Assessment of Technical Standards
The practice of the nursing informatics standards is important in nursing practice as it allows nurses to effectively integrate information science and nursing science in communicating and managing health-related information and data (Bickford, 2008). Nursing informatics standards also promote the optimization of information management in supporting nursing decision making processes. Nursing informatics standards on assessment of care activities are relevant to nursing practices, such as collecting, assessing and applying relevant data on patients in the design and implementation of patient-centered care interventions (Fitzpatrick, 2012).
The standards also enable nurses to assess problems impacting on the quality of care in order to determine how to effectively address them. Dickerson and Sensmeier (2010) assert that nursing outcomes are determined by the ability of nurses to effectively apply nursing informatics to identify and address issues that impact the nursing care process. Therefore nurses should implement nursing informatics standards to promote patient satisfaction of nursing services.
Clinical nurses should understand the provisions and applications of nursing informatics standards as they support outcome-oriented planning for nursing care. The standards also provide clinical nurses with a framework for collaborating with patients, family members and other health care professionals in the care delivery process (Fitzpatrick, 2012). Additionally, clinical nurses should appreciate the importance of nursing informatics standards on the implementation of health interventions as they allow them to utilize clinical resources to implement care plans in a timely and safe manner.
Nursing informatics standards on coordination of care activities enable clinical nurses to synthesize information and data on environmental supports for effective coordination with interdisciplinary teams in health care processes (Bickford, 2008). Furthermmore, clinical nurses should know how nursing information standards are applied in health promotion, teaching and education so that they can participate actively in ongoing training programs. Dickerson and Sensmeier (2010) explain that the use of informatics in training and professional development is effective when it is aligned with nursing informatics standards.
Interoperability
Integration in data exchange is important because it ensures consistency and quality of health data. Working with Northwell Heath Network has enabled me to appreciate the importance of integration in data exchange within health care settings. Integrated data exchange systems allow practitioners in Northwell Heath Network to ensure that health-related data is consistent and applicable in supporting the coordination of care, communication and reporting of health delivery activities. Therefore, the integration of data exchanges promotes patient safety and quality of care. The American Health Information Management Association (2013) provides standards for interoperability designed to promote the integration of data exchange processes. Integration fits into interoperability because it provides for the use of standardized terminologies and vocabularies in the management of health data, which ensures data exchanges are reliable. Integration also harmonizes data management and transfer applications to ensure they apply same protocols and standards in communication and reporting of health-related data.
Data management interfaces are interoperable when they are integrated in documenting, retrieving and transferring data across health care departments. The American Health Information Management Association (2013) recommends that health networks integrate their data systems in order to connect all functions for efficient and consistent transfer and application of data. Integration fits into interoperability as it provides for uniform data definition and formatting across all data systems. Integration also allows for the implementation of similar access standards for secure data exchanges across a health network’s data systems. Integrated data systems support collaboration among health care providers and interdisciplinary teams, leading to efficiency in care delivery (Fitzpatrick, 2012).
References
Bickford, C. J. (2008). Nursing informatics: scope and standards of practice. Studies in health technology and informatics, 146, 855-855.
Dickerson, A. E., & Sensmeier, J. (2010). Sharing data to ensure continuity of care. Nursing management, 41(7), 19-22.
Fitzpatrick. (2012). 3 truths of health data exchange.Health Care IT News. Web.
The American Health Information Management Association. (2013). Data Standards, Data Quality, and Interoperability. Web.