Prenatal records on computer

Tiebe Michael Green

Frostburg State University

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Prenatal records on computer

Pregnant women get prenatal care throughout the 9 months of

pregnancy. Women often get care at this particular facility in MD. It is a

12 bed labor and delivery unit that delivers 700 babies per year. These

pregnant women get prenatal care at county clinics or private

obstetrician offices. The current work flow includes generating prenatal

records on paper. The information thats on the prenatal record is

pertinent information that has secured data of the patient. The paper gets

transferred to labor and delivery via fax or the delivery has to take place

in person. As we understand from Essential IV that the role of

information technology in improving patient care outcomes and creating

a safe care environment is vital. This current transfer of information via

copy, fax or in person delivery system puts the patient in jeopardy for

lost information. As this problem has been identified, generating

prenatal records on computer seem to be more efficient and easier to

handle at the same time, it keeps the patient information intact and
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secure. If prenatal records get generated on computer rather than paper

the work flow will be faster as well.

Reflection:

As we understand from McGonigle that the unites States

healthcare system faces the enormous challenge to improve quality of

care and simultaneously control cost (McGonigle pg. 286). Prenatal

records being generated on computer makes the information that is being

collected to have more standardized approach which eventually affect

cost. As Essential IV points out participating in evaluation of

information systems in practice settings through policy and procedure

development was conducted by evaluating the need for computerized

prenatal records in a women health clinics (AACN.edu). The prenatal

records being generated on paper allows the information to be lost

compromising patient care and patient outcome. Therefore the need to

evaluate and redesign the prenatal record system was important aspects

to look at.
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This need for computerized prenatal record generation has been

evaluated first to see the need in the organization. Once the need was

discovered the process of producing prenatal records on computer came

easy. Improving the prenatal care system allows better communication.

As information can be accessed easily by anyone who has the right to

access the system. Essential IV discusses the nursing role has to

recognize the role of information technology in improving patient care

outcomes and creating a safe care environment. This implementation of

computerized prenatal record system will allow the patient to have

quality health care and provide better patient outcome.

Better communication can be obtained by allowing providers to

have compatible system as the hospital therefore any information

whether updates on the prenatal records by the providers or results of

critical labs by the hospital can be easily obtained. This process is

discussed in essential IV as applying patient care technologies as

appropriate to address the needs of a patient population. By addressing

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the need for computerized prenatal records the technology can be

applied in order to support the patient care population.

As we can see in Essential IV, Computer and information literacy

are crucial to the future of nursing. Improvement of cost effectiveness

and safety depend on evidence based practice, outcomes research, inter-

professional care coordination, and electronic health records, all of

which involve information management and technology (AACN pg18).

By transferring from paper prenatal records to computerized prenatal

record charting communication, cost, patient satisfaction and patient

outcome will be improved. This computerized system will improve the

care that is being delivered to pregnant women. The computerized

system will need implementation time and staff training as well as

acceptance. As staff acceptance will determine how fast the system can

be under use. As discussed in Essential IV new technology often

requires new workflow patterns and changes in practice approaches to

patient care prior to implementation (AACN.edu). Generating

computerized prenatal records allow for better communication between

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providers by facilitating easy information exchange therefore improving

patient out come and improving cost.

References:

www.accn.nche.edu

McGonigle D, Mastrian K G., (2011) Nurising Informatics and the

foundation of knowledge, 2nd ed , Jones and Bartlett Learning
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