Artificial intelligence (AI) is the computer’s ability to gain complex information, process it, and give a distinct output to the individual using the computer (McGonigle & Mastrian, 2018). The National Academy of Medicine has deemed wastage in healthcare a pervasive issue and has acknowledged that it can cost upwards of $700 billion per year in the U.S. In reviewing wastage in our institution, a major wastage I have noticed is the ordering of duplicate test or ordering test on a routine bases that is hardly ever used. When unnecessary tests are ordered, these can create a considerable increase in costs for both the patient and the institution that adds no significant quality to the care they receive or increase their chances for a better patient outcome.

In my country, some AI’s we utilize are laboratory testing devices, CT Scanners for diagnostic testing, X-Ray machines for Radiology testing and others; however, there is no system in place where this information can be readily shared. Adopting an EHR system can readily improve the quality of care patients receive, reduce the cost of their healthcare, and improve efficiency (Kerwin et al., 2016). Implementing an EHR in our healthcare system can help in tracking patients’ medical histories between different healthcare facilities throughout our archipelagic islands, and wastage in duplicate testing could be reduced. As well as allow for better patient outcomes. We, as healthcare professionals, must have the capabilities to focus on what influences the duplication of testing, and differentiate whether a specific test is necessary or just simply redundant.

In my view, Master’s Essential III seems to fit this discussion best, because we as healthcare professionals must have the capabilities of focusing on what influences the duplication of testing by physicians, and differentiate whether a specific test that was ordered is necessary or just merely redundant (AACN, 2011). By developing this method, we can apply quality principles to patients within our organization to enhance quality care to provide better patient outcomes.

References

American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), (2011, March 21). The essentials of master’s education in nursing Retrieved from http://www.aacn.nche.edu/education-resources/MasterEssentials11.pdf

Kerwin, T. C., Leighton, H., Buch, K., Avezbadalov, A., & Kianfar, H. (2016). The Effect of Adoption of an Electronic Health Record on Duplicate Testing. Cardiology research and practice, 2016, 1950191. https://doi.org/10.1155/2016/1950191

McGonigle, D., & Mastrian, K. G. (2018). Nursing informatics and the foundation of knowledge. Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.