NURS FPX 6214 Assessment 1 Technology Needs Assessment

Name

Capella university

NURS-FPX 6214 Health Care Informatics and Technology

Prof. Name

Date

Technology Needs Assessment

St. Anthony Medical Center has developed Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) technology as part of its efforts to advance healthcare delivery. Carefully conducted needs assessment is necessary as it helps identify lapses in care and resource allocation and even ensures compliance with safety and regulatory demands. This summary gave a possibility for vital insights into the care needs of their patients, making recommendations for adopting RPM to address particular challenges. Prioritizing safety and privacy, St. Anthony Medical Center stood out in its adherence to protecting patient information while improving care. This holistic approach addresses not only the immediate concerns but, more importantly, lays the groundwork for sustainable progress in patient outcomes and operational efficiency.

Relevance and Importance of a Needs Assessment

The introduction of Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) technology at St. Anthony Medical Center underscores the importance of a comprehensive needs assessment in healthcare innovation. This process enabled the identification of patient care gaps, the prioritization of improvements, and the alignment of RPM with the hospital’s goals by considering factors such as chronic illness prevalence, readmission rates, and the feasibility of resource allocation for remote monitoring. The needs assessment also provided a solid foundation for strategic resource management, guiding investments in technology infrastructure, staff training, and support mechanisms to ensure that RPM could deliver measurable benefits, particularly for patients requiring continuous monitoring of chronic conditions (Lawrence et al., 2023).

Active stakeholder engagement was a key component of the needs assessment, bringing together perspectives from patients, providers, and administrative teams to ensure the RPM initiative met the needs of the community served by St. Anthony Medical Center. This collaborative approach emphasized patient-centered care, helped identify assumptions about resource availability and stakeholder involvement. As a result, St. Anthony Medical Center was better equipped to address potential barriers to RPM implementation and align the project with long-term objectives of improved patient outcomes and operational efficiency (Williams et al., 2021). The strategic, proactive approach ensures that healthcare delivery is tailored to the population’s specific needs.

Critical Issues in Nursing Care Affecting Patient Outcomes 

Integrating Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) technology at St. Anthony Medical Center enhances nursing care by enabling real-time health data to inform clinical decisions, allowing nurses to create individualized care plans and adjust treatments for patients with chronic conditions like congestive heart failure (CHF). RPM promotes proactive, patient-centered care by empowering patients to monitor their health, communicate remotely with providers, and engage in lifestyle changes that improve adherence to medical orders. This empowerment leads to reduced complications, higher patient satisfaction, and decreased healthcare costs (Mhanna et al., 2021).

RPM also positively impacts nursing workflows by automating data collection, reducing administrative tasks, and freeing up time for direct patient care. This streamlining ensures resource efficiency and fosters equitable access to care. The technology’s ability to detect clinical deterioration early, particularly in post-discharge CHF patients, reduces readmissions and improves outcomes by addressing health issues before they escalate. By focusing on resource efficiency, patient engagement, and workflow optimization, St. Anthony Medical Center demonstrates its commitment to improving nursing care and achieving better patient outcomes (Muller et al., 2021).

Safety Requirements and Regulatory Considerations

Implementing RPM at St. Anthony Medical Center requires a comprehensive approach to ensure safety, regulatory compliance, and operational efficiency. A thorough needs assessment will identify key organizational priorities, patient safety concerns, and regulatory requirements, aligning RPM with organizational goals and ensuring smooth integration. Data security is essential, with HIPAA compliance safeguarding patient information from breaches and maintaining patient trust in telehealth technologies. Integration with existing healthcare infrastructure should adhere to standards like FHIR to ensure interoperability, improving data exchange and care coordination. Additionally, RPM technologies’ clinical safety and efficiency should be validated through usability testing, trials, and peer-reviewed studies (Alverson, 2020).

To ensure financial viability, adherence to CMS policies and proper resource utilization will be necessary for reimbursement eligibility. However, liability risks from telehealth data breaches or errors must be mitigated through solid risk management protocols to protect the center from legal and financial consequences (Gadzinski et al., 2020). Continuous quality assurance activities, including audits and feedback mechanisms, will help maintain telehealth functionality and address emerging challenges. St. Anthony Medical Center can successfully implement RPM to enhance patient-centered care in a rapidly evolving digital landscape by addressing these safety, regulatory, and operational requirements.

Patient Confidentiality and Privacy Protections

Patient confidentiality is crucial when implementing Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) at St. Anthony Medical Center, and compliance with regulations like HIPAA ensures the protection of sensitive health information. Data encryption, multi-factor authentication, and access controls limit data access to authorized personnel, preserving privacy and trust (Kovac, 2021). These safeguards are essential for maintaining secure telehealth systems and fostering patient confidence in using RPM technology.

Addressing cyber threats is equally important, as RPM systems are vulnerable to risks like cyber-attacks and data breaches. Advanced threat detection, continuous monitoring, and regular security audits help identify vulnerabilities and respond swiftly to potential incidents, minimizing disruption to patient care (Kim et al., 2020). By proactively updating security protocols, educating employees on data protection, and adopting advanced cybersecurity tools, St. Anthony Medical Center can ensure the platform remains resilient to emerging threats, compliant with regulations, and secure for patient use (Alenoghena et al., 2023).

Impact of Stakeholders and Users’ End

Advanced telehealth technologies, like remote patient monitoring at St. Anthony Medical Center, involve a multi-stakeholder internal and external approach, and each contributes significantly to the process. Internal stakeholders include healthcare providers, administrative leaders, IT teams, and department heads. These individuals assess the clinical, financial, and technological aspects in playing essential roles. External stakeholders, including patients, regulatory bodies, technology vendors, and local community organizations, guide the decisions and make sure that the technology fits into the larger healthcare ecosystem and where the needs lie for patients (Talwar et al., 2023). Healthcare providers will then focus on assessing how well RPM works from the clinical standpoint and how seamless it is to include it within their patient care workflows.

The administrators will focus on the financial considerations, including budgeting, return on investment, and reimbursement pathways. The IT personnel will see how it aligns with the existing infrastructure, security measures, and data protection protocols. Patients’ feedback and regulatory bodies are also essential in establishing if the technology adheres to the required standards and meets health goals (Tan et al., 2021). Successful implementation of RPM depends upon proactive stakeholder engagement and communication prior to and during the decision-making and implementation processes. Effective engagement involves stakeholders early in the process, keeps stakeholders informed about the initiative’s purpose, and provides opportunities for them to participate in training, pilot testing, and feedback loops.

NURS FPX 6214 Assessment 1 Technology Needs Assessment

This approach encourages collaboration, increasing buy-in and strengthening commitment from the parties involved. However, changes may be met with resistance, especially from staff members worried about jobs, autonomy in their profession, or unfamiliarity with the technology. Tackling such concerns with proper training, support over time, and a culture of openness can make the change less jarring and smoother (Harris et al., 2021).

Stakeholders would be a primary champion for the successful integration of RPM technology. Their active participation would ensure that the initiative is put into practice and supports the overarching goals of St. Anthony Medical Center, which include improving patient care through technological innovation and collaborative efforts (Pierre, 2024). St. Anthony Medical Center would maximize its adoption of telehealth and ultimately improve healthcare delivery by strategically engaging internal and external stakeholders. 

Conclusion

In conclusion, implementing Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) at St. Anthony Medical Center highlights the value of a thorough needs assessment, stakeholder engagement, and compliance with safety and regulatory standards. RPM enhances patient-centered care, optimizes resources, and improves data security, offering potential to improve outcomes, streamline workflows, and reduce costs. With strong stakeholder involvement and proactive training, the implementation process ensures collaboration and addresses concerns. This approach positions St. Anthony Medical Center to enhance patient care, achieve operational efficiency, and maintain trust with patients and regulatory bodies.

References

Alenoghena, C. O., Ohize, H. O., Adejo, A. O., Onumanyi, A. J., Ohihoin, E. E., Balarabe, A. I., Okoh, S. A., Kolo, E., & Alenoghena, B. (2023). Telemedicine: A survey of telecommunication technologies, developments, and challenges. Journal of Sensor and Actuator Networks, 12(2), 20. https://doi.org/10.3390/jsan12020020 

Alverson, D. C. (2020). Telemedicine and health information exchange: An opportunity for integration. Telemedicine, Telehealth and Telepresence, 63–76. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-56917-4_5 

Gadzinski, A. J., Ellimoottil, C., Odisho, A. Y., Watts, K. L., & Gore, J. L. (2020). Implementing telemedicine in response to the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic. Journal of Urology. https://doi.org/10.1097/ju.0000000000001033 

NURS FPX 6214 Assessment 1 Technology Needs Assessment

Harris, K. E. C., Durham, C., Logan, A., Smith, G., & Morris, R. D. (2021). Integration of telehealth education into the health care provider curriculum: A review. Telemedicine and E-Health, 27(2), 137–149. https://doi.org/10.1089/tmj.2019.0261 

Kim, D., Choi, J., & Han, K. (2020). Risk management-based security evaluation model for telemedicine systems. BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making, 20(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12911-020-01145-7 

Kovac, M. (2021). HIPAA and telehealth: Protecting health information in a digital world. Journal of Intellectual Freedom & Privacy, 6(2), 6–9. https://doi.org/10.5860/jifp.v6i2.7556 

Lawrence, K., Singh, N., Jonassen, Z., Groom, L. L., Arias, V. A., Mandal, S., Schoenthaler, A., Mann, D., Nov, O., & Dove, G. (2023). Operational implementation of remote patient monitoring within a large ambulatory health system: Multimethod qualitative case study. JMIR Human Factors, 10, e45166. https://doi.org/10.2196/45166 

Mhanna, M., Beran, A., Nazir, S., Abdouh, A. A., Barbarawi, M., Sajdeya, O., Srour, O., Altujjar, M., Patel, R. B., & Eltahawy, E. A. (2021). Efficacy of remote physiological monitoring-guided care for chronic heart failure: An updated meta-analysis. Heart Failure Reviews. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10741-021-10176-9 

NURS FPX 6214 Assessment 1 Technology Needs Assessment

Muller, A. E., Berg, R. C., Jardim, P. S. J., Johansen, T. B., & Ormstad, S. S. (2021). Can remote patient monitoring be the new standard in primary care of chronic diseases, post-COVID-19? Telemedicine and E-Health. https://doi.org/10.1089/tmj.2021.0399 

Pierre, I. (2024). Impact of the increased use of telehealth on health care management and administration: The case of new care management practices. Doctoral Dissertations and Projects. https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/5148/ 

Talwar, S., Dhir, A., Islam, N., Kaur, P., & Almusharraf, A. (2023). Resistance of multiple stakeholders to e-health innovations: Integration of fundamental insights and guiding research paths. Journal of Business Research, 166, 114135. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2023.114135 

Tan, A. J., Rusli, K. D., McKenna, L., Tan, L. L., & Liaw, S. Y. (2021). Telemedicine experiences and perspectives of healthcare providers in long-term care: A scoping review. Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare, 1357633X2110492. https://doi.org/10.1177/1357633×211049206 

Williams, K., Markwardt, S., Kearney, S. M., Karp, J. F., Kraemer, K. L., Park, M. J., Freund, P., Watson, A., Schuster, J., & Beckjord, E. (2021). Addressing implementation challenges to digital care delivery for adults with multiple chronic conditions: Stakeholder feedback in a randomized controlled trial. JMIR MHealth and UHealth, 9(2), e23498. https://doi.org/10.2196/23498