Respond to the following
A)Trevor
A transition that I has been very prevalent in the field of medical imaging has been the conversion of hard-copy records to fully digital and electronic records. If an option to convert fully to electronic records were presented to hospital management, it would fall under the Discretionary replacement category, which involves expenses needed to upgrade outdated equipment even though it may be functional (Reiter & Song, 2018). This is a tough decision for imaging facilities to make because the storage of medical records does not generate any revenue, yet it is a necessary component. Florida state guidelines require hospitals to store medical imaging records for seven years after the last entry (AMS Store & Shred, LLC., 2021). Records are also kept on site for the radiologist to use previous examinations for comparison in their dictations. The decision to convert fully to Electronic Medical Records (EMR) would be more of a compliance and technologically relevancy project rather than one that generates revenue.
The initial cost of EMR would be substantial. Systematically, all hard-copy x-ray films and imaging reports would be converted to digital. This requires the purchasing of digital x-ray equipment and multiple workstation monitors for both the technologists and the radiologists. In addition, the radiologist’s dictations must be made using electronic dictation software. The initial investment in this technology would be quite substantial, however, records can be stored on a computer database going forward as opposed to maintaining a warehouse of files and patient imaging jackets.
An additional expense would be the use on IT specialists to ensure the security and organization of the EMR as opposed to ancillary clerical staff. The IT specialist would incur additional costs in individual salary although a hospital could employ less IT staff than clerical staff it takes to manage in-house hard-copy file storage.
As stated above, this conversion would be best described as Discretionary replacement and a necessary service in today’s electronic and digital world. Imaging facilities across the country have incurred the initial expenses associated with conversion to EMR with the desired outcome of providing their patient’s with modern up-to-date technology, allowing access to primary care physicians and physicians with privileges, and eliminating the storage problems associated with keeping hard-copy records.
B) Craig
When presenting a project to a hospital I would present category 1 which is Mandatory replacement. This may be one of the simplest categories to work with from an analysis standpoint and depending on the condition of the equipment in the hospital, it could potentially be one of the most expensive categories or not expensive at all. It can be one of the most crucial categories or not. The reason it can go either way has to do with its purpose which has to do with the cost or expenditures of a hospital dealing with their equipment that is worn out or just simple no longer works (Reiter & Song, 2018).
Any equipment that is worn out or damage not only is it not operational but can also can become a hazard to patients and employees alike. Something as simple as a thermometer that is not working, affects being able to get a temperature. This can have a trickle-down effect. If someone has a fever, we can’t determine the temperature but that can also affect the risk that the patient may have, the severity of the situation and even the course of action or treatment that can be done. That’s one example with a very basic medical tool. Without being able to do our job we start losing immediate revenue but also long-term reputation within the community that can have lasting long-lasting effects from an economical portion to a reputational one as well. We can have a plan to replace all damaged or worn-out equipment within the next 6 months, costing us $100,000. Without doing it we can encounter losses of the same amount due to the loss of revenue from not being able to perform our jobs with those equipment’s. the problem will continue on and further loses will happen until we address the problem. By replacing these obsolete parts, we are able to keep up with the technological advancements and updates that may have happened with this equipment but we will be able to continue to work and provide the beast care for our patients.
C)Richelle
People are living longer as we discover new medical advancements. As many people in America grow older, it is expected that we will be lacking in ability to care for them. According to Fulmer et al. (2021), we are extremely unprepared for the year 2030. This is when baby boomers will reach 65-years-old or greater. At that time, 20% of the population will be elderly. While we have the technology to treat this population, we still lack the skilled workers with the will to help the elderly (Fulmer et al., 2021). With some elderly individuals being homebound or possibly even left without family to help them, there are numerous things that they may need assistance with. Some health and social service needs that will be required by the elderly include affordable health care, transportation, meal preparation, funds for food and housing, among many other things. We need more qualified people to help these individuals find programs which will benefit them. For some, this may be as simple as changing insurance plans, for others it may mean applying for food or cash benefits. We will all be elderly one day, and with work ethics deteriorating, my worry is that there will be no one willing to help the elderly when we need it. Another thing I worry about is the rising cost of medical care. Even with insurance, it can be quite pricey. I can not imagine how expensive medical care will be in the future.
D)Berline
It is common knowledge Americans are living longer now. The baby boomers are aging very fast. Getting older is a challenging journey most are afraid to embark on. The healthcare system might need to start getting ready for that challenge in the near future. The aging population needs affordable health care services since most have a lack of personal savings for their own care. They always have to rely on federal and state governments, but they are already not well equipped to handle the issue. The healthcare policies need to be updated because they are not fit for the aging population ( Dellmann & Bennett, 1994). A social service needs, in my opinion, is to build communities for the well-being and quality of life of the aging population. Health education for the caregiver at home is one of the health services needs that is often neglected. Family caregivers are in need of support, and training to help them care not just for their loved ones but for themselves as well (Gillick, 2013). Financial insecurities, a decline in physical and mental health, and loneliness are barriers they might face. One of my biggest fear is not being able to financially support myself.
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