NURS FPX 6214 Assessment 1 Technology Needs Assessment

Name

Capella university

NURS-FPX 6214 Health Care Informatics and Technology

Prof. Name

Date

Technology Needs Assessment

St. Anthony Medical Center’s initiative to implement Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) demonstrates a commitment to advancing healthcare services through innovation. A thorough technology needs assessment is essential to identify clinical inefficiencies, resource distribution challenges, and compliance with legal and ethical standards. This evaluative process provided actionable insights into patient care needs and validated the necessity for RPM to close care gaps. Prioritizing both patient safety and privacy, the center ensured a secure foundation for data use while enhancing care delivery. This comprehensive assessment not only addressed immediate technological demands but also laid a strategic foundation for sustainable improvements in health outcomes and institutional operations.

Table 1: Key Components of the RPM Needs Assessment

Component	Purpose	Outcome
Identification of Care Gaps	Uncover lapses in chronic care delivery	Highlighted need for RPM for CHF patients
Resource Evaluation	Assess technological and staffing capacity	Determined RPM feasibility and training needs
Regulatory Compliance Check	Ensure adherence to HIPAA and state mandates	Confirmed data security standards for telehealth
Patient Data Security Review	Protect sensitive patient information	Enforced encryption and multi-factor authentication protocols
Strategic Alignment	Align RPM goals with organizational mission	Positioned RPM for long-term care delivery improvements

Relevance and Importance of a Needs Assessment

The incorporation of RPM at St. Anthony Medical Center was guided by a robust needs assessment that ensured alignment with institutional goals and population-specific health trends. Key considerations included the high prevalence of chronic illnesses, frequent readmissions, and the potential to reallocate resources more effectively using remote technology. This strategic analysis directed investments toward necessary infrastructure, staff education, and continuous monitoring tools to support chronically ill patients (Lawrence et al., 2023).

Collaboration played a critical role in this process. Stakeholders from various departments—nurses, physicians, administrative leaders, and patient representatives—were involved early and consistently throughout the project. This inclusive framework helped uncover underlying assumptions about availability of support systems and clarified shared objectives. As a result, St. Anthony Medical Center tailored the implementation of RPM to the unique needs of its patient population, increasing the probability of success in delivering high-quality, continuous care (Williams et al., 2021).

Table 2: Stakeholder Contributions to RPM Implementation

Stakeholder Group	Role in Needs Assessment	Benefit to RPM Deployment
Clinical Staff	Identified patient care priorities	Enabled tailored RPM care protocols
Administrative Teams	Assessed financial and strategic fit	Ensured budget alignment and sustainability
IT Professionals	Reviewed technical infrastructure requirements	Facilitated secure integration with EHR and telehealth systems
Patients	Provided feedback on accessibility	Helped ensure user-friendly technology
Regulators	Ensured compliance with healthcare policies	Promoted legal and ethical RPM implementation

Critical Issues in Nursing Care Affecting Patient Outcomes

RPM technology significantly improves the quality of nursing care at St. Anthony Medical Center by offering real-time health data that enhances clinical decision-making. Nurses can develop more personalized care plans and modify treatments as patients’ conditions evolve, particularly for individuals managing chronic conditions like congestive heart failure (Mhanna et al., 2021). The technology supports patients in self-monitoring their conditions and encourages engagement in health behaviors that improve compliance with prescribed regimens. This involvement translates to fewer complications, enhanced patient satisfaction, and reduced healthcare spending.

From an operational standpoint, RPM streamlines nursing workflows by automating routine data collection, thereby allowing nurses to focus more on direct care. This process optimization enhances efficiency and expands access to high-quality care, particularly in rural or underserved populations. By identifying clinical deterioration early—especially in recently discharged patients—RPM reduces readmissions and helps manage potential health crises before escalation occurs (Muller et al., 2021).

Safety Requirements and Regulatory Considerations

Introducing RPM at St. Anthony Medical Center necessitates adherence to multiple safety protocols and regulatory frameworks. A detailed assessment helped identify regulatory mandates, such as HIPAA, that govern the use and protection of patient data. Compliance with interoperability standards, like FHIR, ensures that RPM platforms integrate seamlessly with existing electronic health records, enhancing communication and coordination across care teams (Alverson, 2020).

Moreover, the financial and operational implications of RPM were addressed by reviewing Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) reimbursement criteria. This ensured long-term viability through appropriate billing and utilization of resources. To mitigate potential liabilities arising from telehealth inaccuracies or cybersecurity breaches, the institution adopted proactive risk management practices, including regular system audits, incident response plans, and ongoing staff education (Gadzinski et al., 2020).

Patient Confidentiality and Privacy Protections

Ensuring patient confidentiality remains a cornerstone of RPM integration at St. Anthony Medical Center. Strict data security protocols, such as encryption, access control, and two-factor authentication, have been implemented to guard sensitive information. These measures are aligned with HIPAA regulations and are crucial for maintaining public trust in digital health systems (Kovac, 2021).

Cybersecurity concerns are also central to the deployment of RPM. The hospital has employed advanced security measures—such as real-time threat monitoring and incident detection tools—to counteract vulnerabilities from potential cyberattacks. Continuous staff training on digital safety and frequent security audits ensure that privacy protocols remain robust and adaptive to emerging threats (Kim et al., 2020; Alenoghena et al., 2023).

Impact of Stakeholders and Users’ End

The success of RPM adoption at St. Anthony Medical Center hinges on the active participation of both internal and external stakeholders. Internal actors, such as care providers, IT teams, and administrative leaders, assess the feasibility and long-term benefits of RPM within the clinical and financial ecosystems. These teams address integration, security, and patient workflow adjustments. Meanwhile, external stakeholders—including patients, vendors, regulators, and local community organizations—contribute perspectives that guide the social and ethical dimensions of implementation (Talwar et al., 2023).

Resistance to change is a common barrier, especially among healthcare professionals concerned about job displacement or reduced autonomy. Addressing these issues with adequate training, transparent communication, and collaborative planning is essential to ensure a smooth transition. The institution’s leadership emphasized inclusivity and openness throughout the implementation process, which increased buy-in and minimized disruption (Harris et al., 2021). Stakeholders have thus become vital champions of RPM, supporting St. Anthony Medical Center’s vision of technologically driven, patient-centered care (Pierre, 2024).

Conclusion

In conclusion, the implementation of Remote Patient Monitoring at St. Anthony Medical Center reflects a thoughtful blend of strategic assessment, stakeholder engagement, and regulatory compliance. The initiative not only enhances patient outcomes through personalized care and continuous monitoring but also supports organizational efficiency by streamlining nursing workflows and securing digital infrastructure. With a solid foundation in needs assessment and stakeholder collaboration, St. Anthony Medical Center is well-positioned to lead healthcare innovation in a digital age.

References

Alenoghena, C. O., et al. (2023). Telemedicine: A survey of telecommunication technologies, developments, and challenges. Journal of Sensor and Actuator Networks, 12(2), 20. https://doi.org/10.3390/jsan12020020

Alverson, D. C. (2020). Telemedicine and health information exchange: An opportunity for integration. In Telemedicine, Telehealth and Telepresence (pp. 63–76). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-56917-4_5

NURS FPX 6214 Assessment 1 Technology Needs Assessment

Gadzinski, A. J., et al. (2020). Implementing telemedicine in response to the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic. Journal of Urology. https://doi.org/10.1097/ju.0000000000001033

Harris, K. E. C., et al. (2021). Integration of telehealth education into the health care provider curriculum: A review. Telemedicine and E-Health, 27(2), 137–149. https://doi.org/10.1089/tmj.2019.0261

Kim, D., Choi, J., & Han, K. (2020). Risk management-based security evaluation model for telemedicine systems. BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making, 20(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12911-020-01145-7

Kovac, M. (2021). HIPAA and telehealth: Protecting health information in a digital world. Journal of Intellectual Freedom & Privacy, 6(2), 6–9. https://doi.org/10.5860/jifp.v6i2.7556

Lawrence, K., et al. (2023). Operational implementation of remote patient monitoring within a large ambulatory health system: Multimethod qualitative case study. JMIR Human Factors, 10, e45166. https://doi.org/10.2196/45166

Mhanna, M., et al. (2021). Efficacy of remote physiological monitoring-guided care for chronic heart failure: An updated meta-analysis. Heart Failure Reviews. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10741-021-10176-9

Muller, A. E., et al. (2021). Can remote patient monitoring be the new standard in primary care of chronic diseases, post-COVID-19? Telemedicine and E-Health. https://doi.org/10.1089/tmj.2021.0399

Pierre, I. (2024). Impact of the increased use of telehealth on health care management and administration: The case of new care management practices. Doctoral Dissertations and Projects. https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/5148/

NURS FPX 6214 Assessment 1 Technology Needs Assessment

Talwar, S., et al. (2023). Resistance of multiple stakeholders to e-health innovations: Integration of fundamental insights and guiding research paths. Journal of Business Research, 166, 114135. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2023.114135

Tan, A. J., et al. (2021). Telemedicine experiences and perspectives of healthcare providers in long-term care: A scoping review. Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare. https://doi.org/10.1177/1357633×211049206

Williams, K., et al. (2021). Addressing implementation challenges to digital care delivery for adults with multiple chronic conditions: Stakeholder feedback in a randomized controlled trial. JMIR MHealth and UHealth, 9(2), e23498. https://doi.org/10.2196/23498