Barriers In Healthcare

Health information technology involves the design, development, creation, use, and maintenance of healthcare information systems. Information systems have become increasingly critical to clinical care and hospital operations, evolving technology is what supports the past, present, and future healthcare systems. This technology can assist healthcare organizations in improving medical care, lower costs, increase efficiency, reduce errors, improve patient satisfaction, and optimize reimbursement. Although the advanced of technology has been great there are still some major barriers in health information technology. It is important for healthcare organizations to overcome these barriers as well as meet the new standards of competition, innovations,

Barriers that can affect the implementation process can range from the opposition in the healthcare colleagues, inadequate financial resources; lack of clarity on operational guidelines or roles and responsibilities for implementation; conflicts with other existing policies; and lack of coordination between parties responsible for implementation. When reviewing the root cause of the barriers it would seem they fall into six main categories which are finance, technical, culture, professional, structural, or legal and regulatory. Another major barrier is cultural differences when implementing patient related technology such as patient portals, peer-interaction systems, and self-management systems. Issues may occur because access to health care may be limited for some due to language, financial, lack of awareness, and preventative care. Other problems might be not utilizing new technological advances due to some cultural beliefs or religious

Every organization needs to be aware of the implementation difficulties, must have the knowledge of what needs to change, clear strategies or procedures to maintain this technology long-term. They should also understand the local barriers to realign thinking so that they can overcome any future roadblocks. When implementing of healthcare information systems an organization will face these roadblocks which can be classified as financial, professional, and structural barriers. There is a great concern about the cost and benefits or financial reimbursement implementing this new technology which can make organizations hesitant in actually starting the process. There is always some resistance to change so many organizations find a lack of support by other clinicians and staff members. The structure of healthcare systems have precise barriers split between multiple payers and a diverse group of providers. Reimbursement is either directly or indirectly through multiple payers, which can create significant implementation and connectivity issues (Kaye,