REPLY TO THESE 2 POSTS 1ST POST MAIN POST. Information technologies have been improving our working routine since their development. In the healthcare system, the application and growth of this specialty have had a significant impact on nursing and have changed how information, in general, is viewed, shared, and utilized. This new technology includes electronic health records, communication systems, and institutional and personal apps. An assortment of health IT impacts are expected to cause profound changes for nurses in (1) the content and process of clinical practice, (2) roles and workforce skill mix redesign, (3) new paradigms for care delivery time and place, and (4) increased efficiency with better outcomes. (“informatics nurse specialist role in electronic health record usability evaluation,” 2014). In the following paragraphs, we will study two concepts interconnected in the information technology process that require mandatory understanding and application for the effective use of IT products. According to the Healthcare Information Management Systems Society (HIMSS), EHR Usability is defined as: “The effectiveness, efficiency, and satisfaction with which specific users can achieve a specific set of tasks in a particular environment. A system with good usability is easy to use and effective. It is intuitive, forgiving of mistakes and allows one to perform necessary tasks quickly, efficiently and with a minimum of mental effort.” (“EHR usability: What is it, why is it so important, and how can it be measured? (Infographic),” 2021) On the other hand, Interoperability is defined as the ability of different information systems, devices, and applications (systems) to access, exchange, integrate, and cooperatively use data in a coordinated manner within and across organizational, regional, and national boundaries to provide convenient and seamless portability of information and optimize the health of individuals and populations globally. (“Interoperability in healthcare,” 2021) Understanding those concepts will help integrate knowledge and the feasibility of health informatics to maximize and potentiate its benefits in nursing. Nurses are on the frontline for every IT software application and delivering care simultaneously. Nurses need to evaluate the usability of every product and capability to make their routine more accessible, more productive, and with more significant benefits for the patient care process. Since the origin and implementation of every IT software or hardware, nurses should be on top of evaluation and correction phases, promoting a knowledgeable experience and practical application among those who are reluctant and lack experience. An essential part of this process is our duty as nurses to monitor the effectiveness, efficiency, and satisfaction of new technologies that can influence the usability dimension. The impact of Interoperability lies in the disposition of information that can be used for different objectives and utilized to benefit the patient with interchangeable data and knowledge, simplifying the delivery of care among local and distant healthcare facilities. It also makes it easier for the patient to access records and appointments; we can improve the patient involvement in his care and promote a healthier attitude towards orders, medications, and behaviors. Interoperability is bringing multiple sources of information together and using healthcare technology, innovations, and analytics to apply it more meaningfully to the care we provide to patients. It is also about being able to use the data to engage patients and consumers in changing behaviors in a positive way along their healthcare journey. Interoperability and usability can help remove noise and mundane tasks from the workflow. (“Why interoperability progress is significant for nursing – Perspectives | Cerner,” 2022) The potential impact of non-functionality in the applications of those concepts will deteriorate the delivery of the care process. Every step of the patient care chain can be affected and delay care, increase medical errors, the cost associated with caring, repetitive unnecessary testing, and poor communication among every medical specialty to maintain continuous care and collaborative management for the patient. As primary objectives for IT technologies, nurse leaders and informatics should promote understanding of those concepts and the best application to improve nursing routine and patient care. References EHR usability: What is it, why is it so important, and how can it be measured? (Infographic). (2021, March 9). Medsphere. https://www.medsphere.com/blog/ehr-usability/Links to an external site. The informatics nurse specialist role in electronic health record usability evaluation. (2014). CIN: Computers, Informatics, Nursing, 32(5), 221-222. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.ncn.0000450402.23485.b0Links to an external site. Interoperability in healthcare. (2021, August 25). HIMSS. https://www.himss.org/resources/interoperability-healthcareLinks to an external site. Why interoperability progress is significant for nursing – Perspectives | Cerner. (2022). Oracle Cerner. https://www.cerner.com/perspectives/why-interoperability-progress-is-significant-for-nursing 2ND POST Usability Usability is the efficiency, effectiveness, and satisfaction derived from using a healthcare information technology tool to achieve tasks in the intended context (Bitkina et al., 2020). It remains critical in nursing since a product’s usability defines the ease with which it can achieve desired outcomes. As such, items or facilities with low usability are difficult to use hence many users will avoid it and work around by avoiding steps where the item is to be used (Staggers et al., 2018). Interoperability Interoperability refers to the ability of two or more systems to exchange health data and utilize such information once received (Cardoso et al., 2018). Interoperability is a phenomenon deployed for numerous health system technologies that work towards developing an interconnected system where healthcare decisions are made based on the effective sharing of patient data (Lehne et al., 2019). Why It Is Important to Understand the Terms The nursing practice utilizes technology in many aspects as it informs how care is provided to patients. As such, there is a need to understand various terms about the use of technology. According to Bitkina et al. (2020), technology is pivotal in improving nursing practice. As such, there is a need for nurses to master different concepts and terms that are used. This will ensure that they can utilize technical information without difficulty. Cardoso et al. (2018) explain that medical technology tools have been used in a clinical setting to safeguard patient safety. As such, since health information systems store patient information, nurses understand various terms applied and will effectively utilize the patient information in effective decision-making (Lehne et al., 2019). How The Terms Influence Practice Usability and interoperability are terms used to define the quality of health information systems. With the understanding of these terms, the scholar can effectively undertake technology evaluation to assess their usability and interoperability (Bitkina et al., 2020). Notably, before allowing technology to be installed in the workplace, it is necessary to evaluate its interoperability and usability. Understanding the terms effectively enlightens the scholar on the different requirements for implementing technology (Staggers et al., 2018). As such, understanding the key parameters when installing healthcare technologies remains important for the scholar as it ensures that the healthcare facility gets value for the money spent on each technology. Cardoso et al. (2018) explain that achieving total interoperability within a healthcare setting requires more work. However, it is possible to obtain minimal interoperability between technologies deployed across a few departments. Potential Impacts of Non-Functionality If the Terms Are Not Implemented Usability focuses on assessing the efficiency of using an item or technology to obtain desired nursing outcomes (Bitkina et al., 2020). However, when the usability of technology and information systems is not carefully evaluated, it is impossible to have a functional healthcare facility; this can result in the abandonment of technology after procurement, poor decisions, nursing decision-making, and negative patient outcomes. This is because technologies developed to improve patient outcomes must be more effectively deployed into practice. When usability is hindered, the quality of nursing care is limited as the key infrastructure used for critical care is not fully utilized (Staggers et al., 2018). Further, interoperability also limits communication between departments, interfering with the speed at which decisions are made. According to Cardoso et al. (2018), interoperability allows patients to receive care from multiple providers working in various healthcare systems. Therefore, when interoperability is hindered, the ability to share patient information and provide the necessary care is limited, thus negatively impacting nursing care (Lehne et al., 2019). References Bitkina, O. Vl., Kim, H. K., & Park, J. (2020). Usability and user experience of medical devices: An overview of the current state, analysis methodologies, and future challenges. International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics, 76, 102932. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ergon.2020.102932Links to an external site. Cardoso, L., Marins, F., Quintas, C., Portela, F., Santos, M., Abelha, A., & Machado, J. (2018). Interoperability in Healthcare. Health care delivery and clinical science: concepts, methodologies, tools, and applications. https://www.igi-global.com/chapter/interoperability-in-healthcare/192700Links to an external site. Lehne, M., Sass, J., Essenwanger, A., Schepers, J., & Thun, S. (2019). Why digital medicine depends on interoperability. NPJ Digital Medicine, 2(1), 1-5. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41746-019-0158-1Links to an external site. Staggers, N., Elias, B. L., Makar, E., & Alexander, G. L. (2018). The imperative of solving nurses’ usability problems with health information technology. JONA: The Journal of Nursing Administration, 48(4), 191–196. https://doi.org/10.1097/nna.0000000000000598Links to an external site.
