Evolution of Health Care Information Systems Nancy Glaz HCS/533 February, 4, 2013 Sean Kern Evolution of Health Care Information Systems The introduction of Health Information Systems (HIS) to the health care industry has changed the delivery and reimbursement services in the United States (US). The history of information systems (IS) has enhanced communication between patients, providers, and insurance providers. Prior to the information age, health care use a paper method to maintain patient records. Numerous advancements within the information technology (IT) industry have since evolved. Family physicians and small medical practices have incorporated clinical and administrative and rely on its technology. IS have also …show more content…
My experience is in alternative living communities for seniors. I have marketed three assistive living facilities and one independent living community. Sale inquiries, leads, and status’ required computer software to document, track, and maintain various reports. Each facility used different programs, but independently provided the same results. The IS of senior living communities require clinical and administrative applications. I remain in contact with several colleagues and discovered medication administration is paper documentation. I was surprised and shared information learned in HCS/533. Technological Advantages and Events IS respond to external and internal factors providing technological advancements and enhance a consumer driven market. External factors to include economic conditions, health needs, and technology have altered the delivery, reimbursement methods, and applications. Consequently, most health care IS limit the ability to integrate administrative and clinical data. Healthcare administrators must monitor trend lines and internal factors to maintain knowledgeable of federal initiatives and programmatic changes, reimbursement methods, and delivery of services. The 1990s introduced a different reimbursement method in Medicaid and Medicare. Resource-based relative value scale (RBRVS), considered physicians “value” of time, physician work, practice expense, and
Latour, Kathleen and Eichenwald-Maki, eds. (2009). HI300: Information Technology & Systems for Healthcare. Chicago: American Health Information Management Association
The high cost of healthcare continues to rise and many in the United States are optimistic for health information technology to reduce and improve our current situation. Health IT encompasses a broad array of new technologies designed to manage and share health-related information. When properly implemented, these systems can help coordinate patient care, reduce medical errors, and improve administrative efficiency. Therefore, implementing a Regional Health Information Organization (RHIO) will help the National Health Information Network (NHIN) achieve their goals in improving quality of care for the citizens of the United States. Thus, in order for the health IT to deliver on its promise, several obstacles must be overcome.
There are many challenges that are defining the future strategic direction of health care such as information technology advancements, access to health care, maintaining a skilled workforce, proposed health care reform and legislation, and rising costs. I will look at these challenges and how an organization may adapt its direction and strategies in accordance with these challenges.
Grand Hospital was an early proponent of incorporating a health care information system (HIS) at its facility. Computerized clinical data may be stored in aging systems used in proprietary formats which may be difficult for other systems to access. The use of proprietary programs may lock customers into using only specific information systems. Grand Hospital’s HIS is a proprietary system that may not to be able to interact with other programs.
Advances in modern technology surrounds us in our day to day lives, allowing conveniences and efficiency at our fingertips. Great strides have been made over the years with technology, and the healthcare industry along with many other industries have adopted this new way of functioning; electronically. The effects of technology have come to the forefront in where our government has acknowledged the benefits and opportunities. “The promise of Health Information Technology for improving quality and safety of health care while reducing costs has caught the eye of policy makers and other leaders in health care” (Hersh, 2006). It deeply affects how we connect, interact, and communicate internally and externally, but also gives us a sense of control on how we engage ourselves to the innovative software and systems.
Going back hundreds of years, we can trace the history of health care. Although it has evolved over the years, it all has a common goal; to heal those who are ill. Technology is one of the major evolutions and now plays a big role in the health care system. It helps patients to be more involved with their healthcare. They can make appointments, follow up on test results, and contact their doctors. Back then, they didn’t even have all the medicine we have now, let alone the technology. We can only imagine what is in store for the future.
Implementing Health Information System (HIS) in health care is viewed as an effective strategy to deliver safe and integrated patient care. After the introduction of incentive payments to meaningful use of Electronic Health Record (EHR) many health care organizations are actively undergoing the process of HIS implementation or its update to deliver quality care (Boswell, 2011). It is crucial to analyze the factors that will lead to successful implementation of HIS thereby the organizations not only save money but also choose to adopt the technology that is appropriate.
A significant, impactful trend on healthcare organizations (HCOs) is the implementation of technology-based information systems (IS). The systems consist of hardware and software used in gathering and processing data that supports the provision of patient care. There are administrative systems, which have been in place for decades and their usefulness are highly recognized. They track services rendered, billing processes used for third party payers and patients, as well as payroll for employees. Administrative systems are essential for the financial component of a business. More recently, the importance of clinical information systems has moved into the spotlight. They are intended to
While HPMG utilization of health information technology in three distinct manners certainly puts them ahead of many healthcare providers back in 2007, with ARRA and ACA, healthcare providers are required to implement electronic health records in some form. By 2013 over 63% of physicians in the United States adopted electronic health records and another 28% have a system partially implemented or plan to implement one in the next two years (The Commonwealth Fund, 2015). With 91% of physicians either having a system implemented or planning to implement, electronic health records are certainly a system that was replicated throughout healthcare in 2014.
Recent reforms in health care, such as the passage of measures mandating electronic health care records, make unified public health information systems an increasingly viable option for providers, insurance companies, and care facilities. An examination of the experience of the Missouri Department of Health indicates that the construction of such a system based on information engineering has a number of benefits but only if properly implemented with prudent foresight. Some of the most valuable lessons learned that can assist other health care providers with the implementation of a similar system include protecting client confidentiality, procuring funding, sharing information with other agencies, gaining executive sponsorship, and allocating a sufficient amount of time and resources to such an undertaking.
The health care industry is one of the most dynamic and delicate industries in the U.S. having experienced healthy and substantial changes for the last thirty years most of which have aimed to improve health care management and services delivery to the patients. The changes have enabled the integration of technology into the industry such as in the area of informatics, science and research and payment services and clinical treatments. The health care sector has introduced various changes to address disease and health care management such as the Modernization Act of 2003, the Patient Protection Act and Affordable Act, which aim at improving health provision and most
With the rapid growth in technology, many healthcare organizations have embraced the use of healthcare information technologies. As such, the information technology department has various staffs that perform fundamental roles in the information technology-related activities. It ranges from activities of customizing a software to implementing and maintaining a network to ensure effective system backups. In addition, these healthcare information technologies bring about other
The major change from traditional systems to electronic record systems in the healthcare field within the last couple decades has made a huge impact. Patient records, risk management, planning, staff, and more in the organization are affected by the IT staff. “The penetration of Internet access, mobile technologies and social networks collectively offer a future in which it is possible to deliver highly personalized care without necessarily having to do it in person, or even with a doctor.”(Healthcare IT News, n.d.) Many hospitals use paper records for patients long after electronic record technology was available. According to forbes.com in an article published two years ago, less than 2 percent of all healthcare organizations within the United States had and properly deployed information systems.
Information and communication technology has been adopted and implemented within various sectors of the economy. This is attributed to the benefits of technology in facilitating organizational activities and processes and its use in meeting the changes which characterize the modern society. The health sector is one of the industries which have significantly implemented technology. The health sector’s technological applications have been achieved within health information systems. The implementation of technology in this sector has resulted into both positive and negative implications on health
Health information management involves the practice of maintaining and taking care of health records in hospitals, health insurance companies and other health institutions, by the use of electronic means (McWay 176). Storage of medical information is carried out by health information management and HIT professionals using information systems that suit the needs of these institutions. This paper answers four major questions concerning health information systems.