How Health Information Systems are Changing Healthcare

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

How Health Information Systems are Changing Healthcare

Information is at the core of modern healthcare. Aggregated data from multiple sources to produce a broad perspective of insights is critical to improving patient care. The following are examples of ways health information systems are affecting change in today’s healthcare system.

Health Information Systems and Big Data Analysis

Healthcare is becoming so information-driven that the need for big data analysis has become central to modern healthcare concerns. From population studies to localizing medical resources for efficient patient treatment regimens, the ability to track and treat disease trends inline with these trends as they happen is a science that has come of age. Health information systems end up being a vast source of aggregated data that fits into these big data models; therefore, these systems require constant data updates and analysis to reflect vital events in current health trends.

HIS and Global Metrics

As with any system of information collection and analysis methods, the ability to accurately gather and properly account for health information to establish health information systems is a big issue. According to Phinnetwork.org, the Health Metrics Network, which was established back in 2005, is dedicated to strengthening the development of global health information systems. One area of critical interest is focused on accurate collection of data on births, deaths, and causes of deaths in different countries to establish accurate metrics for use in health information systems shared across the globe.

Health Information Management

Since there is great demand for developing useful health information systems, this has given rise to the need for RHIA certified professionals who complete health information management degree programs. From focusing on legal and ethical standards to understanding components of HIS databases and information documentation standards, qualified health information management technicians are integral in helping to gather and manage the data needed to affect change in medical policies and practices within the healthcare industry.

Data Quality Improving Healthcare in Less Developed Countries

While it is common for developed countries, like the United States or Britain, to enjoy the advantage of vast streams of medical information, the modern drive for quality health information systems has helped to bring this advantage to other less-developed countries. With improvements to the rate at which these countries receive updated medical knowledge, this new method of disseminating quality medical information makes it possible for medical treatments and procedures in these countries to catch up with how these practices are being implemented in the rest of the developed world.

 

As new information is being gathered to support the viability of health information systems, the tendency of these systems is to produce an ever-evolving picture of health. Whether that picture is tightly focused to a local region or broadly reflects the state of health across the globe, the ability to manage this data in useful ways is a testament to modern healthcare’s innovation. With enough data collection and analysis, it is believed that many modern diseases and costly healthcare concerns will inevitably be eliminated by a more efficiently functioning healthcare system.

 

Anica is a professional content and copywriter who graduated from the University of San Francisco. She loves dogs, the ocean, and anything outdoor-related. She was raised in a big family, so she’s used to putting things to a vote.

 

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The Future of Nursing: How the Nurse Shortage Will Change the Industry

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

The Future of Nursing: How the Nurse Shortage Will Change the Industry

Introduction

As the baby boomer population ages and access to health care increases, a growing number of people are seeking medical treatment. Unfortunately, the United States has been facing a serious shortage of nurses. As a result, each area of the nursing industry, from patient care to nursing education, faces unprecedented challenges.

Increase in Patients

With the passing of the Affordable Care Act, millions of insured Americans who previously did not have the option to seek treatment will likely begin to use health services, greatly increasing the demand for nurses. Aging baby boomers facing age-related diseases require specialized nursing care, like gerontological nursing. In both cases, the projected number of nurses is not enough to meet these impending challenges.

Lack of Nurses and Specialized Nurses

According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, 55 percent of nurses in the workforce are over the age of 50, so a number of retirements are expected within the next decade. A nurse with an online Master of Science in Nursing degree says there are not enough prospective nurses entering the profession to counteract these losses. The baby boomer generational hit, in this case, deals a twin blow, increasing demand while reducing the supply.

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania found that nurses with baccalaureate-level training improve patient outcomes markedly. Many of these highly skilled nurses are needed in specialized settings, but nursing education is facing serious problems.

Another study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, found that the average age of registered nurses has been increasing, with the average nurse being in their forties. The number of nurses reaching retirement, therefore, is increasing to unsustainable levels.

The number of faculty members in nursing programs is declining, and the number of qualified candidates exceeds these programs’ resources. The AACN reported that 79,659 applicants were turned away from nursing schools because of insufficient programs.

Consequences

Patient care suffers as the shortage of nurses increases. According to multiple surveys, nurses are often stressed and overworked and choose to leave the field, contributing to the field’s 13 percent turnover rate and poor reputation. Patient readmission rates are more prevalent in understaffed units. Hospitals with low nurse-to-patient ratios often face increased mortality rates and medical errors.

Many hospitals are currently trying to adapt to the shortage and attract new nurses by offering sign-on bonuses, especially for in-demand specializations. Salary increases are advertised for specializations suffering the most from the shortage, namely respiratory therapy and intensive care.

One thing that sets the current nurse shortage apart from previous ones is that it is not merely the number of nurses entering the field which falls short. With the rise and diversification of technology in the medical profession, nurses with specific training, skills, and certifications are required to fill an increasing number of openings.

Conclusion

Despite these dismal figures, efforts have been made to tackle these shortages and increase the quality of patient care. For example, policymakers at the John Hopkins Center for Health Policy hope to increase the number of nurses with bachelor’s degrees by 2020 and advocate for specialized nurses with greater control.

Other programs, like the Campaign for Nursing’s Future, aim to increase students’ interest in nursing, attract nurses from abroad and recruit minorities and young men to fill the demographic gap created by nursing’s historical appeal to women in the workforce. These efforts will create a more diverse workforce in the future, encouraging nurses from all groups to contribute their unique skills and backgrounds to the industry. Numerous partnerships between hospitals and schools have already strengthened educational problems.

Sigma Theta Tau International, the Honor Society of Nursing, recommends that industry leaders reassess the way they present the industry to potential candidates. Developing career incentives for new nurses, changing the way nursing is presented to young people, and creating patient care models which allow for nurse autonomy will help attract new and specialized nurses to the positions that desperately need them.

With the increasing need for registered nurses, the nursing field will evolve and adapt to these changes by focusing on recruitment, challenging governmental regulations and improving educational programs.

About the Author: Marlena Stoddard is a freelance writer who received her BA from University of Georgia.

 

If you would like to learn more about Online Certifications for Nurses, then please review the program and see if it matches your needs.

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Embracing Grief When a Loved One Has Alzheimer’s

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

One day when I was visiting Ed, my beloved Romanian life partner of 30 years, in the memory care facility where he lived, they were having a festive sing-along. I sat down beside him to keep him company.

Sourced through Scoop.it from: www.huffingtonpost.com

The particular grief that comes with Alzheimers can be difficult because you realize the person you love will one day not recognize you.  This is a mental anquish and a pain as the days go by.

This article looks at the pain of this diagnosis for both the loved one and the family

If you would like to learn more about Grief Counseling Training, then please review the program

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Population Health Management Starts with Flagging High Costs

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

Population health management programs must start by identifying patients in the top tiers of spending, says the Health Care Transformation Task Force.

Sourced through Scoop.it from: healthitanalytics.com

Population health management deals with unequal distribution of healthcare costs within certain groups.  For instance the top five percent of patients deal with half the total annual expenses.  This makes sense since those dying or elderly or terminally ill require more expensive care while most the healthy population requires less expensive techniques

If you are interested in case management training, then please review.  Also please review our program and see if it matches your academic and professional needs as a healthcare professional

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5 Ways Hospice Care Is Changing Americans’ Lives, Because End Of Life Care Should Be Anything But An Afterthought

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

When you think of hospice facilities, you might not conjure up the most pleasant images. But that doesn’t change the fact that they have become an extremely important part of our healthcare system. For those of us who aren’t familiar with it, hospice is a type of care for terminally or chronically

Sourced through Scoop.it from: www.bustle.com

A good article about hospice and how it is changing the lives of Americans and end of life care.

If you would like to learn more please read this interesting article.  Also if you would like to learn more about our Program in Pastoral Thanatology, then please review the program and see if it meets your professional and academic needs.

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Inside Out Offers Important Lessons for Grieving Children and Adults

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

If you’re wondering whether Pixar’s newest movie Inside Out will make you cry, the answer is maybe.  I know because I saw it a few days ago, thanks to Discount Tuesdays at the local movie theater and two very bored children (we’re on week two of summer vacation people, things are not looking good).

Sourced through Scoop.it from: www.whatsyourgrief.com

Some small insight from the writers of WYG about Pixars “Inside Out ” and how it can apply to us.  Its amazing how a childrens’ cartoon can give deep perspective on the emotion of grief

If you would like to learn more about grief counseling training, then please review the program

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Stress Relief: Hot temper is a serious business

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

Studies show that when you are worked up and angry, your heart begins to race, your blood pressure levels go up and even your blood gets stickier, forming clots. That’s the sign of a heart attack.

Sourced through Scoop.it from: pulse.ng

Short article with some anger management pointers to help calm a temper.  As the article states a hot temper is serious.  It has health issues as well.  Stress management and anger management strategies can help

If you would like to become certified in anger management, then please review our program and see if it meets your academic and professional needs

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Grief Counseling: When Does A Loved One Need Help?

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

4 Signs That Your Loved One May Need a Mental Health Professional

Observing a loved one exhibiting mental problems is a difficulty that many families face. Such behavioral patterns are not only difficult to accept, but they are equally difficult to bring up with the person exhibiting the problem. In many cases, the loved one experiencing the mental problems is in need of consultation with a mental health professional. The following are four signs that will help you to determine if your loved one fits this scenario.

They Resist Getting Professional Help

Even though everyone else is able to see that a loved one is exhibiting some type of abnormal mental behavior, these individuals often have an uncanny way of concluding that nothing is wrong with them. By denying that anything is wrong, a person with a mental illness will attempt to ensure that everything is okay, even when it is clearly not. Resisting help and ignoring the problem is the first sign that a loved one needs to see a mental health professional.

Getting Violent

Another common sign that a person needs to seek professional mental help is that they become easily angered or violent. The way a person gets violent may help to identify that they are not thinking clearly. Violence that follows periods of extreme paranoia, for example, is a sure sign that someone would do well to consult with a mental health professional.

Socially Awkward

Over time, it may become obvious that a loved one is struggling in numerous social situations. From body language to the way they interact with others, it sometimes takes a familiarity with mental illness to notice patterns of behavior that fit specific mental disorders. Avoiding social interaction will also tend to suggest that a problem exists with an individual that may benefit from consulting with a mental health professional.

 

Introversion doesn’t necessarily mean a person has a serious mental health disorder, but if it is so pronounced that he or she struggles to provide themselves with basic living needs, you may want to consult someone who has completed an applied behavior analysis certification program or another licensed health care professional to discuss options and possible treatment.

Overwhelming Depression

It is one thing to be depressed in the course of one’s daily routine. It is another thing to experience depression all the time. Over time, the experience of chronic depression will affect how a person feels and thinks. According to Psychcentral.com, even what may appear to be a mild form of chronic depression is often a sign that there is something more serious. When a person starts harming themselves or even talks about suicide, this is a sure-fire sign that they need to meet with a mental heath professional.

 

Mental problems in people go undiagnosed every day. When a loved one is experiencing mental issues, it will sometimes be difficult to distinguish it from normal behavior. Other times, the signs of mental illness and decline are more obvious. If one suspects that a loved one is experiencing some type of mental illness, consulting with a mental health professional is often the only way they will be able to get to the root of the ongoing problem.

 

Anica is a professional content and copywriter who graduated from the University of San Francisco. She loves dogs, the ocean, and anything outdoor-related. She was raised in a big family, so she’s used to putting things to a vote. Also, cartwheels are her specialty. You can connect with Anica here.

 

 

If you are interested in learning more about certifications for helping others with grief then please review our programs in grief counseling, anger management, or stress management.  Here is a link to our certification page.

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How Facebook is Saving the Unborn

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

Log onto Facebook at any given time and the odds are you’ll see at least one baby picture. What might surprise Christians however, is how these pictures are helping to fight abortion.

Sourced through Scoop.it from: www.crosswalk.com

Education is the key in this fight against genocide.  When mothers or fathers discover the fetus is a baby but in the womb, it becomes harder to kill.  Dehumanizing people is the best way to ease a conscience to kill–this is what the abortionist movement has done.  This article shows how FB gives us the ability to share life and show images of these unborn babies.

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Grief At The Office: When A Coworker Loses A Loved One

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

As described in Sheryl Sandberg’s moving Facebook post about her husband’s death, when a colleague suffers the loss of a loved one, this incredibly personal experience can create uncertainty in the office. Here’s how to handle it.

Sourced through Scoop.it from: www.forbes.com

Workplaces try to help employees who lose a loved one,  It can be hard to overcome that even with time off.  After time off though, grief at the office can enter as the coworker still may have other emotional needs.  Understanding what to say and how to help them adapt to life at work is key

If you would like to learn more about grief counseling training, then please review.

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