MOST OF THE QUESTIONS ARE 5MARKS, SO THERE’LL BE NO NEED TO TYPE
ERR’THING. CIAO!
1.1.
Electronic Records Management system
a. There could be many reasons that could have led to the healthcare
providers’ decision to develop a new electronic records management
system. Some possible reasons could include:
i.
Outdated technology: The healthcare provider may have
been using an outdated electronic medical records (EMR)
system that no longer meets their needs. The system may
lack certain features and functionalities that have become
essential in modern healthcare practice.
ii. Inefficient processes: The healthcare provider may have
identified inefficiency in their current electronic
management system that is impacting patient care. For
example, the system may take too long to retrieve patient
records or may be prone to errors.
iii. Safety concerns: Electronic records management systems
need to comply with the regulations of the Health Insurance
Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) to ensure patient
privacy and safety. If the current system is not HIPAA
complaint, the healthcare provider may be at risk of facing
penalties.
iv. Increased workload: The healthcare provider may have seen
an increase in the volume of patients, and the current system
may not be able to handle the additional workload. This
could lead to delays in patient care and negatively impact
patient outcomes.
v. Cost savings: Developing a new electronic records
management system can be experience but, in the long run,
it could result in cost savings for the healthcare provider. The
new system may be more efficient, reduce errors, and save
time.
b. The waterfall model is a popular software development model that
consists of sequential phases where each phase needs to be completed
before moving on to the next one. The phases in the waterfall model
include requirements gathering, system design, implementation,
testing, deployment, and maintenance.
The healthcare providers’ IT team may have chosen the waterfall
model for several reasons. Some of these reasons could be:
i. Clear milestones: The waterfall model provides clear
milestone for each phase of the project. This allows the
healthcare provider’s IT team to track progress and ensure
that the project is on track.
ii. Detailed planning: The waterfall model requires detailed
planning upfront, allowing the IT team to identify potential
risks and issues early in the project. This can result in cost
savings and mitigate the risk of mistakes later in the project.
iii. Prescriptive approach: The waterfall model is a prescriptive
approach that provides a well-defined process for the IT
team to follow. This can help the IT team to stay on track and
ensure that the project is completed within the given time
and budget.
iv. Sequential process: As each phase needs to be completed
before moving on to the next one, the waterfall model
provides a sequential process that can be easily understood
by the project team. This leads to a faster project completion
and reduce the risk of misunderstandings,
v. Well-suited for large projects: The waterfall model is wellsuited for large projects with well-defined requirements. As
the healthcare provider’s electronic records management
system is a large and complex project, the waterfall model
may be an appropriate choice for this project.
In summary, the healthcare provider’s IT team may have chosen the
waterfall model due to its clarity, detailed planning, prescriptive
approach, sequential process, and suitability for large projects.
c. The requirements gathering phase is an essential part of software
development projects. In the electronic records management system
project for the healthcare provider, the following steps may have been
involved in the requirements gathering phase:
i.
ii.
Define the scope: The IT team may have worked with the
healthcare provider to define the scope of the project,
including the system boundaries, features, and functionality.
Identify stakeholders: The IT team may have identified the
stakeholders who will be impacted by the new system,
including healthcare providers, administrators, and patients.
iii.
iv.
v.
vi.
vii.
Conduct interview: The IT team may have conducted
interviews with stakeholders to understand their needs,
requirements, and challenges. This can help to gather
valuable insights that can be used to design the system.
Analyse existing system: The IT team may have analysed the
healthcare provider’s existing electronic records
management system, including its strengths, weaknesses,
and limitations. This can help to identify areas for
improvement and new features to be included in the new
system.
Create use cases: Use cases may have been created to
capture the requirements of the new system from the
perspective of different stakeholders. This can help to ensure
that the system meets the needs of all stakeholders.
Prioritize requirements: The IT team may have prioritized the
requirements based on their importance and impact on the
project and the healthcare provider’s goals.
Document requirements: Finally, the IT team may have
documented the requirements in a detailed requirements
specification document to serve as a guide for the system
design phase.
The requirements gathering phase may have involved a combination
of techniques, including interviews, use cases, and analysis of the
existing system to determine the requirements of the new
electronic records management system. The process is iterative,
with continuous refinement and adjustments to ensure that the
requirements are comprehensive and meet the needs of all
stakeholders.
d. The coding phase is an essential part of the software development
process where the actual programming work takes place. During this
phase of the electronic records management system project, the team
may have faced several challenges, some of which include:
i.
Integration of different modules: The team may have faced
challenges integrating different modules of the system,
particularly if different programmers are responsible for
developing different components. To overcome this
challenge, the team may have used version control tools to
ensure that all programmers are working on the latest
ii.
iii.
iv.
v.
version of the code and that changes are properly
documented.
Synchronization with requirements: During the coding phase,
the team may have found discrepancies between the
requirements gathered during the previous phases and the
actual implementation. To overcome this challenge, the
team may have reviewed and updated the requirements
specification document to ensure that the system is being
developed as per the stakeholders’ needs.
Debugging: The team may have faced challenges debugging
the code and identifying and correcting errors. To overcome
this challenge, the team may have used debugging tools to
locate and fix errors in the code.
Time and resource constraints: The team may have faced
challenges in meeting project deadlines due to time and
resource constraints. To overcome this challenge, the team
may have used an agile methodology to break down the
coding phase into small, manageable tasks and prioritize
their work based on the project’s critical path.
Follow coding standards and best practices: The team may
have faced challenges maintaining coding standards and best
practices. To overcome this challenge, the team may have
used code review tools to identify errors early in the
development process, ensuring that the code is consistently
following coding standards and best practices.
The team may have addressed these challenges by maintaining open
lines of communication, conducting regular code reviews, adhering
to coding standards and best practices, and breaking down the work
into small, manageable tasks. By employing these strategies, the
team may have been able to successfully complete the coding phase
of the project.
e. The testing phase is an integral part of software development to ensure
that the system works as required and meets all the stakeholders’
needs. In the electronic records management system project, the
following procedures may have been used during the testing phase:
i.
Test planning: The testing team may have created a plan to
outline the testing objectives, scope, and schedule of the
testing phase.
ii.
iii.
iv.
v.
Testing types: The testing team would have identified the
different types of testing required, such as unit testing,
integration testing, system testing, acceptance testing, and
performance testing.
Test cases: Test cases or test scenarios may have been
developed for each requirement to validate that it is
functioning as intended.
Test data: Test data may have been created to test various
data sets for each test case.
Defect management: The testing team may have deployed a
bug tracking system to track the defects, in case any defects
were detected.
To determine if the system met all the requirements, the testing
team would have used acceptance criteria such as:
i.
ii.
Functional requirements: The system should meet the
functional requirements specified in the requirements
document, including the system’s performance, functionality,
and ease of use.
Non-functional requirements: The system should meet nonfunctional requirements such as security, scalability, and
maintainability.
f. Improving the quality of care could depend on several factors, such as:
i.
Meeting stakeholder requirements and needs, such as
healthcare providers, administrators, and patients.
ii.
The new system should be able to streamline workflows, reduce
redundancies, and improve efficiencies
iii.
Improve quality of care by providing accurate and up-to-date
patient information, reducing medical errors, improving
communication.
iv.
Cost savings: The new system should be cost-effective and
provide cost savings opportunities for the healthcare provider.
Therefore, if the new electronic records management system
implementation met these success factors and provided an enhanced level
of healthcare services, then it’s likely that the project was successful.
QUESTION2
2.1.
If I were the manager, I would choose the second strategy as it allows for a
more iterative approach to development and can potentially save time and
resources in the long run. With the second strategy, we can identify and
address issues early on and make necessary adjustments based on feedback
from the pilot users.
However, the opposing objectives of the management and the editors may
create some challenges in implementing this strategy. While the
management may prioritize cost savings, the editors may prioritize quality,
and these objectives may not always align. This could lead to conflicts in
decision-making and prioritization of features and functionalities.
Additionally, the pilot users may have varying needs and preferences, which
can make it challenging to develop a system that meets all their
requirements. This may lead to additional costs and time spent on
development.
Overall, it is important for the manager to find a balance between the
management and editors' objectives and ensure that the system developed
meets the needs of all stakeholders while also maximizing cost savings and
improving quality. This may require effective communication, collaboration,
and compromise between the different parties involved in the project.