Nursing Informatics: Mandatory Reporting, Processes and Improvements

This report delves into the realm of nursing informatics, focusing on the critical aspects of mandatory reporting within healthcare settings. It begins by summarizing examples that necessitate mandatory reporting, such as statistical data on births and deaths, contagious diseases, suspected abuse, and various other health-related incidents. The report then elucidates how this information is gathered and submitted to the relevant authorities, highlighting the roles of state legislative bodies and the procedures involved in reporting various medical events. Furthermore, it proposes strategies to improve the current status quo in healthcare, addressing issues like lack of patient focus, transparency, and technological solutions. The report suggests the implementation of advanced EHR systems, integration of community healthcare organizations, and increased transparency in costs to enhance patient care and satisfaction. The report is supported by references from relevant sources.

Running head: NURSING INFORMATICS
NURSING INFORMATICS
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author Note:

1NURSING INFORMATICS
Summarize the examples you have chosen. Describe why these examples require
mandatory reporting.
The process of maintenance of health record is integral for effective health
information management for both the employees and the professionals. It should be noted in
this context that both the federal as well as the state bodies enforce regulations in relation to
maintenance of health information record. Further, in certain states, the hospital licensing
regulations critically suggest that a medical report must be maintained for every patient and
also what are minimal requisites that must be mentioned in the patient report.
In this context, two of the situations that would require mandatory reporting would
include, statistical evidence providing information about the births and deaths across the
territory (Fraser & Castrucci, 2017). In addition to this, the federal and the state governing
bodies require the mandatory reporting of contagious diseases, suspected child or elder abuse,
industrial accidents, poisoning events, treatment of gunshot events, abortions or cancer cases.
Health care organizations are expected to document and report events in these conditions on a
mandatory basis (Fraser & Castrucci, 2017).
Discuss how the information is gathered and submitted to the authorities.
Each respective state legislative governing bodies are the authoritative boards that are
responsible for maintaining the track of the reported medical events. Notification of the
events are broadly segregated under the categories of infectious disease, child or elder abuse,
bioterrorism or evidence of violence. The reported notification help to commence control
programs which subsequently ensures appropriate medical therapy that can help to control
epidemiological outbreaks. The reporting procedure requires briefing about the subjects that
include: identification of the type of system: reporting or surveillance, mentioning history of
reporting, mentioning voluntary or mandatory reporting, monitoring reportable events,

2NURSING INFORMATICS
classifying severity index, reporting an appropriate time frame, reporting the collected data in
a proper format and summary, mentioning method of reporting and mentioning the concerned
person who reports (Bok.ahima.org, 2019). Further steps include, analysis of the root cause of
trigger, commencing follow up of the root cause, collection of other vital information, paying
attention to confidentiality issues, specifying relationship with other reporting systems and
specification of relationship with JCAHO (Bok.ahima.org, 2019). Healthcare organizations
across different states are expected to comply with the mandatory reporting procedure and
report patient data on the electronic database for public welfare and preservation of public
interest (Harder & Comarow, 2015).
Propose ways of improving the status quo and provide reasons why this has not yet been
accomplished.
Research studies suggest that health care consumes 18% of the gross domestic
production of U.S economy, which is the highest percentage of expenditure allotted to
healthcare (Nelson et al., 2015). However, despite the investment, the overall status quo has
not improved. The primary reasons for the same could be lack of focus on patient needs, lack
of transparency with regard to the quality, cost and value equation, lack of transparency in
terms of medical reimbursement, reduced access and lack of information technology
solutions that could focus on fostering patient centred care (Nelson et al., 2015).
The probable solutions to the problems would include, installation of advanced EHR
system to foster quality patient-centred care. In addition to this, integration of community
healthcare organizations can help to enhance quality of care at a cost effective rate. Further,
ensuring transparency in terms of costs of tests, products and supplies can help improve
patient satisfaction level (Fraser & Castrucci, 2017). Also, integration of specialized unit can
help to acquire improved patient outcome and improve patient satisfaction level.

3NURSING INFORMATICS
References:
Bok.ahima.org (2019). Homeland Security and HIM. Appendix A: Mandatory Reporting--
Balancing Patients' Privacy Rights with Public Health Interests. [online]
Bok.ahima.org. Available at: https://bok.ahima.org/doc?oid=58309 [Accessed 13
Aug. 2019].
Fraser, M., & Castrucci, B. C. (2017). Beyond the status quo: 5 strategic moves to position
state and territorial public health agencies for an uncertain future. Journal of Public
Health Management and Practice, 23(5), 543.
Harder, B., & Comarow, A. (2015). Hospital quality reporting by US News & World Report:
why, how, and what's ahead. Jama, 313(19), 1903-1904.
Nelson, E. C., Eftimovska, E., Lind, C., Hager, A., Wasson, J. H., & Lindblad, S. (2015).
Patient reported outcome measures in practice. Bmj, 350, g7818.