Outside of the Classroom: Computers in the Workplace

In the healthcare industry, computers are crucial, ranging from patient care and record-keeping to research and development. Here's an overview of the functions of computers in healthcare and the importance of computer literacy for employees in this industry.

Computers are used to create, maintain, and access electronic health records. EHRs like Epic, Cerner, and Meditech store patient information. To include medical history, diagnoses, medications, treatment plans, immunization dates, allergies, radiology images, and laboratory test results. Computers aid healthcare professionals in making informed decisions by providing evidence-based recommendations. These systems can analyze patient data to offer guidance on diagnosis, treatment plans, and medication dosages. Computers facilitate remote consultations, diagnostics, and monitoring of patients through telemedicine applications. This is particularly important for reaching patients in remote or underserved areas. Computers are utilized for processing and interpreting medical images such as X-rays, MRIs, CT scans, and ultrasounds.

Advanced algorithms help in detecting anomalies and improving diagnostic accuracy. Computers support research activities, enabling data analysis, statistical modeling, and simulations contributing to medical advancements, drug development, and healthcare policy planning. Computers manage billing, scheduling, appointment reminders, insurance claims, and other administrative tasks, streamlining the healthcare facility's operations. Computers enable integration with medical devices such as monitors, infusion pumps, and ventilators, allowing real-time monitoring and automated data transfer to EHRs.

Computer literacy ensures healthcare professionals can effectively use EHRs, access critical patient data promptly, and make informed decisions promptly, enhancing the quality and efficiency of patient care. Employees need to be literate in computer security measures to safeguard sensitive patient data, ensuring compliance with healthcare regulations like HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act). If an employee does not have computer literacy or computer security, they run the risk of causing a security breach to the system which is a case of “unauthorized computer access” (Vahid & Lysecky, 2019).

Computer literacy fosters effective communication among healthcare teams and with patients. Professionals can collaborate on treatment plans, share insights, and coordinate care seamlessly. Healthcare professionals must keep up with evolving technology to efficiently utilize new tools and systems that enhance patient care and improve operational workflows.

More powerful and compact hardware, including wearable health devices and improved medical imaging equipment, will enhance data collection, analysis, and patient monitoring, ultimately improving healthcare outcomes. Operating systems and software will evolve to be more specialized, secure, and interoperable, facilitating seamless integration of various healthcare systems and ensuring data integrity and privacy. Robust and high-speed networking technologies will enable real-time sharing of patient information, especially in critical care situations, leading to faster diagnoses and treatment decisions.

In conclusion, the healthcare industry heavily relies on computers to improve patient care, streamline operations, and advance medical research. Computer literacy among healthcare professionals is essential for maximizing the potential of these technologies and adapting to future advancements, ultimately benefiting both healthcare providers and patients.

Resources:

Vahid, F., & Lysecky, S. (2019). Computing technology for all. zyBooks.