PowerPoint Presentation
Chapter 6
Medical and Health Information Technology
Objectives
Differentiate between medical and health information technology.
Name examples of medical technology innovations.
List commonly used health information technology solutions.
Explain the concepts of confidentiality and security in protecting patient health information.
Medical Technology vs. Health Information Technology
Medical technology refers to the procedures, equipment, and processes by which medical care is delivered.
Health information technology (Health IT) refers to an a
ay of technologies to record, store, retrieve, protect, share, and analyze health information.
Medical Technology
Medical technology includes a multitude of products used to diagnose and monitor human conditions and diseases.
This technology also is available to treat diseases that were once considered high risk or even fatal and includes instruments used to perform less invasive operations.
Examples of Medical Technology
New medical and surgical procedures (e.g., angioplasty, joint replacements)
Drugs (e.g., biologic agents)
Medical devices (e.g., digestible sensors, pacemakers, CT scanners, implantable cardioverter defi
illators).
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Factors Influencing Development of New Medical Technology
Healthcare practitioners
Working to find better ways to treat patients
May feel the need to offer the “latest and greatest” in care because they compete with other providers for patients
Professional goals such as peer recognition, tenure, and prestige
Factors Influencing Development of New Medical Technology (continued)
Consumers
Goals to achieve and maintain good health can often be met through advances in medical technology.
Increased public awareness of advances in medical care achieved through medical technology because of the roles played by the media, the Internet, and direct-to-consumer advertising
Factors Influencing Development of New Medical Technology (continued)
Health insurance systems
Medical treatments can be expensive and health insurance provides payment for innovations.
Consumers looking for ways to ensure access to the type of medical care they want may increase the demand for health insurance.
The promise of better health through improvements in medicine is a strong motivator for consumers.
Biomedical Engineers
Much of the work performed in this discipline is by biomedical engineers, persons who use their knowledge of biology, medicine, technology, and mechanical engineering to research and develop new equipment.
Health IT
Healthcare practitioners need the right information at the right time in order to make the right decisions.
Leveraging the many forms of health IT influences the probability of this happening.
Examples of commonly used health IT solutions are addressed in this section and listed in Table 6-1.
Health IT Fact Sheet
More information on the many applications of health IT to benefit clinicians can be found in a fact sheet titled Health Information Technology: a Tool to Help Clinicians Do What They Value Most, available at https:
www.healthit.gov/sites/default/files/hit_tool_providersfactsheet072013.pdf
Health IT as a Career
Several disciplines involved: medicine, law, informatics, computer science, business, project management, and research
People who enter this field generally fall into one of two categories.
Those who focus on IT in terms of infrastructure (hardware, software)
Those who focus on what can be accomplished with the data recorded, reported, and stored by the infrastructure
Clinical Applications
Clinical decision support system (CDSS)
The variety of technologies that provide healthcare practitioners with diagnostic and treatment recommendations
Examples: simple alerts, prescription drug interaction warnings, and clinical pathways and protocols
Clinical Applications (continued)
The system applies computable biomedical knowledge to specific patient data and generates information for the clinician to use in treating a specific patient.
The information is filtered, organized, and presented in a way that allows the clinician to make a quick decision and take action.
Electronic Health Records
An electronic health record (EHR) refers to an individual patient health record stored in a computer database for easy access by physicians and other healthcare workers.
The information contained in the record is real time and offers a snapshot or picture of the patient’s condition and treatment.
Implementation of EHRs
Has grown dramatically in the last decade and particularly since the inception of the HITECH Act in 2009
Physicians and hospitals are eligible to receive incentive payments if they prove their use of EHR systems meets certain criteria.
Meaningful Use Criterion
Patient portal
Computerized physician order entry system
Significant benefit of EHRs is that information can be shared with other providers across different healthcare organizations.
Administrative Applications and Infrastructure
Billing process
HIPAA compliance
Electronic materials management
Bar coding technology
Patient registration process
Health Information Technology and the Law
As new methods of administering care are developed and technology continues to evolve, the law works in tandem.
HIPAA regulations target concerns about confidentiality and security of patient information and steps to maintain privacy in the digital world.
The regulations establish standards for ensuring confidentiality and security of patient information and protecting patients’ health information from unauthorized access and use.
PowerPoint Presentation
Chapter 26
Radiation Technology
Objectives
Identify types of imaging that radiologic technicians and technologists perform.
Discuss safety concerns related to radiation technology.
Describe the minimum educational requirements for a radiologic technologist or technician.
Explain some of the work duties for a radiation therapist.
Radiologic Technologists and Technicians
Sometimes refe
ed to as radiographers
Produce X-ray films (radiographs) of parts of the body for use in diagnosing medical problems.
Prepare patients for radiologic examination by explaining the procedure and removing jewelry and articles through which X-rays cannot pass.
Position patients so that parts of the body can be appropriately radiographed.
Radiologic Technologists and Technicians (continued)
To prevent unnecessary exposure to radiation, workers su
ound the exposed area with radiation protection devices, such as lead shields, or limit the size of the X-ray beam.
Radiologic technologists and technicians must follow physicians’ orders precisely and conform to regulations concerning the use of radiation to protect themselves, patients, and coworkers from exposure.
Radiologic Technologists and Technicians (continued)
Radiologic technologists perform other more complex imaging procedures.
Fluoroscopies
Computed tomography (CT) scan as CT technologists
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as MRI technologists
Radiologic Technologists and Technicians (continued)
Physical stamina is important because they are on their feet for long periods.
Most work at diagnostic machines, but they may perform some procedures at patients’ bedsides.
Some travel to patients in large vans equipped with sophisticated diagnostic equipment.
Educational Requirements
Formal training programs in radiography lead to a certificate, associate’s degree, or bachelor’s degree.
An associate’s degree is the most prevalent level of educational attainment among radiologic technologists and technicians.
Certificate programs typically last 21 to 24 months.
Licensure
Federal legislation protects the public from the hazards of unnecessary exposure to medical and dental radiation by ensuring that operators of radiologic equipment are properly trained.
Most states require licensure for practicing radiologic technologists.
Licensing requirements vary by state—for specific requirements contact your state’s health board.
Certification
American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) offers voluntary certification for radiologic technologists.
States use ARRT-administered exams for state licensing purposes.
Many employers prefer to hire certified radiologic technologists.
Earnings
Median Annual Earnings in the Industries Employing the Largest Number of Radiologic Technolgists in May 2014
Radiation Therapists
Radiation therapists use machines called linear accelerators to administer radiation treatment.
Radiation therapy is sometimes used as the sole treatment for cancer but is usually used in conjunction with chemotherapy or surgery.
Radiation therapists work in hospitals, physicians’ offices, outpatient centers, or in cancer treatment centers.
Radiation Therapists (continued)
Therapists do a considerable amount of lifting, and they spend most of their time on their feet.
Therapists generally work 40 hours a week and work during the day because most procedures are scheduled in advance.
Radiation therapists take great care to ensure that they are not exposed to dangerous levels of radiation by following standard safety procedures.
Educational Requirements
A bachelor’s degree, associate’s degree, or certificate in radiation therapy generally is required.
Many states require radiation therapists to be licensed, and most employers require certification.
Individuals may become qualified by completing an associate’s or bachelor’s degree program in radiography, then completing a 12-month certificate program in radiation therapy.
Licensure
In 2014, 33 states required radiation therapists to be licensed by a state accrediting board.
Licensing requirements vary by state, but many states require applicants to pass the ARRT certification examination.
Certification
ARRT certification requirements
Complete an accredited radiation therapy program.
Adhere to ARRT ethical standards.
Pass the ARRT certification examination.
Demonstrate competency in several clinical practices: patient care activities, simulation procedures, dosimetry calculations, fa
ication of beam modification devices, and low-volume and high-risk procedures.
Certification
ARRT certification is valid for 1 year, after which therapists must renew their certification.
Requirements for renewal: abiding by the ARRT ethical standards, paying annual dues, and satisfying continuing education requirements.
Continuing education requirements must be met every 2 years and include either completion of 24 course credits related to radiation therapy or attainment of ARRT certification in a discipline other than radiation therapy.
PowerPoint Presentation
Chapter 27
Diagnostics and Related Technology
Objectives
Discuss the specialty areas available for a diagnostic medical sonographer.
Describe the difference between invasive and noninvasive cardiovascular testing.
Explain the work-related duties of a nuclear medicine technologist.
Identify the requirements for maintaining surgical technologist certification.
Diagnostic Medical Sonographers
Use special equipment to direct nonionizing, high-frequency sound waves into areas of the patient’s body.
Operate equipment, which collects reflected echoes and forms an image that may be videotaped, transmitted, or photographed for interpretation and diagnosis by a physician.
Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (continued)
Use a transducer that transmits sound waves in a cone or rectangle-shaped beam.
Look for subtle visual cues that contrast healthy areas with unhealthy ones.
Decide whether images are satisfactory for diagnostic purposes and select which to store and show to the physician.
Take measurements, calculate values, and analyze results in preliminary findings for the physician.
Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (continued)
May specialize in:
Obstetric and gynecologic sonography (female reproductive system)
Abdominal sonography (liver, kidneys, gallbladder, spleen, and pancreas)
Neurosonography (
ain) or
east sonography
Vascular sonography
Cardiac sonography
Education and Certification
Employers recognize and accept several levels of education and methods of acquiring it.
No one level of education is prefe
ed, but employers prefer registered sonographers who were trained in accredited programs.
American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (ARDMS) certifies the skills and knowledge of sonographers through credentialing, including registration.
Assist physicians in diagnosing and treating cardiac (heart) and peripheral vascular (blood vessel) ailments.
Schedule appointments, perform ultrasound or cardiovascular procedures, review doctors’ interpretations and patient files, and monitor patients’ heart rates.
Operate and maintain testing equipment, explain test procedures, and compare test results to a standard to identify problems.
Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians
Perform noninvasive tests.
View ultrasound image on screen and record as video or photograph for interpretation and diagnosis by a physician.
Use instruments to perform scans and record images, check image on screen for subtle differences between healthy and diseased areas, and judge whether images are satisfactory for diagnostic purposes.