PHS - Ch. 7 Slides #2 (Information Technology/Med Math)

PHS - Ch. 7:Fundamental
Skills in Therapeutic Services

1. Information Technology

2. Medical Math

Government Influences on Electronic Health Records

In 2009 the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act was signed into law

• This Law made significant changes to HIPAA privacy and security regulations

• There are specific penalties for violations of HIPAA rules

• Requires consistent level of security when working with health information

• Offers financial incentives for providers who demonstrate meaningful use of electronic health records

Information Technology in the Therapeutic Pathway

• Therapeutic workers will recognize many advantages to working with EHR's, including the speed of accessing Pt information and the clarity of typewritten vs handwritten entries.

• However, these electronic entries still need to be done in a timely manner, be complete, accurate.

Information Technology Cont.

• When using EHR's you will commonly see:

  • A Face page, or summary screen that shows Pt's contact info and medical hx (history)

  • Each patient visit has a separate file

  • Always label info that was forgotten as late entry

• IMPORTANT:

  • Never delete errors made in a medical record, always use an addendum to correct errors

  • Authenticate all addendums and late entries with digital signature

Information Technology Cont.

• E-Prescribing:

  • Electronic generation, transmission, and filling of a medical prescription.

  • Replaces handwritten, faxed notes, or prescriptions called in by phone.

  • Sent automatically to Pt's preferred pharmacy over the internet. This process improves patient safety by automatically checking for drug/allergy interactions and eliminating medication errors due to poor handwriting.

What are some advantages of using electronic charting and e-prescribing?

Electronic Charting:

• Electronic records contain all the information found in a paper chart, but EHR software combines many additional medical office functions.

  • Provide links to sites that show drug information

  • Provide printable patient instructions

  • Recommend codes for medical services

  • Search function to find patients’ charts (by name, DOB, etc. 

  • Alert providers to drug and allergy interactions

  • Allow access to patient records in multiple facilities

  • Streamline office communication (e-mail, messaging, and letter templates)

Other Uses of Technology

• Computerized therapeutic equipment

  • Robotic “hands” used in surgery 

  • Video games used for physical therapy

  • Software used by dentists to design crowns

• Social media (Twitter, Facebook)

  • May be used for doctor/patient communication, but privacy is an issue

• Mobile apps

  • Electronic health records

  • Point of care (translators, visuals)

  • Medical reference and education

  • Consumer health (pedometers, blood pressure measuring tools)

Medical Math: Military Time

• Healthcare facilities use the 24-hour clock, or military time

• Assigns a number for each hour of the day

• Avoids confusion between a.m. and p.m. and prevents errors in documentation

Medical Math: Measurement

Healthcare workers use both the metric system and US system

• Metric system units

  • meter (m) for length

  • gram (g) for weight

  • liter (L) for volume

  • Celsius (°C) for temperature

• US customary units

  • inch (in), foot (ft)

  • ounce (oz), pound (lb)

  • cup (c), quart (qt) 

  • Fahrenheit (°F)

Other Systems of Measurement

• Apothecary system

  • May still be used for herbal medicines

  • Uses terms such as drams, grains, and minims

  • Uses Roman numerals

• International Units (IU)

  • Used for measuring the biological effect of manufactured medicinal drugs and vitamins

  • Used to measure insulin and heparin

Medical Math: Converting Measurements

• Healthcare workers often have to convert between household and metric systems

• Measurements may be converted from one system to another by cross-multiplying

Think Further

Healthcare workers frequently take measurements using the metric system, but then communicate the measurements to patients using household units.

What could happen if a healthcare worker made an error in converting the units? Imagine at least one scenario.

Examples:

• Someone could take the wrong dose of medication

• Someone could think he/she had lost or gained weight or got taller/shorter

Math and Medications

• Forms of medication

  • Liquid (aqueous suspension, suspension, syrup, or tincture)

  • Solid (capsule, tablet, lozenge)

  • Semisolid (ointment, suppository)

• Methods of administration

  • Oral (by mouth)

  • Rectal (in the rectum)

  • Topical (applied to the skin)

  • Sublingual (under the tongue)

  • Injection (with needle and syringe)

  • Inhalation (breathed in)

Math and Medications Cont.

• Dose

  • portion of the medicine to be administered at one time

• Dosage

  • total quantity of medicine to be administered

• Concentration

  • how much of the drug is in a specific volume of liquid

Measuring Angles

Healthcare workers use angles for several purposes

• To measure and describe joint movement

  • Goniometer used in rehab to measure range of motion

• To inject medications properly

  • Different medications require different angles of injection

• To position patients in bed

  • Fowler’s positions

Multiple Choice

What is the primary purpose of the HITECH Act?

• To eliminate electronic health records

• To enhance HIPAA privacy and security regulations

• To reduce healthcare costs

• To promote paper documentation

Multiple Choice

Which measurement system is commonly used in healthcare?

• Imperial system only

• Metric system only

• Both metric and US customary systems

• Only household measurements

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is a method of medication administration?

• Inhalation

• Observation

• Discussion

• Examination

Multiple Choice

What is a potential consequence of converting measurements incorrectly in healthcare?

• Improved patient outcomes

• Increased patient satisfaction

• Incorrect medication dosage

• Faster treatment times