Nelson Walker is graduating with a Bachelor's degree in Health Informatics from Ashford University. He currently works for Sprint as an Enterprise Business Account Specialist where he is involved with emerging wireless technologies used in healthcare. Walker hopes to use his degree to move into a more specialized healthcare position combining wireless technology and health information systems. In his capstone project, Walker will examine the legal and ethical aspects of health information management, telecommunications and networking concepts for healthcare, and the impact of electronic medical records integration. He will use scholarly articles, and information from organizations like HHS and HIF to address these topics.

1. Nelson O. Walker III
HCA496 Health Informatics Capstone
Instructor: Catherine Doughty
Date: 03/24/2014

2. Hello Everyone,
My name is Nelson Walker and I will be graduating in March with a Bachelor of Arts in
Health Informatics from Ashford University. I currently reside in Atlanta but I am originally from
Macon, a smaller city in Central Georgia. I work for Sprint as an Enterprise Business Account
Specialist. At Sprint I am also affiliated with our emerging products and solutions sales teams. One
of the most interesting aspects of our emerging products solutions is the production and release of
wireless technologies utilized in health care. My goal is to hopefully utilize my degree to branch
into an innovative and specialized position bridging wireless technology and health information
systems.
In the enterprise sector, I utilize my communication skills and professional work
experiences to effectively execute protocol that resolves client concerns and gain positive results. I
have learned a great deal from the health informatics courses I have taken at Ashford
University. In particular, the Legal and Ethical Aspects of Health Care has helped me understand
the importance of ethics and how it drives important business decisions related to EMR
implementation and the use of telecommunications to spur the continuity and delivery of quality
health care.
The content of my program of study has modified my way of interacting with people
and identifying opportunities for business process development. I hope to gain further
understanding of the technological aspects of Health Informatics and be better prepared and
comfortable with communicating with IT representatives and HIM professionals.

3. 


Legal and ethical aspects of health information
management .
Telecommunications and networking concepts
for health care .
The impact on the electronic medical records
integration.

4. To address my chosen topics I will utilize
scholarly peer reviewed articles. Additionally I
will review information and data from nationally
recognized health care related groups and
organizations such as The Department of Health
and Human Services and Health Informatics
Forum. I will also utilize books from the Ashford
University library.

5.  When a patient’s legal protections are violated the result is usually a lawsuit
which is dependent upon an established relationship between the patient and
the provider. The process of ethical reasoning helps the HIM professional
address legal and ethical challenges.
 The real work of networking professionals is the administration of ongoing
networks . This concept is the root of the present challenges faced by health
care organizations seeking to implement new information systems.
Telecommunications has revolutionized the way we utilize smart mobile
devices in health care however, newer strategies will help close the gaps
between what the health provider needs and what the current network can
provide
 Investment in clinical information systems allow for better coordinated
patient care. As organizations move into new healthcare environments such
as these investments become even more important. Additionally, there is an
improvement in patient safety and the quality of healthcare.
The
implementation of EMR technology increases the value of patient data which
translates into to meaningful health information. The EMR organizes patient
data making it quickly accessible and easily available.

6. I. Legal and ethical aspects of health information management
A. Role of the HIM professional
B. Confidentiality and Privacy
C. Tort law
II. Telecommunications and networking concepts for health care
A. Policy
B. Network security
III. The impact of the electronic medical records integration
A. Barriers to adoption and implementation
B. Benefits to the health care system
C. Meaningful use standards