Health Information Technology Commons^™

Tele-Psychiatry Adoption And Its Effect On Rural Mental Health Service Availability, Anna Heineman, Kaylee Canterbury, Taylor Carpenter

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Purpose of study: This study examined the association between tele-psychiatry implementation and mental health service availability in rural healthcare settings. The analysis compared tele-psychiatry to traditional in-person psychiatric care among rural populations, focusing on access and utilization outcomes, including time to first psychiatric appointment, number of completed visits, and appointment no-show rates.

Methods: A qualitative literature review following a systematic approach was conducted using peer-reviewed articles published between 2016-2026. Databases included PubMed, ProQuest Health, CINAHL, Journal of Medical Internet Research, and the National Library of Medicine, with Google Scholar used as a supplemental source. The review followed PRISMA …

Integrating Positive Psychology And Spirituality To Foster Meaning And Well-Being In Older Adults, Crystal Morris

Adultspan Journal

This perspective article explores the integration of positive psychology interventions (PPIs) and spirituality in therapy to foster meaning and well-being in older adults. It highlights exercises such as the positive introduction, positive legacy, character strengths, mindfulness, mindful-based yoga, and a manifestation prayer journaling. The interventions presented are tools to support older adults that may experience depression, difficult life transitions, and the search for renewed meaning. Therapists who integrate PPIs and spirituality into therapy can promote a holistic, non-pathological approach to treatment.

Ransomware In Healthcare: Threats, Impacts, And Mitigation Strategies, Mackenzie Dotson, Kasi Gorli, Alberto Coustasse

Management Faculty Research

Excerpt: The growing digitalization of healthcare has exposed hospitals to significant cybersecurity threats, particularly ransomware attacks. The Health Sector Cybersecurity Coordination Center (HC3) reported that as of mid-2024, there were 730 cyber-attacks worldwide against healthcare institutions, with 530 targeting the U.S. (AHA, 2024). Half of these incidents involved ransomware, a type of malware that restricts access to critical data until a ransom is paid (HHS, 2021). Hospitals are attractive targets for cybercriminals due to their essential role in patient care. Cybercriminals exploit vulnerabilities in hospital networks, often causing severe operational and financial damage. Factors such as understaffed IT teams, outdated …

Smart Radiology: Using Artificial Intelligence For Better Imaging Outcomes, Jordan Watts, Jeffrey Larson, Kasi Gorli, Alberto Coustasse

Management Faculty Research

We hypothesize that the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in radiology improves the quality of care by increasing diagnostic accuracy, reducing interpretation time, and enhancing clinical workflow efficiency by minimizing imaging acquisition errors.

Evaluating The Effectiveness Of Teledermatology For Undeserved Populations During And Post-Covid-19, Jakob Gibbs, Sean Hanshaw

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Introduction: Teledermatology, a subset of telemedicine, has gained prominence as a means to increase access to dermatologic care while reducing costs and improving patient satisfaction. The swift expansion of teledermatology during the COVID-19 pandemic was driven by the necessity to limit physical contact and adapt to public health restrictions. This technological shift aimed to address longstanding disparities in dermatology access, especially in rural and underserved populations, and to respond to the rising demand for dermatologic services amid provider shortages.

Purpose of the Study: The purpose of this study was to analyze the effects that teledermatology following the COVID-19 pandemic had …

Beyond The Screen: Assessing The Impact Of Hospitalist Reliance On Electronic Medical Records In Patient-Centered Care, Brian H. Cox

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The integration of Electronic Medical Record (EMR) systems has transformed healthcare delivery, offering enhanced data accessibility, improved communication, and operational efficiency. However, concerns persist regarding the potential erosion of patient-centered care due to EMR overutilization. This study investigated how hospitalists’ use of EMR systems correlates with patient satisfaction, focusing on the dynamics of physician communication, hospital length of stay, and regional characteristics. Using a comprehensive framework combining Resource Dependency Theory and Donabedian’s Structure-Process-Outcome model, the research examines the influence of demographic, technological, and structural factors on healthcare outcomes.

The analysis, based on patient survey data from a large integrated delivery …

Providing End-Of-Life Counseling: A Narrative Inquiry, Carol Hecht, Sibyl West

Adultspan Journal

This qualitative study aimed to address the gap in the research related to end-of-life counseling by exploring the experiences of counselors working with clients at end of life. While counseling literature and education are lacking regarding end of life, many counselors will work alongside clients approaching death. The purpose of this study was twofold: (a) to better understand the nuanced experiences of counselors providing end-of-life counseling and (b) to explore the supports and preparations helpful for counselors to provide end-of-life counseling. A narrative approach, using the Listening Guide (Gilligan, 2015), was employed to analyze and present the stories of three …

Considerations Of Medicare Telehealth Services With Older Adults, Sonah Kho, Amanda Dediego

Adultspan Journal

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic set in motion a rapid expansion of mental health services offered via telehealth. With this rapid expansion came the need to examine how policy and practice should be shaped in a future where telehealth is considered common in counseling practice. For counselors to understand how to support older adult clients in using telehealth services, they must understand telehealth policy. Following the eligibility of licensed counselors to participate in Medicare, counselors need to stay abreast of regulatory changes regarding restrictions and regulations on use of telehealth for mental and behavioral health services, including video and …

Emotion Regulation Strategies And Perceived Emotional Intelligence: The Effect Of Age., Iwanna Sepiadou

Adultspan Journal

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between perceived emotional intelligence and the reported use of cognitive reappraisal and expressive suppression. We also investigated the possible effects of age on the aforementioned variables. The total sample consisted of 379 people (158 men, 220 women, 1 unreported). Across participants, 273 were young (20-39 years old) and 106 were middle-aged (40-65 years old). We found statistically significant positive correlations between the dimensions of perceived emotional intelligence and the reported use of cognitive reappraisal and negative primarily correlations between the dimensions of perceived emotional intelligence and the reported use of …

Navigating The Future Of Healthcare: Big Data's Impetus For Inpatient Quality Enhancement, Lakyn Hyre, Brian Cox, Alberto Coustasse

Management Faculty Research

This study aims to explore the impact of big data utilization on quality improvement in inpatient facilities, specifically assessing its influence on readmission rates, patient outcomes, and potential cost savings. This study utilized mixed methodologies with a literature review complemented by semi-structured interviews to gain perspectives about big data utilization on quality improvement in inpatient facilities. The Marshall University Institutional Review Board (IRB) approved the interview. This study’s conceptual framework (Figure 1) was adapted from the research framework of Yao, Chu, and Li (Yao et al., 2010). The framework displays the reasoning of and approach to big data and machine …

Revolutionizing Revenue Cycle Management: Ai's Impact On Healthcare Organizations, Rachel Pennington, Alberto Coustasse

Management Faculty Research

Revenue Cycle Management (RCM) stands as a cornerstone in healthcare, overseeing the intricate processes involved in capturing, managing, and collecting revenue generated from patient services. However, the landscape of RCM has long been plagued by inefficiencies. These inefficiencies underscore the urgency for innovative approaches, and the integration of AI emerges as a promising solution to streamline processes and optimize revenue capture.

Ai-Driven Solutions Promote Medication Adherence, Eric Pulice, Alberto Coustasse

Management Faculty Research

A study conducted in 2019 showed that approximately 50% of the 187 million patients in the US health care system did not follow their medication plan as prescribed. This means they failed to adhere to the drug regimen or to take the medication for the entire prescribed duration. Adherence rates for most medications used to treat chronic conditions, such as diabetes and hypertension, usually fall in the range of 50% to 60%, even with patients who have good insurance and drug benefits. This rate of adherence leads to an estimated 125,000 avoidable deaths each year and $100 billion annually in …

The Impact Of Telestroke Services On Diagnosis, Patient Outcomes, And Treatment, Dustin Baum

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Introduction: In 2011, an estimated 20% of U.S. residents lacked timely access to stroke care. As of 2019, that number plummeted to 4% of patients. A reason for this improved access was the implementation of telestroke services. Telestroke services have utilized remote stroke specialists to help guide local emergency department physicians in reviewing imaging, diagnosing, treating, or transferring patients appropriately.

Purpose: The purpose of this research was to analyze the impact of telestroke implementation in the hospital setting. The study hypothesized the implementation of telestroke services in the hospital setting maintained an accurate stroke diagnosis, decreased inappropriate hospital transfers, reduced …

The Unequal Distribution Of Social Risk For Black Men Across The Life-Span. A Novel Framework., Waleed Y. Sami

Adultspan Journal

This conceptual overview offers a comprehensive overview of systemic pathways that negatively impact the mental health of Black Men throughout their lives. Our argument highlights the importance for counselors and mental health professionals to utilize a thorough social risk assessment that considers these pathways in order to effectively address the mental health needs of Black Men while fostering positive working relationships. This overview strongly advocates for the use of context and structural determinants when evaluating mental health symptoms. Without an appropriate understanding of social risk and determinants, counselors may inadvertently perpetuate disparities by decontextualizing symptomology, and reproducing racist discourse.

Artificial Intelligence Is Revolutionizing Controlled Substance Diversion Detection, Brian Cox, Alberto Coustasse, Craig Kimble

Management Faculty Research

In community and institutional health care sectors, artificial intelligence (AI) use is expanding. AI is being tapped broadly in operations, customer service, and scheduling, with major pharmacy chains such as Kroger, CVS, and Walgreens, already starting to implement AI applications in their pharmacies. So far, Kroger has begun to use AI for employee onboarding and training processes, CVS is applying AI in negotiations with suppliers, and Walgreens is using it to streamline vaccine scheduling. With these advances in major pharmacy chains, the next extensive application for AI has become clearer: diversion monitoring. Diversion occurs in health care settings when a …

Tele-Icu In The Unites States: Is A Cost-Effective Model?, Michael Robie, Stephanie Cole, Archana Suwal, Alberto Coustasse

Management Faculty Research

Introduction: The United States Society of Critical Care Medicine has announced a shortage of all critical care intensivists due to the increased need for critical care for the aging population with comorbidities and improved life expectancy. This shortage has led to tele-ICU programs that have allowed intensivists to care for patients simultaneously remotely.

Methods: This study aimed to assess the potential for the hospital implementation of tele-ICU to determine its overall healthcare cost-effectiveness. The methodology was a review that followed a systematic search approach utilizing 42 sources.

Results: The study findings showed that tele-ICU contributed to reduced hospital LOS by …

Managing The Unseen: Pandemic Prophylactics, Placebos & Panaciea, Nancy K. Lankton, Avinandan Mukherjee

Accounting Faculty Research

Introduction: The World Health Organization declared COVID-19 as a pandemic on March 11, 2020, when the disease had spread to 114 countries, infecting more than 118,000 people and killing almost 4,300.¹ As of mid-February 2021, over 109 million people worldwide had been infected with the virus and over 2.4 million people had died. COVID-19 is a pandemic of epic proportions that has changed the way we live, work, and do business.

This call for papers solicited manuscripts describing and analyzing the intersection of management, COVID-19, and the workplace. The goal was to create a special issue that would inform …

Charge Masters And The Effects On Hospitals, Whitney Layton, Katie Lemmon, Alberto Coustasse

Management Faculty Research

The hospital chargemaster has been the heart of the healthcare revenue cycle, as it has served as the hospitals’ starting point for billing patients and payers. The CDM was made as an extensive breakdown of the cost of the care provided and in order for a hospital to correctly bill a patient for care received as every chargeable item in the hospital must be included in the master. The methodology for this study utilized a literature review. It consisted of academic sources, electronic databases, academic journals, and government websites. Thirty-eight sources were referenced for this literature review. The literature review …

Telepsychiatry Use In Rural Areas In The United States: A Literature Review Of The Benefits, Alberto Coustasse, Morgan Ruley, Tonnie C. Mike, Briana M. Washington, Anna Robinson

Management Faculty Research

Rural areas have experienced a higher than average shortage of healthcare professionals. Numerous challenges have limited access to mental health services. Some of these barriers have included transportation, number of providers, poverty, and lack of insurance. Recently, the utilization of telepsychiatry has increased in rural areas. The purpose of this review was to identify and coalesce the benefits of telepsychiatry for adults living in rural communities in the United States to determine if telepsychiatry has improved access and quality of care. The methodology for this study was a literature review that followed a systematic approach. References and sources were written …

Telehealth In Critical Care: Quality And Cost Outcomes, Michael Robbie, Stephanie Cole, Bukola Abodunde, Alberto Coustasse

Faculty Research Day

The purpose of this study was to assess the potential for the implementation of telehealth in the ICU to determine its impact on quality of care and overall healthcare costs. The primary hypothesis of this study was that telehealth would be linked with lower ICU LOS and hospital mortality rates among critically ill patients.

Telehealth In Critical Care: Quality And Cost Outcomes, Stephanie Cole, Michael Robie, Bukola Abodunde, Alberto Coustasse

Management Faculty Research

As the population of the United States has continued to age, there has been an increase in usage and Hospital Length of Stay (LOS) costs of Intensive Care Unit (ICU) beds. In the early 2000s, it was determined there would be a shortage of all ICU providers within the next decade due to the increased need for critical care for the aging generation. Around this time, the Leapfrog Group was formed to demand that hospitals improve quality and decrease cost. Utilization of telehealth in the ICU was a possible alternative, which had a positive impact on both clinical and financial …

Artificial Intelligence And The Challenge For Rural Medicine, James Denvir

Marshall Journal of Medicine

Recent advances in artificial intelligence, machine learning, and deep learning are beginning to have an impact on everyday experiences, from natural language processing used in automated telephone call centers to semi-autonomous vehicles. These techniques have also been applied to medical care. In this editorial we discuss applications of AI to medicine and argue for a proactive approach to include rural medicine in this paradigm shift.

Personal Health Record Interoperability, Manal Alghamdi, Courtney Stanley, William K. Willis, Alberto Coustasse

Management Faculty Research

Personal Health Records (PHRs) is a software application that allows patients to review their medical information remotely through a secure domain. There are four forms of PHRs which are; 1) self-contained Electronic Health Record (EHR), 2) self-contained EHR, 3) PHRs integrated care EHR controlled by health provider and partially by the patient/consumer, 4) PHRs integrated care EHR controlled by the patient/consumer. The methodology for this study was a literature review and semi-structure interview with a specialist in health information technology. Electronic databases used included PubMed, Academic Search Premier, EBSCOhost, LexisNexis and Google Scholar. A total of 38 sources were referenced. …

The Utilization Of Telehealth/ Telemedicine In Cardiology In Rural Areas, Sophia Noplis, Jocelyn Stout

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Introduction: Telecardiology has been defined as a way of practicing cardiology through the utilization of telecommunications and a more cost-effective way to deliver cardiac care. As a subset of telemedicine, telecardiology has functioned to bring providers to underserved communities through technological mechanisms. Rural regions have turned to telemedicine and tapped into a network of clinical institutions exchanging practitioners and patients to emphasize value-based instead of volume-based care.

Methodology: The methodology of this qualitative study was a literature review having used mixed methodologies. Five electronic databases and government websites were utilized, and one semi-structured interview with an expert in …

The Implementation And Effects Of Computerized Physician Order Entry In Healthcare Settings, Bojing Wang, Xiaoying Liu

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Introduction: In the United States, medication errors has been a big problem and was the number three cause of death in 2016. Computerize Physician Order Entry (CPOE), also known as Computerized Provider Order Entry, is the process of physicians or providers entering treatment instructions or radiology, laboratory, and medication orders via computer rather than paper, and has led to a decrease in medication errors. The purpose of this study was to examine whether CPOE system could help hospitals to reduce medical errors and costs, as well as examine the new problems resulted by the use of CPOE in the …

The Nationwide Health Information Network: The Case Of The Expansion Of Health Information Exchanges In The United States, Morgan Ruley, Victoria Walker, Jana Studeny, Alberto Coustasse

Management Faculty Research

The Nationwide Health Information Network (NHIN) implemented secure exchange of health records through utilization of the Internet. NHIN has greatly assisted in achieving the goals of the HITECH Act by promoting the adoption of Meaningful Use. Epic introduced a Health Information Exchange (HIE) platform, Care Everywhere (CE), which has facilitated HIE availability. The purpose of this research was to determine the impact of NHIN and Epic Care’s CE on healthcare to determine whether their use in the ED has increased. The methodology for this study utilized a literature review. Twenty-nine sources were referenced for this study. With the NHIN implementation, …

Telepharmacy And Access To Pharmaceutical Services In Rural Areas, Raghav Sarkar, Brandon J. Metzger, Hannah M. Sayre, Chelsea M. Slater, Sruthi Katamneni, Alberto Coustasse

Management Faculty Research

Access to pharmaceutical services in rural areas has been affected by a national shortage of pharmacists. Telepharmacy, a subspecialty of telemedicine, has involved the utilization of telecommunications to deliver pharmaceutical services to consumers located at a distance. The number of telepharmacy programs in the United States and worldwide has been progressively increasing. The purpose of this research project was to examine the effect of the utilization of telepharmacy on rural hospitals’ access to pharmaceutical services. The methodology of this qualitative study was a literature review. Four electronic databases were employed to retrieve peer-reviewed journal articles, and three websites were accessed …

Healthcare Facilities: Another Target For Ransomware Attacks, David P. Paul Iii, Nikki Spence, Niharika Bhardwa, Alberto Coustasse Dr.Ph, Md, Mba, Mph

Management Faculty Research

Ransomware is a type of malware used by cyber criminals who encrypt files and then extort money in return for unlocking those files. Without adequate disaster recovery and backup plans, many businesses are forced to pay the ransom. We examine recent ransomware infections in healthcare settings, the liabilities and cost associated with such infections, and discuss possible risk mitigation tactics. Risks associated with ransomware attacks on healthcare facilities include financial, future business loss and damage to reputation. Healthcare facilities should have a disaster plan with adequate data backups and educate employees who are the usual sources of ransomware attacks.

The 340b Program: Benefits And Limitations, Craig Kimble Pharmd, Mba, Ms, Bcacp, Alberto Coustasse Dr.Ph. Md, Mba, Mph

Management Faculty Research

This in progress study reviews challenges and successes associated with implementing a 340B program at Marshall Health and Cabell Huntington Hospital (CHH) in Huntington, West Virginia. CHH qualified as a participant in the 340B program because it has met qualification as a disproportionate share hospital (DSH). The site has also been able to open two outpatient pharmacies to serve the targeted patient population. The pharmacies have also been able to use savings from the program to embed clinical pharmacists into the physician care areas to provide medication therapy management services including discharge counselling, disease state management services, patient financial assistance …

Burnout Syndrome In Hospital's Nurses: Causes And Consequences, Lama Bakhamis, Harlan M. Smith Ii, Alberto Coustasse, David P. Paul Iii

Management Faculty Research

PURPOSE: The purpose of this research was to examine the causes and consequences of Burnout Syndrome among RNs in U.S. hospitals to identify solutions to this problem.

METHODS: The methodology was the review of the literature and a semi-structured interview. There were seven primary databases and two websites used in this research, and 35 articles were used for this literature review.

RESULTS: Causes and risk factors of burnout syndrome among RNs have been categorized into four major areas: individual, management, organizational, and work characteristics. Burnout syndrome rate among RNs with age under 30 years was 43.6% higher …