The Impact of Information Technology on Healthcare Sector

Running head: REPORT
The impact of information technology (IT) on the healthcare sector
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1REPORT
Executive summary
Application of information technology (IT) in healthcare sector helps in easy exchange of
secured health information across a range of computerised systems. This report discussed the
impacts of IT on healthcare sector, by conducting a literature review. The findings of the
report stated that IT helps in improving effectiveness of the care delivered, enhances
healthcare service quality, prevents avoidable medical errors, lowers healthcare costs,
increases administrative competences, increases access to affordable care services, and
reduces paperwork.

2REPORT
Table of Contents
Introduction................................................................................................................................3
Literature review........................................................................................................................3
Methodology..............................................................................................................................5
Discussion..................................................................................................................................7
Findings......................................................................................................................................8
Reflections..................................................................................................................................9
References................................................................................................................................11
Appendix..................................................................................................................................14

3REPORT
Introduction
The term information technology (IT) encompasses the usage of computers and
different telecommunication devices for storing, receiving, transmitting and manipulating
information or data, in relation to some enterprise or business. In other words, IT refers to a
subsection of information and communications technology (Eason 2014). Storage, retrieval
and communication of information dates back to 3000 BC Sumerians. Nonetheless, the term
IT was first introduced in a Harvard Business Review article and comprises of three domains
namely, mathematical and statistical methods that aid decision making, processing
techniques, and computer programs that simulate high-order thinking. The concept of Health
Information Technology (HIT) is relatively new and applies to healthcare. This report will
discuss the impacts that IT creates on the healthcare sector.
Literature review
Incessant technological expansions in healthcare have protected uncountable lives and
upgraded the excellence of care delivered to the patients. Not only has information
technology transformed involvements for patients and their kin, but has also created a
gigantic influence on medical procedures and the activities of all healthcare professionals. In
the words of Jones et al. (2014) implementation of health information technology (HIT) in
the US has been augmented by the eloquent usage of incentive agendas, which offer financial
enticements to separate healthcare providers and administrations. Some of the meaningful use
of IT in the healthcare industry were associated with namely, (i) health information exchange,
(ii) e-prescribing, (iii) electronic health records, and (iv) multifaceted health IT intervention.
An analysis of the IT approaches elaborated on the fact that implementation of IT in
healthcare sectors largely enhances the process of clinical decision making, thereby assisting
the healthcare personnel to exert good judgment, besides critical thinking. According to