Change Management

Scenario You are the Chief Information Officer (CIO) for a local health system. Your organization held its annual strategic planning session and decided that there needed to be a change in the Emergency Departments (ED) relative to the triage process at one of the facilities. The Chief Executive Officer has suggested a pilot program utilizing telemedicine to supplement its ED services. The use of telemedicine may reduce wait times at the ED and triage non-emergent needs to the appropriate level of care (i.e., urgent care or primary care). It would also allow for more resources to be deployed for ED related services, such as on-call physicians operating remotely. Instructions In your role as CIO, you will need to research the use of telehealth in the ED and its implications for the organization. Draft a memo outlining the readiness of the organization to implement the change strategy. Your memo should include: A SWOT analysis identifying internal and external forces and trends that may impact the change initiative. A discussion of the challenges facing the ED based on research into the utilization practices of the ED in your community or in a community with which you are familiar. Recommendation of the organization’s potential readiness for the change, including any actions that should be taken to increase readiness. Using the Rasmussen library, research common challenges facing Emergency Departments. In addition, research utilization practices commonly aligned with ED visits. Use information from your current facility (or one you are familiar with or can research) to develop a SWOT analysis. Your recommendation should be based on both your SWOT analysis and your research into ED challenges.

Sample Solution

Memorandum

To: Chief Executive Officer From: Chief Information Officer Date: 2023-11-01 Subject: Readiness to implement telemedicine in the Emergency Department

In response to your request, I have researched the use of telemedicine in the Emergency Department (ED) and its implications for our organization. I have also conducted a SWOT analysis to identify internal and external forces and trends that may impact the change initiative, and I have assessed the challenges facing the ED based on research into the utilization practices of the ED in our community.

Full Answer Section

SWOT Analysis

Strengths:

Our organization has a strong track record of adopting new technology.
We have a large network of primary care and urgent care clinics that could be integrated with a telemedicine program.
We have a supportive leadership team that is committed to improving the quality of care for our patients.

Weaknesses:

We do not currently have a telemedicine program in place.
Our ED is often overcrowded and understaffed.
Some of our patients may be hesitant to use telemedicine.

Opportunities:

Telemedicine can help us to reduce wait times in the ED.
Telemedicine can allow us to triage non-emergent needs to the appropriate level of care.
Telemedicine can allow us to deploy more resources for ED related services.

Threats:

Other hospitals in our area may implement telemedicine programs, which could give them a competitive advantage.
Some patients may not have access to high-speed internet or other technology needed to use telemedicine.
There may be regulatory challenges to implementing telemedicine.

Challenges facing the ED

The ED is often overcrowded and understaffed. This can lead to long wait times for patients and increased stress on staff. In addition, some patients may be hesitant to use telemedicine, especially if they are not familiar with the technology or if they have concerns about the quality of care.

Utilization practices of the ED

According to a 2020 study published in the journal JAMA Emergency Medicine, the most common reasons for ED visits are:

Abdominal pain
Chest pain
Shortness of breath
Fever
Headache
Nausea and vomiting
Cough
Back pain
Urinary tract infection
Laceration

Many of these conditions can be safely and effectively treated using telemedicine.

Recommendation

I believe that our organization is ready to implement a telemedicine program in the ED. We have the strengths and opportunities needed to make the program successful, and we can mitigate the weaknesses and threats.

Here are some actions that we can take to increase our readiness:

Conduct a pilot program to test the feasibility and effectiveness of telemedicine in our ED.
Educate our patients and staff about telemedicine and its benefits.
Invest in the necessary technology and infrastructure to support a telemedicine program.
Partner with our primary care and urgent care clinics to integrate them into the telemedicine program.

I recommend that we move forward with implementing a telemedicine program in the ED. I believe that this program can help us to improve the quality of care for our patients and to reduce costs.

Sincerely,

Chief Information Officer

We are here to help

We have crazy offers

It’s quick and easy to place an order. We have an efficient customer service that works 24/7 to assist you.It’s quick and easy to place an order. We have an efficient customer service that works 24/7 to assist you.

We are here and ready to help

Order Now