Impact of the Policy on System Implementation

Impact of the Policy on System Implementation

The Twenty-First Century Act has several implications for system implementation. One of the consequences is that health organizations are increasingly required to implement interventions that promote interoperability in the use of electronic health records. As previously stated, the 21st Century Act requires health organizations to collaborate in order to share health data with patients and providers in order to make informed decisions. The requirement for information sharing implies that health organizations must investigate mechanisms that can be used to promote data integrity during the sharing process. Health organizations must also encourage the use of evidence-based innovative practices that improve the use of technologies like telehealth and social media to monitor, prevent, and treat illnesses (Goble, 2018). The second effect of the 21st Century Act on system implementation is that it has accelerated the use of electronic health records in clinical settings. The increased adoption of electronic health records in healthcare is due to the provision of system requirements and capabilities that health organizations must meet. There is also the fact that the act mandated the allocation of $4.8 billion through the NIH to support the adoption of electronic health records and the sharing of health data to inform medical decisions, research, and innovations through 2026. (Magnuson & Dixon, 2020). These interventions will improve the state’s system implementation of electronic health records, thereby improving quality, efficiency, and safety in healthcare.