The Use of Management Information Systems within the NHS - Essay Example

Health Information Management According to Oz (10), management information systems are a combination of software and hardware used to process information. It borne in mind; the management information systems entails three resources, which include technology, information, and people. The emerging technologies of electronics in the medical field have been met in a sense of apprehension and excitement. The move towards information management in the health care has enhanced a significant change in health care setting. As a result, the clinical coding professions and the health information management have experienced improvement in their duties and responsibilities. In this case, it borne in mind; health informatics includes clinical guidelines, information and communication systems, and the use of computers. Studies affirm that, the health information management is growing at a high rate, and the results have suggested a significant growth in the medical field (Lucey 29). For instance, computerized information has created a platform for clinicians to improve standards of health care in exchanging and accessing information hence keeping accurate records of the patient. With this regard, managers and clinicians have improved in their competence of care thus, enhancing outcome of quality services. With no doubt; the introduction of information management in health care has enhanced a better management of patient management and health information. In this context, Sadagopan (23) argue that, patients’ documents can be compiled properly thus, eradicating chances of loss of patient’s information and documents. This major effect has been in clinical trails, where documents require to be kept for a period of fifteen and twenty years. Information technology has created an opportunity where documents can be kept securely away from any natural calamity, and be used whenever required. The National Health Service commonly known as (NHS) is undergoing a major renovation enhanced from introducing electronic health devices (Tan 56). As a result, this has attributed to a high standard of health data and information, which in turn has contributed to effective planning and delivery of patient care. In facts, information management needs a sound understanding of health care process in range settings of public health, primary care, social services, and acute services. With this in mind, the aim of this paper is to investigate the use of management information systems within the NHS, and discuss the impact on managers and clinicians. This paper will be divided in various sections to that will help in analyzing health information management. The use of management information systems within the NHS According to Armani (45), information management entails using information to set priorities and make conversant decisions. This includes medical records collected, concerning the patient’s condition and the necessary requirements that would be carried out to enhance quality care. As discussed previously, this enables effective planning and delivery of patient’s care. With the help of emerging technologies, there are various distinct aspects, that can be identified within the National Health Service. In reality, the impact of electronic records in health care has attributed to faster and easier access to data and the availabity of information. In the medical field, most people have responded positively in regards to the impact of electronic devices in health care, which in facts, is said to improve the overall quality care in health care. With this in mind, the following are the importance of management information systems within the NHS. First, with the help of management information systems, medical records can be kept safely away from natural calamity. In this case, the most method used to store and process data is electronic data whereby storage needs electrical power to retrieve and store the data. The most electronic data storage include forms of computer data, which in most cases is considered permanent even when there is no power. Other ways of storing data include database, which enhances an advantage of all data appearing once, and as a result, each program has access to the data it requires. Storing data is paramount since it helps in monitoring the patient’s progress. In facts, NHS keeps data about every patient who visits the clinic. In this case, information concerning the patient is taken such as the identification number, name, address, infirmity, date of infirmity, the date that the patient came to the hospital, treatment imposed to the patient, doctor that stipulated treatment, and change for the treatment. With no doubt, if this information is kept safe, it would obviously be helpful to monitor the patient’s progress at ease. As Ozcan (45) affirms in his research, information technology has played a core role in ensuring that medical records are kept safe and accurate. Through the use of computers, there has been availability of information, which eventually has increased efficiency in the data extraction. Electronic health records has improved access of information whereby health professionals require less time in finding the information of patients. In turn, this has reduced medical errors for medical record can be accessed fast, and kept safely. It borne in mind; humans are prone to make mistakes but with the help of technology devices, there is a guarantee of exceptional health care delivery that is free from medical errors. Prevention of medical errors has ensured quality information in regard to the patient’s condition in the past, present, and probable outcomes in the future. Patients’ condition can be accessed accurately when medical records are collected accurately in that, this enables health professionals to observe notable improvement of patient’s conditions from the past to present records. Eventually, this would improve the patient’s care since; there would be possible initiatives to introduce better care in cases when the patient’s condition may tend to worsen daily. This implies that, when quality information is collected, health professionals are in a better position to identify any notable improvement, and if not, introduce one that would enhance quality care of the patient. Secondly, management information system provides NHS with the information required to manage medical field effectively and efficiently. With the primary source of information, medical experts have developed new tools and methods that enhance quality health. This has been appreciated by Rocheleau (22) who in his research conquer with the fact that, management information systems has enabled medical experts to articulate what contributes to effective and efficient health care. Commonly, management information systems are used in the medical field to allow health professionals to modify and access information. In most situations, doctors gather information in computer systems about the patient’s condition, and eventually, being adequately prepared with procedures that enhance quality health care. The computer system used to research information could be considered as management information system in that it assists doctors to gather information in automating process. Many times, health professionals may find themselves in a fix particularly when the outcome of the drugs prescribed is bad. In such times, most may opt to gather information online, and in due time, gather information regarding the situation. Typically, the emerging technologies have enhanced a significant role of, gathering information online. Thirdly, the aspect of improving managerial effectiveness within the NHS has been linked to information systems. According to Kumar (33), management information systems have created a platform to make effective decisions, which is contingent on managerial sector. It is suggested that, the core responsibility of the manager is to run an organization effectively in, making effective decisions. In this case, the use of computers has increased managerial effectiveness for instance, in making medical records accurate and quicker. With no doubt; quicker access of information has increased the ability to communicate effectively, and eventually, this has enhanced effectiveness in health care (McGlynn 33). Fourthly, as discussed by Conrick (22), management information systems entail three resources, which include technology, information, and people. In this case, Brown (10) argue that, management system have their own expert whose duties is to implement emerging technologies within a medical field. Particularly, this has allowed health professionals to focus on different sections within the computer. In National Health Service, management information systems have been used to process data in an accurate way. Globally, health professionals have embraced information system in filling data, whereby the patient’s information is filled. With the help of computers, NHS can fill data precisely, which saves time in finding out the information later. In this case, when the patient’s information is recorded electronically, it becomes easier to monitor the patient’s progress in an accurate way. Medically, keeping the patient’s records is paramount since it enables doctors to identify the patient with his or her respective health issues. Impact on managers and clinicians in health care In essence, both managers and clinicians play a vital role in decision making. With the help of management information systems, both managers and clinicians keep their records at ease, which becomes easier to access (Forester 56). As discussed previously, having adequate information is important in health care since it enables those in leadership to exercise their duties effectively. In this context, there are various impacts of managers and clinicians on health care as discussed below. First, they manages all services that covers the day ranging from patient to stakeholders thus, ensuring that there is proper management of the hospital. Secondly, both managers and clinicians enhances outcome of quality services in health care. In doing this, they ensure that patients’ records are kept in the data, for easy assessing of patients progress. Such information includes the date of illness, the first treatment taken, who prescribed the treatment, and any possible improvement (Reis 20). Through the use of computers, information is easily accessed, which eventually increases efficiency in the data extraction. Thirdly, they ensure that all health professionals align to nursing ethics that depict out that all patients to be treated equally. Fourthly, both managers and clinicians offer direction in NHS that aims at giving out the best services to augment patient’s care (Kirk 56). In facts, the core duty of the manager is to run an organization effectively, and In this case, the use of computers has increased managerial impact in making medical records accurate and quicker. In turn, quicker access of information has increased the ability to communicate effectively with all health workers in the organizations and as a result, decisions have been made more effectively (Hovenga 29). Conclusion As discussed in the paper, management information systems are software and hardware used to process information (O’Carroll 25). These entail three resources, which include technology, information, and people. The health information management has enhanced a significant growth in the medical field. This paper has discussed various benefits that emerge from using management information systems in NHS as follow. First, medical records are kept safely away from natural calamity, whereby various methods to store and process data are put in place. In this case, the most electronically data used is computer data and database. In facts, computers have enhanced availability of information, which has increased efficiency in the data extraction. Still, Electronic health records have augmented access of information. Secondly, management information system provides information required to manage medical field effectively and efficiently. Having adequate information has enabled NHS to expand as doctors carry out their roles more effectively with the use of electronic devices (Powner 87). Thirdly, management information systems have increased managerial effectiveness, and NHS can fill data precisely, which saves time in finding out the information later. The paper has also discussed that, both managers and clinicians play an imperative role in decision- making. They ensure that nursing ethics are exercised with an aim that depict out equality in health care. With this in mind, this paper has investigated the use of management information systems within the NHS, and discussed the impact on managers and clinicians. Works cited Armoni, Adi. Healthcare information systems: challenges of the new millennium. London: Idea Group Inc (IGI), 1999. Print. Brown, Montague. Health care management: strategy, structure, and process. London: Jones & Bartlett Learning, 1992. Print. Conrick, Moya. Health Informatics. Sydney: Cengage Learning Australia, 2006. Print. Forester, Tom. The Information technology revolution.London: MIT Press, 1995. Print. Hovenga, Evelyn. Health informatics: an overview. London: OS Press, 2010. Print. Kirk, Amanda. Information Technology. London: Infobase Publishing, 2009. Print. Kumar, Harish. Management information system: a conceptual and empirical approach. London: Ashish Pub. House, 2007. Print. Lucey, Terence. Management information systems. New York: Cengage Learning EMEA, 2004. Print. McGlynn, Elizabeth. Health information systems: design issues and analytic applications. California: Rand Corporation, 1998. Print. O’Carroll, Patrick. Public health informatics and information systems. New York: Springer, 2003. Print. Oz, Effy. Management Information Systems. New York: Cengage Learning, 2008. Print. Ozcan, Yasar. Quantitative methods in health care management: techniques and applications. New York: John Wiley and Sons, 2009. Print. Powner, David. Information Technology: Federal Laws, Regulations, and Mandatory Standards for Securing Private Sector IT Systems and Data in Critical Infrastructure Sectors. New York: DIANE Publishing, 2009. Print. Reis, Ricardo. Information technology: selected tutorials : IFIP 18th World Computer Congress tutorials, 22-27 August 2004, Toulouse, France. New York: Springer, 2004. Print. Rocheleau, Bruce. Public management information systems. London: Idea Group Inc (IGI), 2006. Print. Sadagopan, Simon. Management Information Systems. London: PHI Learning Pvt. Ltd., 2004. Print. Tan, Joseph. Health management information systems: methods and practical applications. California: Jones & Bartlett Learning, 2001. Print. Read More