Question Six
The present technological landscape in the United States is more advanced than Malawi’s technological landscape. Therefore, the technological barriers between these two countries may necessary not be the same. Previously Malawi was plagued with long and frequent power outages which limited the consistent use of technological equipment. The unreliable power system greatly affected clinics in Malawi. However, this was not the only technological barrier that clinics in Malawi had to overcome. Malawi did not possess an efficient internet supply. The internet was prolonged, thus limiting the availability of an efficient network to link clinics. However, a group of engineers in Malawi were focused on overcoming the health issues in Malawi. They developed a health record system that is currently being used by health professionals in Malawi. Due to the slow technological advancements in Malawi, they not only had to design the software but also the infrastructure (Muula, 2019).
The health record system greatly impacted the health care system in Malawi. Health professionals were able to save a considerable amount of time which was previously wasted in tracing patient records. These also reduced the workload of already understaffed hospitals. Health workers were able to identify a patient’s health history to determine effective treatment procedures. Patients received better care. Previously, treatment relied on a trial and error basis due to the absence of a patient’s health history. The health record system made it possible for clinics to share up to date information on patients. Therefore, in case the patients switch from one clinic to the other, the physicians did not have to start from scratch. The mechanism of health record system is quite similar to Electronic Health Records in the US. The Health Information Technology (HIT) in Malawi made it possible to provide efficient care to patients, especially those who have HIV. It became easier to follow up on their treatment and therefore increased their life expectancy. HIT improves patient care and reduces the frequency of medical errors in the health care system (Rostedt, 2000).
References
Muula, A. (2019). Recent changes in the Malawi Health System: A time for reflection. Malawi Medical Journal, 31(4), 223-224. https://doi.org/10.4314/mmj.v31i4.1
Rostedt, L. (2000). Interactive Health Communication on the Internet: Advantages, Disadvantages and Implications for Health Professionals. Health Information Management, 29(4), 172-174. https://doi.org/10.1177/183335830002900410
Question Seven
Medical error is without an iota of doubt, one of the most pressing ethical issues in the health care environment. Although no one can exactly determine how many people die because of medical errors, hundred of thousands of people in the United States are killed by medical error. According to recent research, medical errors may be the third leading cause of death in the United States. Many health professionals are hesitant to come clean on the errors they encounter in their line of work because they are afraid of the devastating consequences. This makes it harder to deal with this issue. Although most medical errors are tough to prevent, it is possible in some scenarios. If this issue is to be dealt with effectively, hospitals need to take several critical approaches to solve this issue (Isa, 2017).
There are several strategies in place to deal with the issue of medical error. One of the main contributors to medical errors is miscommunication among health professionals during shift transitions. Poor communication among health professionals is one of the leading causes of injury and death resulting from medical error. Hospitals must continue to adopt a structure for handoff. This structure should act as a checklist to make sure nothing is missed when handing off a patient. In an attempt to deal with medical errors, some hospitals have involved pharmacists inpatient treatment. By involving pharmacist, doctors can get a better insight into the effects that different medication may have on their patients. A pharmacist can also identify any errors present concerning the dosage. There is also an urgent need to continue making electronic health records system more interoperable. EHR systems from different providers need to continuously improve to make sure they can easily communicate with each other. A hospital should work closely with EHR manufacturers to make sure that their systems can easily be updated. Dealing with medical errors will not only result in better patient care but will also reduce unnecessary deaths due to avoidable errors (Majed, 2017).
References
Isa, M. (2017). STUDY OF FACTORS INFLUENCING THE MEDICATION ERRORS IN THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM. World Journal Of Pharmaceutical Research, 33-50. https://doi.org/10.20959/wjpr20176-8515
Majed, I. (2017). Medication Errors a True Public Problem in Healthcare System. International Journal Of Clinical Pharmacology & Pharmacotherapy, 2(1). https://doi.org/10.15344/2456-3501/2017/127