NMIMS Global Access
School for Continuing Education (NGA-SCE)
Course: Information Systems for Managers
Internal Assignment
Applicable for December 2020 Examination
Assignment Marks:
30
1. Internet of Things (IoT)-enabled devices
have made remote monitoring in the healthcare
sector possible, unleashing the potential to
keep patients safe and healthy, and
empowering physicians to deliver superlative
care. It has also increased patient
engagement and satisfaction as interactions
with doctors have become easier and more
efficient. Furthermore, remote monitoring of
patient’s health helps in reducing the
length of hospital stay and prevents
re-admissions. IoT also has a major impact on
reducing healthcare costs significantly and
improving treatment outcomes. IoT is
undoubtedly transforming the healthcare
industry by redefining the space of devices
and people interaction in delivering
healthcare solutions. IoT has applications in
healthcare that benefit patients, families,
physicians, hospitals and insurance
companies. The healthcare industry is rapidly
adopting new-age technologies such as
Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence
to improve access and outcomes,
especially in rural areas. In this scenario,
it is the responsibility of businesses to ensure
that the technology acts with responsibility
and transparency. In recent years, India has
seen increased IoT adoption in education,
governance and financial services. IoT
Technology has made it possible for doctors to
see and interact with patients who are
located far, with smart login devices. The
patients’ medical data and case history are
automatically transmitted to the doctor for
analysis. What are the potential
cybersecurity challenges in using IoT in
healthcare? Enlist a few areas in which IoT
can be used in healthcare. Identify the
benefits of using IoT in healthcare in a
developing country like India. (10 Marks)
Answer:
The
benefits of IoT in healthcare are:
1) SIMULTANEOUS REPORTING AND
MONITORING:
Real-time monitoring
via connected devices can save a million lives in the event of a medical
emergency like heart failure, diabetes, asthma attacks, etc.
With the real-time
monitoring of the condition in place by means of a smart medical device
connected to a smartphone app, connected devices can collect useful medical and
health-related data.
The connected IoT
device collects and transfers health data such as information about blood
pressure, oxygen, and blood sugar levels, weight, and ECGs.
The data is stored in
the cloud and can be shared with an authorized person as per the sharing access
authority. The said person could be a physician, an insurance company, a
participating health firm or an external consultant, and it will allow them to
look at the collected data regardless of their location and time!
2) END-TO-END CONNECTIVITY AND
AFFORDABILITY:
IoT can help in
automating healthcare and patient healthcare workflow through healthcare
mobility solutions. IoT in healthcare enables interoperability, machine to
machine communication, information exchange, and data movement that makes the
delivery of healthcare service extremely cost-effective. This
technology-driven setup can bring down the costs by cutting down unnecessary
visits and utilizing better quality resources. Thereby improving the process of
allocation and resource planning.
3) DATA ASSORTMENT AND ANALYSIS:
For healthcare
professionals, to manage a vast amount of data is not as easy as it sounds.
Data collected in real-time through IoT enabled mobile devices can be analyzed
and segregated through mobility solutions powered by IoT. This will reduce the
collection of raw data and can drive vital healthcare analytics and data-driven
insights, which ultimately reduce errors and speed up decision-making.
4) TRACKING AND ALERTS:
Real-time tracking and
alerts in life-threatening situations can turn as a savior to safeguard a
critical patient’s health with constant notifications and real-time alerts for
proper monitoring, analysis, and diagnosis. Healthcare mobility
solutions powered by IoT
enable real-time tracking, alerting, and monitoring. This permits hands-on
treatments, better accuracy and apt intervention by doctors hence improving the
complete patient care delivery results.
5) REMOTE MEDICAL ASSISTANCE:
It is a terrible
situation for a patient looking for medical assistance, yet being unable to
connect to a doctor due to hindrances such as location and lack of knowledge.
The problem has got its fixture in the IoT-enabled mobility solutions that can
help patients with proper medical assistance on the go.
Patients can take
medical prescriptions right at home through healthcare delivery chains
connected to patients through IoT devices.
There
are two sides to this coin. IoT applications in healthcare have also met
several challenges on the way
WHAT
ARE THE CHALLENGES OF IOT IN HEALTHCARE?
1)DATA SECURITY AND PRIVACY:
One of the most
significant challenges faced by IoT is Data Security and Privacy. IoT-enabled
mobile devices capture data in real-time, but most of them lack adherence to
data protocols and standards.
There is significant
ambiguity regarding data ownership and regulation. Hence, the data stored
within IoT enabled devices are prone to data thefts and it makes the data more
susceptible to cybercriminals that can hack into the system to compromise personal
health information. Some examples of misuse of IoT device data
are fraudulent health claims and the creation of fake IDs for buying and
selling drugs.
2) INTEGRATION: MULTIPLE DEVICES &
PROTOCOLS:
The integration of
multiple types of devices causes hindrance in the implementation of IoT in the
healthcare sector. The reason behind this hindrance is that device
manufacturers haven’t reached a consensus regarding communication protocol and
standards.
3) DATA OVERLOAD AND ACCURACY:
Due to the non-uniformity
of data and communication protocols, it is difficult to aggregate data for
vital insights and analysis. IoT collects data in bulk and for proper data
analysis, the data need to be segregated in chunks without overloading with
precise accuracy for better results. Overloading of data might affect the
decision-making process in the hospitality sector in the longer run.
4)COST:
You might not be
surprised to see this point here. Costs are one of the greater challenges
when planning to consider IoT app development for healthcare mobility
solutions. However, the costs are completely worth it if the IoT implementation
is one that solves a genuine problem.
IoT applications in
healthcare are meant not just for the healthcare institutions, but for the
patients too! In a nutshell, IoT in healthcare does the following:
1.
Reducing emergency room wait time
2.
Tracking patients, staff, and inventory
3.
Enhancing drug management
4.
Ensuring the availability of critical hardware
Now, these benefits
cannot be realized without the various types of IoT devices leveraged in the
healthcare sector, some of the popular types of IoT devices are as follows:
1)
HEARABLES:
Hearables are touted
as the new age hearing aid for people who have suffered hearing loss and have
lost interaction with the real world. The way IoT-powered devices have
transformed the world with hearing aid solutions is commendable. Hearables
are compatible with your smartphones, you can sync your Bluetooth with the
device. It also allows you to filter, equalize and add layered features to
real-world sounds.
One of the prominent
examples of Hearables is Doppler
Labs.
2)
INGESTIBLE SENSORS:
A genuine modern
science marvel, Ingestible Sensors are well, ingestible pill-sized sensors that
get inside our bodies to monitor the medications and warns user/doctor in case
of any irregularity. These sensors can be a boon for diabetic patients as
it would help in curbing symptoms and provide an early warning for diseases.
3)
MOODABLES:
A mood-enhancing
device that can help in enhancing your mood all throughout the day! It might
sound fictitious but it is not far from reality.
Thync and Halo
Neurosciences are already working on mood elevator sensors.
“Mood-ables” are head-mounted wearables that send low-intensity current to the
brain to elevate mood.
4)
COMPUTER VISION TECHNOLOGY:
Computer Vision
Technology along with Artificial Intelligence has given rise to drone
technology which aims to mimic visual perception to enable decision making
based on it.
Drones like Skydio, use computer vision
technology to detect obstacles and navigate around them. This technology
has also greatly helped visually impaired people to navigate effectively.
5) HEALTHCARE CHARTING:
IoT powered devices
reduces much of manual work, which a doctor has to do during patient charting.
IoT sensors can measure all types of od data such as blood pressure, body
temperature etc., and chart it all into an app connected to measurement devices
through IoT.
2.
Netmeds.com, one of the largest e-pharmacies claims more than 3.7 million
customers
in
over 610 cities and towns. The market size of e-pharmacies was approximately
$512
million
(Rs 3,500 crore) in 2018. It is predicted that there will be a compounded
annual
growth
rate (CAGR) of 63 per cent which will reach $3.6 billion (Rs 25,000 crore) by
2022.
Explain how information systems help in managing the supplies of medicines by
online
pharmacies and delivering them to customers. (10 Marks)
Answer: Pharmacy Information Systems
(PIS) have evolved over the years to become a core component of any successful
pharmacy operation. Whether it’s a hospital setting, a clinic or even a
specialty pharmacy business, these complex and sophisticated computer software
systems continue to evolve and their functionality is ever expanding. Sometimes
they are also referred to as Medication Management Systems, selecting the best
PIS for a particular pharmacy has become an extremely complicated process.
Keeping in mind that not all pharmacies have the exact same procedures,
requirements and needs, choosing the best pharmacy information software system
for your particular business may pose several dilemmas and can often be an
extremely difficult task. Yet making the correct software system selection is a
is critical decision!
What Is a Pharmacy
Information System (PIS)?
Pharmacy
information systems (PIS) are basically computer software
systems that are programmed with the ability to perform the various tasks required
to operate a pharmacy. They make the business operate more efficiently, plus
allow for digital record storage and fast retrieval of information. Typical
uses of a PIS include:
– Prescription management (Rx data entry and dispensing info such as labels and
warnings)
– Patient personal profiles and medication history
– Consultation documentation
– Physician monitoring
– Inventory management
– Purchasing management
– Billing and insurance management
– Pricing structure variables
– Reporting
– Clinical screening (allergies, drug interactions, warnings and patient
education)
– Drug interaction monitoring
– Staffing and workload management
– Compounding and manufacturing documentation and management
What PIS Best Meets Your
Pharmacy’s Specific Needs?
Many
pharmacy managers and owners find this to be the hardest business decision that
they will ever have to make or be involved in. Selection of the right
pharmacy information system takes a lot of time and requires extensive
education. As with any computer program or system, choosing the wrong PIS will
lead to both wasted money and resources, and eventually to severe pain if the
medication management system needs to be totally replaced at some point in the
future.
Although all of the major pharmacy information systems contain
the core functionality and components described above, some systems are
obviously more robust than others. With literally hundreds of systems to choose
from, evaluating the different software programs can be an exhausting and
challenging task. A list
of the “Top Ten” most popular systems usually includes some of
the following:
RxConnect
HMS Pharmacy (Healthcare Management Systems Inc.)
CPSI
PharmNet (Cerner’s pharmacy system)
Meditech’s Pharmacy Solution
Sunrise Pharmacy (Allscripts)
Horizon Meds Manager
Siemens Pharmacy
WORx (Mediware)
Willow (Epic)
Major Considerations in
Selecting a PIS
Although they are not listed in any particular order of
preference, each PIS listed above has pros and cons associated with it. Some of
the key factors that need to be considered as a part of your selection process
should include:
1. Price –
Obviously this is a major expenditure for any pharmacy operation or business.
Historically, some large hospitals and healthcare
systems developed in-house proprietary solutions, but that is no
longer typically seen. The cost of development, maintenance and system
enhancements make using a third party system the obvious and most economic
solution for almost any pharmacy.
2. Integrated Systems versus “Stand Alone” Systems –
There is a critical choice that needs to be made: use a “stand alone” system or
product or use an integrated system? Using a “stand alone” system basically
makes your business dependent on the vendor for updates and enhancements in the
future. Integrated systems mean that you can connect with various other
technology and programs that you may utilize, such as CPOE, EMR, RFID and
bar-code scanning programs.
3. Your Current Need versus Your Future Needs –
Although your selection may meet you current needs, what about your future needs?
Obviously technology changes very rapidly and the future is sometimes very
unpredictable. The point is that not all of a system’s capabilities are used by
every pharmacy, so it may be critical to know the entire PIS functionality in
order to grow your operation at some future point. This can be especially
critical if you are planning a future expansion into the specialty pharmacy
area, as some systems are specifically geared to specialty pharmacy
operations. Conversely, when acquiring and using a vendor’s PIS, you don’t
want to pay for features and functionality that are not required to run your
business, and that you most likely will never utilize and need.
Who Can Help You Select
The Correct PIS?
Selection
of the right PIS is a critical, yet time consuming business decision. The
process of evaluating each system independently to meet both your immediate and
future needs can be both exhausting and overwhelming. Perhaps consider hiring
an expert that is both objective and experienced with the various PIS programs.
3. Digital
India is working to transform the rural economy and create skilled jobs. It has
touched upon all aspects of our lives, from
work, travel and communication to
healthcare, education and shopping. The push
for e-governance and Digital India
comes from the telecom sector, increasing
internet penetration and proliferating mobile
devices. As citizens become more tech-savvy,
their aspirations are expected to surge in
terms of quality of services and the way
cities are governed. A shift towards citizenoriented governance is imminent.
E-governance is changing the relationship between
citizens and authorities. Every citizen will
be able to monitor activities of government,
be aware of their plans to work directly and
interact with them without queues and
unnecessary bureaucracy. E-governance is the
automation of work with documents,
statements of citizens, certificates,
licenses, and formal acts that legalise certain
activities of citizens. The average citizen is
now familiar with digital payments, egovernance, digitization of land records,
etc. People are hoping for better utilization of
taxpayers' money. E-governance, or the use of
ICT to deliver government services,
nurtures a transparent, productive and
efficient form of governance. E-government can
also reduce corruption. If diligently designed
and implemented, it can improve
efficiency in delivery of government services,
simplify regulations, strengthen citizen
participation, and lead to cost-savings for
citizens, businesses and the government
itself.
The benefits of all this will be transparency
of public authorities and local
governments, savings in time and material
resources, and improvement in the quality
of administrative services. While barriers to
efficient e-governance are many, social
media, mobility, analytics and cloud
technologies can make all the difference. Notably,
since we live in a connected economy, the
benefits of e-governance will not remain
restricted to the 100 Smart Cities, but will
percolate to other urban areas and even rural
India.
That said, it's also time to take into
cognizance threats such as data security. Data is the
new oil and organizations are looking to
exploit the information they hold. The
importance of addressing cyber-security at the
highest levels of corporate leadership
cannot be understated. Cyber-security is
integral with national security. Here, IT
companies have a major role to play. They must
set up a compliance framework that
not only protects consumer data, but also
deletes it when the work is done. It's
important for them to rework their
technologies and record-keeping systems. All
sectors have to train and retrain their IT
teams. It's also time the government brings in a
new arsenal of talented individuals who are
adept at innovating.
(Source:https://ezproxy.svkm.ac.in:2099/docview/2163976984/556EB64474D5424EP
Q/1?accountid=32277)
a. Explain the different e-governance models?
What are the advantages of e -
governance? (5
Marks)
Answer: Electronic governance or
e-governance implies government functioning with the application of ICT
(Information and Communications Technology). Hence e-Governance is basically a
move towards SMART governance implying: simple, moral, accountable, responsive
and transparent governance.
What is SMART
Governance?
- Simple —
implies simplification of rules and regulations of the government and
avoiding complex processes with the application of ICTs and therefore,
providing a user-friendly government.
- Moral —
meaning the emergence of a new system in the administrative and political
machinery with technology interventions to improve the efficiency of
various government agencies.
- Accountable
— develop effective information management systems and other performance
measurement mechanisms to ensure the accountability of public service
functionaries.
- Responsive
— Speed up processes by streamlining them, hence making the system more
responsive.
- Transparent
— providing information in the public domain like websites or various
portals hence making functions and processes of the government
transparent.
Interactions in
e-Governance
There are 4 kinds of
interactions in e-governance, namely:
- G2C
(Government to Citizens) — Interaction between the government and the
citizens.
- This
enables citizens to benefit from the efficient delivery of a large range
of public services.
- Expands
the accessibility and availability of government services and also
improves the quality of services
- The
primary aim is to make government citizen-friendly.
- G2B
(Government to Business):
- It
enables the business community to interact with the government by using
e-governance tools.
- The
objective is to cut red-tapism which will save time and reduce
operational costs. This will also create a more transparent business
environment when dealing with the government.
- The
G2B initiatives help in services such as licensing, procurement, permits
and revenue collection.
- G2G
(Government to Government)
- Enables
seamless interaction between various government entities.
- This
kind of interaction can be between various departments and agencies
within government or between two governments like the union and state
governments or between state governments.
- The
primary aim is to increase efficiency, performance and output.
- G2E
(Government to Employees)
- This
kind of interaction is between the government and its employees.
- ICT
tools help in making these interactions fast and efficient and thus
increases the satisfaction levels of employees.
Advantages of
e-Governance
- Improves
delivery and efficiency of government services
- Improved
government interactions with business and industry
- Citizen
empowerment through access to information
- More
efficient government management
- Less
corruption in the administration
- Increased
transparency in administration
- Greater
convenience to citizens and businesses
- Cost
reductions and revenue growth
- Increased
legitimacy of government
- Flattens
organisational structure (less hierarchic)
- Reduces
paperwork and red-tapism in the administrative process which results in
better planning and coordination between different levels of government
- Improved
relations between the public authorities and civil society
- Re-structuring
of administrative processes
b. What are certain challenges to e-government
security? How can they be avoided?
(5 Marks)
Answer: There are large numbers of potential barriers in
the implementation of e-Governance. Some hindrance in the path
of implementation, like security, unequal access to the computer
technology by the citizen, high initial cost for setting up the e
government solutions and resistance to change. Challenges identified as trust,
resistance to change, digital divide, cost and privacy and security concerns.
Trust
Trust can be defined along
two dimensions: as an assessment of a current situation, or as an
innate personality traitor predisposition. The implementation of public
administration functions via e-government requires the presence of two levels
of trust. The first is that the user must be confident, comfortable and
trusting of the tool or technology with which they will interact. The second
dimension of trust pertains to trust of the government].
Resistance to
change
The innovation diffusion theory states
that over time an innovation will diffuse through a population, and
the rate of adoption will vary between those who adopt early, referred
to as early adopters and to those who adopt the innovation much later, referred
to as ―laggards.
Digital Divide
The digital divide refers to the
separation that exists between individuals, communities,
and businesses that have access to information technology and those that
do not have such access.
Social, economic, infrastructural and
ethno-linguistic indicators provide explanations for the presence of the
digital divide.
Economic poverty is closely related to
limited information technology resources
Cost
Cost is one of the most important
prohibiting factor that comes in the path of e-governance implementation
particularly in the developing countries like India where most of the people
living below the poverty line. Elected officers and politician don’t seem
to be interested in implementing e-governance
Privacy and
Security
There will be three basic
levels of access exists for e-government stakeholders: no access to a
Web service; limited access to a Web-service or full-access to a Web
service, however when personal sensitive data exists the formation of the
security access policy is a much more complex process with legal
consideration. With the implementation of e-government projects, effective
measures must be taken to protect sensitive personal information. A lack
of clear security standards and protocols can limit the development of
projects that contain sensitive information such as income, medical
history.
Requirements for implementing successful e-governance
across the nation are
1.
e-Governance framework across
the nation with enough bandwidth to service a population of one billion.
2.
Connectivity framework for
making the services to reach rural areas of the country or development of
alternative means of services such as e-governance kiosks in regional
languages.
3.
National Citizen Database which
is the primary unit of data for all governance vertical and horizontal
applications across the state and central governments.
4.
E-governance and
interoperability standards for the exchange of secure information
with non-repudiation, across the state and central government departments
seamlessly.
5.
A secure delivery framework by
means of virtual private network connecting across the state and central
government departments.
6.
Datacenters in centre and
states to handle the departmental workflow automation,
collaboration, interaction, exchange of information with authentication.
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