, and the success of informatics projects (Flaubert et al., 2021).

EHR as a Practice Change to Drive Improvements

The introduction of an EHR is a proposed informatics solution aimed at transforming practice to improve patient care and outcomes in healthcare settings (Tsai et al., 2020). Replacing the paper-based record-keeping system with a digital platform, the EHR will enable healthcare providers to access patient information from a centralized location. The EHR will capture and store patient data, including medical history, diagnoses, medications, allergies, laboratory results, and radiology reports. The primary goal of the EHR implementation is to improve patient care by providing healthcare providers with easy access to accurate, up-to-date patient information (Adane et al., 2019). This ensures informed clinical decisions, reducing errors and enhancing patient safety. Additionally, the EHR will streamline administrative processes such as billing and scheduling, increasing efficiency and reducing costs while improving patient satisfaction.

NURS FPX 8012 Assessment 3 SAFER Guides and Evaluating Technology Usage

Area of Assessment	Performance	Findings
Hardware and Software Reliability	Good	Allen Hospital has implemented robust hardware and software systems that are secure, stable, and reliable, ensuring data protection and availability (Szarfman et al., 2022).
Contingency Planning	Good	Strong contingency plans are in place to protect data during disasters or system failures, with standard backup and recovery measures (Melnychuk et al., 2022).
Clinical Process Improvement	Good	Clinical decision support tools have been integrated into the EHR, improving patient care, reducing errors, and enhancing clinical outcomes (Enticott et al., 2021).

SAFER Guide Findings Related to Risks

The SAFER Guides assessment of the EHR system at Allen Hospital also identified several risks. These include concerns related to hardware and software scalability, contingency planning, system interfaces, patient identification, clinical workflows, and communication. For instance, the hospital’s IT infrastructure may not adequately support the new EHR system, potentially leading to system downtime and data loss (Keshta & Odeh, 2020). Moreover, the EHR system may require significant hardware upgrades, and robust contingency plans are necessary to safeguard against system failure or data loss (McGowan et al., 2022). Additionally, the new system’s interoperability with existing systems, such as the laboratory information system, could present data consistency challenges (Khubone et al., 2020).

Risk Area	Risk Identified	Mitigation Strategy
Hardware and Software Scalability	Insufficient IT infrastructure may lead to system downtime and data loss	Invest in infrastructure upgrades to meet system requirements (Keshta & Odeh, 2020).
Contingency Planning	Lack of robust backup and recovery systems could result in data loss	Develop a comprehensive backup and recovery system (McGowan et al., 2022).
System Interfaces	Lack of seamless integration with existing systems could lead to data consistency issues	Ensure interoperability between the EHR and other systems (Khubone et al., 2020).
Patient Identification	Potential risk of incorrect data assignment to patient records	Implement a reliable patient identification system (Das et al., 2020).
Communication	Inadequate communication channels could lead to data breaches and errors	Establish secure and reliable communication channels for all stakeholders (Bhagat et al., 2020).

Using the SAFER Guide to Discover Areas of Risk and Improvements

The SAFER Guides proved invaluable in identifying potential risks associated with the EHR implementation at Allen Hospital. This process emphasized the importance of proactive risk management and collaboration with stakeholders, including IT staff, clinicians, and administrators, to ensure a comprehensive risk mitigation plan (Bhagat et al., 2020). This experience will guide future practice as a DNP nurse, highlighting the significance of collaboration and risk assessment in informatics projects within healthcare settings.

Conclusions

The SAFER Guides were instrumental in identifying both risks and areas for improvement in implementing the EHR system at Allen Hospital. These findings enabled the development of a risk mitigation plan to support the successful implementation of the EHR. As a DNP nurse, the lessons learned from using the SAFER Guides will inform future informatics projects, emphasizing the importance of risk assessment, mitigation, and collaboration in healthcare technology initiatives (Run et al., 2019).

References

Adane, K., Gizachew, M., & Kendie, S. (2019). The role of medical data in efficient patient care delivery: A review. Risk Management and Healthcare Policy, 12(12), 67–73. https://doi.org/10.2147/rmhp.s179259

Aguirre, R. R., Suarez, O., Fuentes, M., & Sanchez-Gonzalez, M. A. (2019). Electronic health record implementation: A review of resources and tools. Cureus, 11(9). https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.5649

Bhagat, S., Kapatkar, V. K., Mane, A., Pinto, C., Parikh, D., Mittal, G., & Jain, R. (2020). An industry perspective on risks and mitigation strategies associated with post conduct phase of clinical trials. Reviews on Recent Clinical Trials, 15(1), 28–33. https://doi.org/10.2174/1574887114666191016103332

Das, S., Siroky, G. P., Lee, S., Mehta, D., & Suri, R. (2020). Cybersecurity: The need for data and patient safety with cardiac implantable electronic devices. Heart Rhythm, 3(7). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hrthm.2020.10.009

Enticott, J., Johnson, A., & Teede, H. (2021). Learning health systems using data to drive healthcare improvement and impact: A systematic review. BMC Health Services Research, 21(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-021-06215-8

Flaubert, J. L., Menestrel, S. L., Williams, D. R., & Wakefield, M. K. (2021). Educating nurses for the future. National Academies Press (US). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK573912

Keshta, I., & Odeh, A. (2020). Security and privacy of electronic health records: Concerns and challenges. Egyptian Informatics Journal, 22(2), 177–183. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eij.2020.07.003

NURS FPX 8012 Assessment 3 SAFER Guides and Evaluating Technology Usage

Khubone, T., Tlou, B., & Mashamba-Thompson, T. P. (2020). Electronic health information systems to improve disease diagnosis and management at point-of-care in low and middle income countries: A narrative review. Diagnostics, 10(5), 327. https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics10050327

McGowan, J., Wojahn, A., & Nicolini, J. R. (2022). Risk Management Event Evaluation and Responsibilities. PubMed; StatPearls Publishing. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK559326

Melnychuk, E., Sallade, T. D., & Kraus, C. K. (2022). Hospitals as disaster victims: Lessons not learned? Journal of the American College of Emergency Physicians Open, 3(1), e12632. https://doi.org/10.1002/emp2.12632

Scantlebury, A., Sheard, L., Fedell, C., & Wright, J. (2021). What are the implications for patient safety and experience of a major healthcare IT breakdown? A qualitative study. DIGITAL HEALTH, 7(3), 205520762110100. https://doi.org/10.1177/20552076211010033

Szarfman, A., Levine, J. G., Tonning, J. M., Weichold, F., Bloom, J. C., Soreth, J. M., Geanacopoulos, M., Callahan, L., Spotnitz, M., Ryan, Q., Pease-Fye, M., Brown

, H. R., & Bonson, K. R. (2022). Challenges in integrating systems engineering into health information technology: Lessons learned. Journal of Clinical and Translational Science, 5(2), e195. https://doi.org/10.1017/cts.2021.861

Tsai, Y.-L., Lee, Y.-H., & Wang, K.-C. (2020). How to improve the effectiveness of patient-centered healthcare systems? A survey of determinants from physicians. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 22(8). https://doi.org/10.2196/22072