The Health Of Health Information Science

However, health informatics is the kind of application system normally used by most hospitals and clinics to deliver high quality and cost efficient healthcare service to the community. According to Bacon County Hospital press release (2002), the informatics system was implemented to make the delivery of medical services such as surgical treatment and other general treatment faster. In this paper, therefore we look into how the informatics systems/applications has evolved since it was implemented by the Bacon County Hospital; discuss the future trends for healthcare informatics and how these trends impact the healthcare delivery system.

The traditional healthcare services organizations are expected to be transformed in the coming years, to include:

Healthcare systems are highly complex, fragmented, and use multiple information technology systems and vendors who incorporate different standards resulting in inefficiency, waste, and medical errors (Healthinformatics, 2016). A patient 's medical information often gets trapped in silos, which prevents information from being shared with members of the healthcare community (Healthinformatics, 2016). With increasing healthcare costs, a system needed to be created that would lead to the development and nationwide implementation of an interoperable health information technology system to improve the quality and efficiency of healthcare. Introducing the National Health Information Network (NHIN), this organization can be defined as a set of

Health Information, therefore, is not just the patient data but the presentation of this data in a useful form and

Health Information Exchange (HIE) supports both transferring and sharing of health related information that is usually stored in multiple organizations, while maintaining the context and integrity of the information being exchanged (HIE, 2014). The goal of health information exchange is to expedite access to and retrieve clinical data to provide safe efficient, effective, equitable, timelier patient-centered care (HIE, 2014). HIE “provides access and retrieval of patient information to authorized users in order to provide safe, efficient, effective, and timely patient care” (HIE, 2014).

The introduction of information systems in health care industry has made enormous development in patient care and satisfaction. The interoperability of the different systems with in a organization is important to achieve effectiveness of the system. The process of developing and integrating the information system is time consuming, complex and costly. This paper is a report submitted by an informatics director to the chief operating officer of an organization proposing a solution to solve the communication problems within the information system.

Worldwide use of computer technology in medicine began in the early 1950s with the rise of the computers. In 1949, Gustav Wagner established the first professional organization for informatics in Germany. Medical informatics research units began to appear during the 1970s in Poland and in the U.S. Since then the development of high-quality health informatics research, education and infrastructure has been a goal of the U.S. and the European Union. (NYU graduate training program, 2010) Changes in the healthcare environment produced fundamental shifts in the delivery of healthcare. The altering landscape of healthcare is creating a huge demand for health data analytics. The growth and maturity of healthcare informatics over the past decade has been a prime catalyst in positioning the healthcare industry for the changes posed by reform measures. By understanding the process of analytics, clinical informatics specialists say healthcare providers have the insight necessary to make the process adjustments in the future.(Riskin, 2013)

AHIMA recognizes that superior quality health care and clinical data are critical resources needed for effective healthcare, and works to assure that the health information used in care, research, and health management is valid, accurate, complete, trustworthy, and timely. This group is concerned about the effective management of health information from all sources and its application in all forms of healthcare and wellness preservation. Health issues, disease, and care quality also transcend across national borders. AHIMA’s professional interest is in the application of best health information management practices when and wherever they are needed. (The American Health Information Management Association, 2010).

In America, on the state, federal and local Public health organizations use informatics widely. Especially the federal government, most of their research is centered on informatics science and digital technology that will have a great influence on public health. Public health informatics has improved public health and public health services offered to Americans over the last two decades in many ways. For instance, upgrades in technology and transformation in how health care is delivered are just to name a few. Computer systems are not as expensive as the use to be and they are quicker than before. In the past, in information system development projects computer hardware was the foremost expensive cost. Opposed to the past, we now have the World Wide Web that includes graphic and universal communication is also enhanced. The development of the enhanced graphics and communication offers a powerful new example for standardized implementation for all information systems. Streamlining is especially easy since the new development of the web application. Updating and upgrading applications can be accessed immediately without the use of the software. With that being said, the developments in today’s informatics system are more easily made possible and better to understand. Still there is so much being worked on and being more improved upon

Uptake of health information technologies has been limited and varies widely across Canada. According to the 2010 National Physician Survey, about one-third of Canadian physicians were using a combination of paper and electronic records, and 16% were using only electronic records. (2) The Canadian health care system has faced challenges in recent years due to various factors, including changes in the way services are delivered, fiscal constraints, the aging of the baby boom generation, and the high cost of new technology. (1) Adding to this is the size of Canada. Managing a complex, interdependent $100 billion-plus health business requires strong communication throughout the country. (17) Without an integrated IT infostructure, Canada struggles to meet the increasing demands of all its stakeholders to deliver superior care at a sustainable cost. (17)

Health Information Exchange is the electronic movement of healthcare information amongst organizations according to the national standards. HIE as it is widely known, serves the purpose of providing a safe, timely, and efficient way of accessing or retrieving patient clinical data. Health Information Exchange allows for doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and other vital healthcare professionals to have appropriate access and securely share vital medical information regarding patient care. Health Information Exchange has been in efforts of developing for over 20 years in the United States. In 1990 the Community Health Management Information Systems (CHMIS) program was formed by the Hartford Foundation to foster a development of a centralized data repository in seven different geographically defined communities. Many of the communities struggled in securing a cost-effective technology with interoperable data sources and gaining political support. In the mid-1990s a similar initiative began known as the Community Health Information Networks (CHINs) with the intention of sharing data between providers in a more cost-effective manner. In 2004, the Agency for Healthcare Quality and Research Health Information Technology Portfolio was funded $166 million in grants and contracts to improve the quality and safety to support more patient-centered care. This was the beginning of the progress we have seen in HIE today. Health Information Exchange devolvement serves the purpose of improving

Health Information Exchange (HIE) signifies the transmission of health-related data between healthcare facilities, according to national government standards. HIE remains an essential component of the health information technology (HIT). HIE technology must facilitate reliable and secure transfer of data between diverse systems and also enable access and retrieval of data. The purpose of HIE development is to improve healthcare delivery and information gathering. An HIE is not an information system within a single organization. A true HIE involves multi-directional flow of information electronically between providers (hospitals, physicians, clinics, labs) and other sources of administrative or clinical information provided by health care providers

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.

In health care, patients’ lives are in the hands of the health care practitioners, health care organizations, insurance companies, and to some degree, even health care technology. The growth and future implications of evidence-based medicine (EBM) through improvement of technology in health care are important today, because health care practitioners and organizations want to ultimately decrease cost, improve quality of care, and increase access to health care (Glandon, Smaltz, & Slovensky, 2014, p. 28). One way to achieve these goals is through the implementation and improvement of EBM and interoperability which will enhance the efficiency of work production resulting in these positive outcomes. According to Glandon, Smaltz, and Slovensky (2014), EBM is an “information management and learning strategy that seeks to integrate clinical expertise with the best evidence available to make effective clinical decisions that will ultimately improve patient care,” (p. 6). “Interoperability is the ability of different information and communications technology systems and software applications to communicate, to exchange data accurately, effectively, and consistently, and to use information that has been exchanged,” (Iroju, Soriyan, Gambo, & Olaleke, 2013, para. 1). Without interoperability and EBM, fundamental data and information such as patient records cannot be easily shared across and within enterprises having a direct impact on the quality of care. It

The idea of patient being actively engaged and involved in their own health is an important one. It is important that patients have access to technology that can help them keep track and take control of their health. Another important reason why research in Health Informatics is important is the benefit of having an impact on the general public. Research in public health informatics plays a vital role in the prevention of communicable diseases and outbreaks. It can also help public health officials plan better when it comes to