Technology and Decision Making

Technology and Decision Making

HCS/482

December 15, 2011

Technology and Decision Making

Technology is continually evolving and is inevitably changing how the population functions. Over many decades technological advancement has placed the once unheard of computer in everyone's homes. The advances of technology are not only evolving for the public; numerous changes are prominent in the healthcare system. Healthcare providers must also become proficient in implementing new technological improvements. Detailed information and examples will be included in this paper to demonstrate the effect technology has on decision-making. The subject of this paper will focus on the discussions of systems and informatics theories as well as the data, information, and knowledge (DIK) model including the role of the expert system in nursing. The use of decision aids and decision support systems along with the uses of technology for patient and client management will be reviewed. A final analysis of the effect of technology on health care and health status will be included.

Systems and Informatics Theories

Computer-based programs that process and manage information are known as information systems. Information systems consist of data, information technology, application systems, and the user delivering the information (Chen, Mocker, Preston, & Teubner, 2010). Information systems use human knowledge combined with the use of technical components. Information systems are used in healthcare facilities to store data, develop, and implement systems to improve the quality of patient care. Healthcare facilities also can use information systems to link separate departments in the facility to each other such as pharmacy and nursing. Information systems are composed of decision support systems and expert systems, which will be expanded upon further later in this paper (Chen, Mocker, Preston, & Teubner, 2010).

Informatics theories detail why information systems work so relevant planning and implementation can occur. Informatics theories include systems theories and information theories. Systems theories have a specific purpose and function to carry out tasks. An example of a system is a computer system that links healthcare departments together such as the laboratory, pharmacy, and nursing to provide an improved quality of care for the patients. Information theories consist of how messages are transmitted between healthcare providers and patients. An encoded message is sent by the user, and the message is decoded by a receiver. Examples of ways information can be transmitted are telephones, cellular phones, pagers, and fax machines (Englebardt & Nelson, 2002).

Informatics is playing an important part in healthcare, as technology advances so will the use of informatics technology in the healthcare field. According to Walker (2007), for informatics to be of use,

Health practitioners, policy-makers and researchers must incorporate informatics into ongoing planning, programming, and surveillance activities. Improved information, surveillance, and data management systems following common standards for hardware, software, and variable definitions must be implemented and more efficient population-based data system are needed to decrease medical errors, provide better management accountability and reduce costs within the entire healthcare system (p. 3).

DIK Model

The health informatics model consists of three parts; data, information, and knowledge; also known as the DIK model. Data, information, and knowledge "are arranged in a hierarchy, with data at the base of the model providing the basis for establishing information and leading in turn to potential generation of knowledge" (Georgiou, 2002, p. 127). In healthcare computing, applications are grouped by how an object is processed such as data, information, or knowledge. Data consists of information that requires no interpretation. An example of data are patient demographics including a patient's name, age, and sex. Information is a collection of processed data displayed as information. An example of information is a patient's medical record. Knowledge consists of the formalized relationship between data and information that have been identified. The relationship between data and information are what forms a knowledge base (Englebardt & Nelson, 2002).

The DIK model has been a frequently seen theme for nursing and healthcare informatics. The data and information gathered by nurses is used to establish the nursing knowledge base and plays a role in evidence-based practice (EBP). The DIK model "converges closely with the principles, aims, and tasks of evidence-based medicine, particularly as they relate to searching, appraising, reviewing, and utilizing information and research" (Georgiou, 2002, p. 127). Data and information is turned to knowledge that enables nurses to make knowledge-based decisions to ensure better patient health outcomes (Georgiou, 2002).

The use of the DIK model assisting nurses in the decision-making process has been used in practice for many years. The approach to clinical decision making has expanded from the use of information technologies through multiple applications. One application is the ability to use computers in the various stages of the research process. Another application is the ability to collect statistics electronically. The goal of healthcare administration is to incorporate the new technological applications to assist in shaping the activities and focus of modern nursing (Georgiou, 2002).

Nursing informatics is a specialty that integrates nursing science, computer science, and information science to manage and communicate data, information, and knowledge in nursing practice. Nursing informatics facilitates the integration of data, information, and knowledge to support patients, nurses, and other providers in their decision-making in all roles and settings. This support is accomplished through the use of information structures, information processes, and information technology, (American Nurses Association, 2001, p. 23-24).

Advances in information technology have been influential for the use of EPB in nursing. Informatics integrates the DIK model in nursing and assists with the decision-making process. Information processing and obtaining data has become easier and more accessible with the use of computers. Healthcare informatics has become an essential part of EBP. If nurses use the ability to access data, information, knowledge, and research effortlessly with the use of information technology. As well as the expectation and time to plan