course materials

1. Prepare a 3-4 page proposal for a new software system that explains the
forc
Prepare a 3-4 page proposal for a new software system that explains the forces driving the
change, the ethical considerations behind the proposed change, the risks to the organization
of not accepting the proposed change, and the benefits of accepting the proposed
change.IntroductionOrganizations, such as the Joint Commission and the National
Committee for Quality Assurance, collect and report extensive data on quality indicators
used by the industry, government, and consumers. The Health Insurance Portability and
Accountability Act (HIPAA), passed by Congress in 1996, protects the privacy and
confidentiality of patient health records. The Office for Civil Rights (OCR) of the U.S.
Department of Health & Human Services oversees this compliance and offers
comprehensive support and guidance for health care leaders and organizations.The use of
health information technology and electronic health records continues to improve quality of
care indicators and offer expanding career opportunities in the health care field. However,
keeping abreast of rapid advancements in technology (for both management and clinical
applications), along with their ethical implications, demands increased time and attention
from health care operations managers. The consequences of data security breaches can be
detrimental in legal costs and loss of reputation and trust within the industry and
community.PreparationImagine that you work in a mid-sized clinic that is well established,
having been in operation for over 25 years. The physicians who practice in the clinic have
been doing so for the same length of time, although several younger physicians have
recently joined. You have been trying to get the physicians to upgrade the outdated health
information technology (HIT) system for the practice. There have been reports of
compromised patient information from other organizations using the same software.
Complaints have been increasing from other health facilities and insurance companies that
the software is not compatible with their electronic health records (EHR) systems. This
compromises efficient and confidential sharing of patient information. Patients have
expressed dissatisfaction that the practice does not offer a patient portal to allow them
direct access to their records and information and to self-scheduling features. You feel that a
personal health record (PHR) would meet the patients’ need as well as alleviate a lot of
extra work for the staff. The office and administrative staff are increasingly frustrated, as
they understand how much of their daily workload duties and flow could be improved with
an entirely new system. The physicians have been resistant to change the system because it

2. will require extensive time and money to integrate. Although it is obvious that there are
multiple ethical concerns present, they are uncomfortable with managing such a large
change in the practice, especially in training themselves and the staff on how to use it
effectively and efficiently.You just received a notice from the software company informing
you that by the end of the year, they will no longer support that software. The company is
also offering a significant discount to upgrade to their latest software system. You must
convince the group of physicians that the time to upgrade is now, but you need to position a
proposal in a way that will show them the risks of not taking action.For this assessment, you
do not need to research or recommend any type of software. Rather, your task is to explain
why the new software is needed in terms of the driving forces, the ethical principles
involved, the risks associated with not accepting your proposal, and how the upgrade will
benefit the entire organization.Research federal regulations around the use of technology
and data, HIPAA, and probable consequences should patient information be hacked. (The
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights identifies real cases of
HIPAA violations on its Web site.) Find at least three authoritative resources to use as
support for your proposal.Structure this assessment in a clear, logical order, using headings
and subheadings as appropriate. Follow APA guidelines for citing and referencing your
resources. Include a title page and references page.InstructionsPrepare a proposal for the
implementation of a new electronic patient health record system. In your proposal,
complete the following: