Health Information System Implementation
Complete a Vila Health interactive simulation in which you will develop a high-level plan, 4–6 pages in length, for implementing a new or upgraded health information system.
Note: The assessments in this course build upon the work you have completed in the previous assessments. Therefore, complete the assessments in the order in which they are presented.
Part of your job as a health administrator is to make decisions about health care information systems, specifically in terms of how and when to upgrade or implement a completely new system. Leaders must be able to apply project management best practices in developing an implementation plan, in which they identify and document the key steps involved in such a project.
This assessment provides an opportunity for you to develop a high-level implementation plan for a new or upgraded health information system.
By successfully completing this assessment, you will demonstrate your proficiency in the following course competencies and assessment criteria:
· Competency 3: Incorporate project management principles into health care administration management and leadership.
· Outline a plan for collecting and analyzing data.
· Propose criteria for evaluating organizational needs.
· Outline a plan for generating reports.
· Identify the personnel and logistics needed to carry out an implementation plan.
· Propose a project timeline.
· Competency 6: Communicate effectively with diverse audiences, in an appropriate form and style, consistent with applicable organizational, professional, and scholarly standards.
· Write clearly and concisely, using correct grammar, mechanics, and APA formatting.
Competency Map
Check Your ProgressUse this online tool to track your performance and progress through your course.
Resources
Templates
Use this template for your implementation plan.
· APA Style Paper Template [DOCX].
Required Resources
The following resources are required to complete the assessment.
· Vila Health: Health Care Information System Implementation | Transcript.
· This multimedia simulation will enable you to practice acquiring and analyzing key information, assessing business needs, identifying necessary resources, and determining a timeline for installing a new system or upgrading the existing system at one of Vila Health’s new acquisitions.
Suggested Resources
The resources provided here are optional. You may use other resources of your choice to prepare for this assessment; however, you will need to ensure that they are appropriate, credible, and valid. The MHA-FP5064 Health Care Information Systems Analysis and Design for Administrators Library Guide can help direct your research, and the Supplemental Resources and Research Resources, both linked from the left navigation menu in your courseroom, provide additional resources to help support you.
EHR Implementations
The following resources provide useful context, examples, and recommendations for EHR implementations
· Daly, R. (2016). The EHR evolution: New priorities and implementation challenges. Healthcare Financial Management, 70(2), 44–50.
· Discusses a successful EHR implementation in one health care system and its addition of a home health care component.
· Dolezel, D., & Moczygemba, J. (2015). Implementing EHRs: An exploratory study to examine current practices in migrating physician practice. Perspectives in Health Information Management, 12, 1–6.
· Addresses the question of how much clinical data from old paper records needs to be transferred to EHR systems in physician practices.
· Restuccia, J. D., Cohen, A. B., Horwitt, J. N., & Shwartz, M. (2012). Hospital implementation of health information technology and quality of care: Are they related? BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making, 12, 1–8.
· Examines the association of health information technologies with activities aimed at improving care quality and with several quality performance measures.
· HealthIT.gov. (2013). How to implement EHRs. Retrieved from https://www.healthit.gov/providers-professionals/ehr-implementation-steps
· This Web site presents a recommended six-step process for EHR implementation.
Writing Resources
You are encouraged to explore the following writing resources. You can use them to improve your writing skills and as source materials for seeking answers to specific questions.
· APA Module.
· Academic Honesty & APA Style and Formatting.
· APA Style Paper Tutorial [DOCX].
Library Resources
· Journal and Book Locator Library Guide.
· Assessment Instructions
Note: Complete the assessments in this course in the order in which they are presented.
Preparation
Vila Health is considering either upgrading its current system or implementing a new one. No matter what the final decision is, as an administrator, you must be prepared for a major overhaul or change to the health information system at Vila Health.
The chief operations officer has asked you to prepare an executive summary explaining each key step involved in developing an implementation plan, including a process and timeline to collect and analyze data, generate reports, facilitate decision making, and determine the resource requirements for a health information system (HIS).
Complete the Vila Health: Health Care Information System Implementation interactive simulation, linked in the Resources. Gather preliminary information that will allow you to develop a process and timeline for a health care information system project. You may also wish to review the previous Vila Health simulations for additional information.
In addition, you may also wish to use the Capella University Library to explore topics relevant to project management for HIS implementation.
Requirements
Develop a high-level plan for implementing a new or upgraded health information system.
Note: Remember that you can submit all—or a portion of—your draft plan to Smarthinking for feedback, before you submit the final version for this assessment. If you plan on using this free service, be mindful of the turnaround time of 24–48 hours for receiving feedback.
Document Format and Length
Format your implementation plan using APA style.
· Use the APA Style Paper Template, linked in the Required Resources. An APA Style Paper Tutorial is also provided (linked in the Suggested Resources) to help you in writing and formatting your plan. Be sure to include:
· A title page and references page. An abstract is not required.
· A running head on all pages.
· Appropriate section headings.
· Your implementation plan should be 4–6 pages in length, not including the title page and references page.
Supporting Evidence
Cite at least two sources of credible scholarly or professional evidence to support your plan.
Executive Summary
Note: The requirements outlined below correspond to the grading criteria in the scoring guide. Be sure that your implementation plan addresses each point, at a minimum. You may also want to read the HIS Implementation Scoring Guide to better understand how each criterion will be assessed.
· Outline a plan for collecting and analyzing data.
· What data do you need to collect and analyze?
· What are the likely sources of that data?
· How do you plan to analyze the data?
· Propose criteria for evaluating organizational needs.
· What evidence do you have that supports your proposed criteria?
· Outline a plan for generating reports.
· What information should be communicated to decision makers?
· When, and how often, should reports be generated?
· Identify the personnel and logistics needed to carry out the implementation plan.
· What are the key project requirements and considerations?
· How will you justify the needs you have identified?
· Propose a project timeline.
· What assumptions underlie your timeline?
· Consider areas of uncertainty or lack of information that could lead to delays and missed deadlines.
· What contingencies should you account for?
· Write clearly and concisely, using correct grammar, mechanics, and APA formatting.
· Express your main points and conclusions coherently.
· Proofread your writing to minimize errors that could distract readers and make it more difficult for them to focus on the substance of your plan.