Needs assessment criteria
I will prioritize the end users’ needs using a simple assessment framework that analyzes the information retrieved from the end users themselves and the people supervising the unit in question. The first priority would be given to the instances that cause immediate threat to the safety of their unit: it can differ from what the users have requested help with, and it can be more hazardous. If this is the case, the problem that the user has allocated would be given the second priority.
The third priority would be attributed to the existing needs that the users are not aware of. This can be determined through the people tasked with the unit supervision to increase the users’ awareness and take timely action. Finally, the anticipated threats should be made available to the users to deal with in the feasible future (Hebda & Czar, 2013).
Kronos: A speed, efficiency, and storage capacity evaluation
Ideally, a nursing information system should be a tool of speeding up the health care process and integrate client and stakeholder data to facilitate multidisciplinary analysis (Hunt, Sproat & Kitzmiller, 2013). The present information system allows for providing the necessary care quite efficiently and makes such an analysis possible. Because it integrates client data from various levels, it can also be used as a health promotion and disease prevention tool. Finally, it offers an opportunity to share and communicate with peers via the forum – a valuable feature for practitioners (Landi, 2014). Overall, the system allows the informaticists to manage the client-level data through the utilization of standard language quite effectively, although the present speed is lower than desirable.
Troubleshooting personnel
During the time of my experience with Kronos, I have encountered some connectivity issues although the Internet connection was present. They did not occur often and were not continuous, but I feel I should have contacted a support team member for a consultation. The low speed could prove to be an inconvenience when an urgent access to the documentation is needed. Such issues should be resolved once they are discovered because there will be no time to handle them in case of an emergency.
Other personnel
Although I had a chance to glimpse into the technical account manager’s workflow, I feel a closer observation would have been more beneficial. The managers have years of experience with such software, they could provide some insights into the problems that can arise, and demonstrate what it takes to resolve such cases rapidly. There are sources on technical account management that reveal some of the areas of technical account managers’ competency: customer service and support, solving issues like remote access and backup, and teamwork to operate with maximum efficiency (Plus Support Datasheet, 2016).
Lessons learned
Before the assignment, I had a suspicion that medical record operation was gearing down the speed of workflow because the practitioner would have to listen to the client first and then turn to their computer to record what has been said. With the system that Northwell has adopted, the recording procedure never separates the client and the practitioner. The system allows for more comprehensive write-up and client support. I also learned the importance of timely needs assessment as the mechanism of enhancing practitioner-client relationship and improving the efficiency of the workflow, which has been quite an insightful experience.
References
Hebda, T., & Czar, P. (2013). Handbook of informatics for nurses & healthcare professionals (5th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.
Hunt, E. C., Sproat, S. B., & Kitzmiller, R. B. (2013). The Nursing Informatics Implementation Guide. New York, NY: Springer Science & Business Media.
Landi, H. (2014). Northwell Health-GoHealth Urgent Care Leverages Health IT to Support Transparent, Patient-Centered Care. Web.
Plus Support Datasheet. (2016). Web.