Discussion: Nursing Informatics Professionals

NOW F OR AN ORIGINAL PAPER ASSIGNMENT:Discussion: Nursing Informatics Professionals

Workflow redesign is a critical aspect of technology implementation. When done well, it yields technology that is more likely to achieve the intended patient outcomes and safety benefits. Nursing informatics professionals are taking on a greater role with respect to workflow design, and this aspect of practice will grow in light of MACRA-driven measures. Other initiatives that impact hospital performance will also drive informatics professionals to influence how technology is used in the context of workflow to improve the bottom line for their organizations. In an ideal world, nurse informaticists who are experts at workflow analysis will be core members of every technology implementation team.

THOUGHT-PROVOKING QUESTIONS

1. What do you perceive as the current obstacles to redesigning workflow within your clinical setting?

2. Thinking about your last implementation, were you able to challenge the policies and practices that constitute today’s workflow or were you able to create a workflow solution that eliminated non–value-added steps?

3. Is the workflow surrounding technology usage providing the healthcare organization with the data it needs to make decisions and eventually meet MACRA criteria?

4. How does the current educational preparation need to change to address the skills necessary to perform workflow analysis and redesign clinical processes?

5. Describe the role of the nurse informaticist as the payment programs change related to MACRA.

References

1. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). (n.d.). Workflow assessment for health IT toolkit. Retrieved from http://healthit.ahrq.gov/health-it-tools-and-resources/workflow-assessment-health-it-toolkit

2. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). (2008). Patient safety and quality: An evidence-based handbook for nurses. Retrieved from http://www.ahrq.gov/qual/nurseshdbk

3. American Association for Justice. (2016). Medical errors. Retrieved from https://www.justice.org/what-we-do/advocate-civil-justice-system/issue-advocacy/medical-errors

4. American Nurses Association. (2015). Nursing informatics: Scope and standards of practice (2nd ed.). Silver Springs, MD: Author.

5. Bucur, A., van Leeuwen, J., Christodoulou, N., Sigdel, K., Argyri, K., Koumakis, L., . . . Stamatakos, G. (2016). Workflow-driven clinical decision support for personalized oncology. BMC Medical Informatics & Decision Making, 16, 151–162. doi:10.1186/s12911-016-0314-3

6. Campbell, E., Guappone, K., Sittig, D., Dykstra, R., & Ash, J. (2009). Computerized provider order entry adoption: Implications for clinical workflow. Journal of General Internal Medicine, 24(1), 21–26.

7. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). (2016a). Electronic health records (EHR) incentive programs. Retrieved from https://www.cms.gov/Regulations-and-Guidance/Legislation/EHRIncentivePrograms/index.html

8. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). (2016b). MACRA: Delivery system reform, Medicare payment reform. Retrieved from https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Quality-Initiatives-Patient-Assessment-Instruments/Value-Based-Programs/MACRA-MIPS-and-APMs/MACRA-MIPS-and-APMs.html