Care delivery services have been traditionally dependent on direct encounters between providers and patients. With the increase in the number of aging population and the added demand for most expensive and advanced care delivery services, healthcare organizations are investing in care services that are more effective and less costly. Use of technology in healthcare systems has been a significant driver for care improvement initiatives used for controlling cost and extending care delivery services that enhance healthcare accessibility. Implementing technology in healthcare demands proper alignment between newly developed tools and care delivery system needs. In this chapter, the authors discuss the role of technology in healthcare and the value of mHealth in diverse clinical settings.
TopMany health information systems were adopted by healthcare organizations to resolve fragmentation in the care processes and enhance the efficacy of health data processing. These systems were implemented with objectives that focused on improving the efficiency of care delivery systems, enhancing clinical monitoring tools, minimizing drug adverse reaction, and controlling or potentially eliminating redundancy in the care process by coordinating care (Chaundhry, et al., 2006). Although adopting health information technology in many care settings have been proven to improve efficiency in care delivery systems, generalizing these results has not been consistent in all settings. Several studies have determined the “human element” to be an influential factor in the process of health information technology adoption (Bruntin, Burke, Hoaglin, & Blumenthal, 2011). Research has shown that when providers are not highly satisfied with the adopted information systems, negative findings are reported as a result of this process. Healthcare organizations also reiterate on the value of staff “buy in” during the adoption process (Bruntin, Burke, Hoaglin, & Blumenthal, 2011). In addition to staff’s endorsement, management’s engagement in the adoption process, and managing additional workload related to newly adopted systems, multiple factors are impactful in the process of information systems’ adoption. Training staff, adequate financial backing prior/during the implementation and maintenance process, and preparing healthcare organizations for possible unintended consequences of the adopted system are measures that must be taken into consideration during health system implementation process (Bruntin, Burke, Hoaglin, & Blumenthal, 2011).