BUS FPX 3026 Assessment 6 Identifying Forces Causing Change and Skills for Managing Change BUS-FPX3026 Foundations and Future of Health Care Delivery Management

Introduction

According to the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) (2019), by 2017, 86% of physician offices and 80% of hospitals had implemented electronic health records (EHR). This significant transformation in the healthcare sector has continued to influence financial and operational aspects of healthcare management, both in inpatient and outpatient settings. As change remains inevitable in healthcare, organizations that are able to manage change efficiently will not only stay relevant but will also succeed. The purpose of this paper is to explore a major healthcare system change, focusing on the forces driving change, discussing insights important to the change process, reviewing key insights from H. James Dallas, and explaining John Kotter’s leadership skills for managing change.

Major Health Care System Change and Change Forces

In 2009, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) backed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) under President Obama’s administration (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2017). This act introduced the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act, which promoted “Meaningful Use” of electronic health records (EHR) to be shared across healthcare facilities (CDC, 2017). While electronic medical records (EMR) have existed since the 1960s, their widespread adoption by hospitals and physician offices took time. EHRs are digital records of a patient’s health information, encompassing the complete medical history and facilitating the exchange of information between healthcare providers (Financesonline.com). EHR systems are more secure and efficient than the paper-based systems previously used.

As a healthcare administrator in a hospital setting, it is vital to understand the importance of EHRs and possess leadership skills to manage this change. The driving forces behind the implementation of EHRs include political, economic, and technological factors. The ARRA Act aimed to create a national health information system, generate jobs in the Health Information Technology sector, and enhance the quality of clinical care (ONC, 2019). Technological advancements positioned EHRs as the “future of healthcare,” allowing physicians to have complete patient information at their fingertips, improving efficiency (Financesonline.com). Nevertheless, EHR implementation is also an example of disruptive innovation, which can challenge existing processes. Resistance to change in my organization was rooted in employees’ comfort with the old system and fear of the unknown, making it essential for leadership to address these concerns.

Information and Insights Important to the Change Process

Successful change management requires leaders to focus on three key processes: learning, motivation, and collaboration (Healey, 2018). These processes are essential in ensuring the effective rollout of a system like EHR. Planning, transparency, and communication are crucial during change. Employees need to understand why the change is happening, as well as how and when it will occur. Adequate notification, clear communication, and sufficient training are critical to ensuring success. Leadership must allow staff time to train and familiarize themselves with the system in a test environment, which helps build confidence and ensures smoother implementation.

Table: Change Management and Leadership Skills

Important H. James Dallas Insights

H. James Dallas (2015) emphasizes the importance of organizational culture in effective change management, starting with senior leadership. Dallas argues that for successful change implementation, such as EHR software, leaders must form meaningfu