Compose a focused paper that explains and describes your healthcare issue or topic from a (You will cover two perspectives in one paper.) Form and answer two levels of research questions for each inquiry to address your chosen topic. Your paper must be five pages in length and reference four to six scholarly, peer-reviewed resources. Be sure to follow current APA Style (e.g., spacing, font, headers, titles, abstracts, page numbering).
Title: The Impact of Electronic Health Records on Healthcare Delivery: A Study of Efficiency and Patient Outcomes
Introduction:
The implementation of electronic health records (EHRs) has transformed the healthcare landscape, revolutionizing information management and patient care processes. This paper aims to explore the impact of EHRs on healthcare delivery from two perspectives: efficiency and patient outcomes. The research questions will be framed at two levels to comprehensively address the chosen topic.
Level 1 Research Questions (Efficiency):
1. How does the adoption of EHRs affect healthcare providers’ workflow and productivity?
2. What are the economic implications of EHR implementation for healthcare organizations?
Level 2 Research Questions (Patient Outcomes):
1. How does the use of EHRs impact patient safety and quality of care?
2. What are the potential drawbacks or risks associated with EHR utilization on patient outcomes?
Efficiency Perspective:
Research Question 1: How does the adoption of EHRs affect healthcare providers’ workflow and productivity?
To answer this question, a review of the literature on EHR implementation will be conducted, focusing on studies that examine changes in workflow and productivity metrics before and after EHR integration.
Two levels of inquiry for Research Question 1 are as follows:
Level 1 Inquiry: What are the general trends and consensus in the literature regarding the impact of EHRs on healthcare providers’ workflow and productivity?
Level 2 Inquiry: Are there specific factors that influence the extent of workflow and productivity changes resulting from EHR adoption?
Theoretical frameworks that may be applied to analyze the impact of EHRs on workflow and productivity include the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and the Task-Technology Fit (TTF) Theory.
Research Question 2: What are the economic implications of EHR implementation for healthcare organizations?
To address this question, a comprehensive examination of studies and reports focusing on the economic aspects of EHR implementation will be conducted. This review will explore both the costs and benefits associated with EHR adoption.
Two levels of inquiry for Research Question 2 are as follows:
Level 1 Inquiry: What are the documented economic costs and benefits of EHR implementation for healthcare organizations?
Level 2 Inquiry: How do different contextual factors, such as organization size and healthcare setting, influence the economic outcomes of EHR implementation?
Conceptual frameworks that may be employed to understand the economic implications of EHRs include the Return on Investment (ROI) model and the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) framework.
Patient Outcomes Perspective:
Research Question 1: How does the use of EHRs impact patient safety and quality of care?
To explore this question, a systematic literature review will be conducted to identify relevant studies that examine the association between EHR usage and patient safety and quality of care outcomes.
Two levels of inquiry for Research Question 1 are as follows:
Level 1 Inquiry: What does the existing literature reveal about the relationship between EHR use and patient safety and quality of care outcomes?
Level 2 Inquiry: Are there specific factors or functionalities within EHRs that have a significant impact on patient safety and quality of care?
Theoretical frameworks that may guide the analysis of EHR impact on patient outcomes include the Human Factors Model and the Technology-Induced Error Model.
Research Question 2: What are the potential drawbacks or risks associated with EHR utilization on patient outcomes?
To address this question, a critical examination of studies and reports that highlight the potential drawbacks and risks of EHR utilization will be conducted. This review will focus on identifying the negative consequences that may arise from EHR implementation and usage.
Two levels of inquiry for Research Question 2 are as follows:
Level 1 Inquiry: What are the documented risks and drawbacks associated with EHR utilization on patient outcomes?
Level 2 Inquiry: Are there specific circumstances or contexts where the negative impact of EHR utilization on patient outcomes is more pronounced?
Conceptual frameworks that may be utilized to understand the potential drawbacks and risks of EHR utilization include the Socio-Technical Model and the Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA) framework.
Conclusion:
This paper aims to investigate the impact of EHRs on healthcare delivery from two perspectives: efficiency and patient outcomes. By addressing the research questions at two levels, a comprehensive understanding of the chosen topic will be achieved. The findings of this study will shed light on the implications of EHR implementation for healthcare providers, organizations, and patient care, helping to inform evidence-based decision-making in healthcare practices.