Adaptive Health Management Information Systems - Report Example

HIM Acquisition and Implementation Plan of Current HIM framework Overview 100 Information is essential in running efficiently several sectors of the organization. Maintaining storing and retrieval of patient health information in a way that is fast, reliable and keeping privacy required is a key element in every healthcare information system management. UCFS has ensured that through appropriate measures and federal laws governing health care practices, they have installed the appropriate system to help better the services they offer. Installation and use of advanced APEX system has ensured appropriate medical coding, medical transcription, medical necessity, and medical staff support, assembling of medical records, maintenance, record filling, privacy and top security required. Consideration has been placed on how patient’s information is to be released to various departments requiring it like the doctors, physicians, the patients, insurance agencies and government in a way that preserves privacy and security. This is done after obtaining a valid authorization for release of such protected health information without going against the code of conduct. Since the information is readily available through this system, the healthcare providers have been highly trained within a period of three months to be able to maintain confidentiality and challenges accompanying it. Current vendors Users and developers of healthcare system are both concerned with and seek to address interoperability issues which impact the general clinical care. Current healthcare information technology system vendors help in developing standard-based solutions. Vendors are paid to deliver services which ensure that the current system works as required. Healthcare IT specialists have been assigned by the Apex developers and, under the policies of the hospital, have been trained to ensure that they keep the privacy required. The doctors also form part of the vendors since they are paid to ensure that they maintain supply of updated information and records for the running of the system (Tan & Payton, 2010, p. 9). Challenges to vendors and HIM framework The organization is facing the challenge of maintaining ongoing research efforts which are supposed to monitor and evaluate effects of information management and technology to entire shareholders. Making every party involved to understand the importance of transformation process and acknowledging practice reorganization. The demands of maintaining the system, and general balance of advanced and novice technological users are rather high. The whole process of training staff members and making them flexible to adapt to demands of the emerging advances in technology has been very difficult. Expenses of maintaining the system and training of every staff involved have been a major problem to operation of UCSF health center. Maximizing functionality while at the same time minimizing overall expenses resulted to reducing certain activities of the clinic. Initial installation process has been hectic for vendors since they have been strained past their normal daily activity so as to ensure that the project comes out successful. Difficulties are found when most of healthcare providers are used to the outdated system of information storage, hence making it very difficult to make maintenance of the current system. Needs of HIM and standards associated HIM main purpose is to ensure that correct information on hospital activities regarding their patients is stored in a way that is more convenient for easy operation. This involves conformation to prevailing safety and privacy standards of healthcare practices. Also, information required to be filled in the system requires to be updated every moment any detail of the patient changes. Therefore, it is upon the department manning the system and the entire clinic to cooperate in a way that will ensure efficient operation of the system. Through this system, HIM expects to improve on the quality care, reduce duplication of tests and their resultant expenses, and make it easy to access data and obtaining of more accurate health demographics from the patients and the community at large. Recommendations Vendors operate for the benefit of the organization that employs them. Therefore, providing quality services at the most cost effective way is required of them. Clinical decisions are made from the health information compiled and stored in the system. Vendors therefore have ensured correct timely information that is convenient in conducting health research. The data provided enables supporting, developing and making informed decisions on an individual’s health standards hence making correct judgment basing on his or her history. Groups of special needs can easily be sampled out by the healthcare providers so that special arrangements can be made as appropriate. The data made available by the system is essential in supporting public functions monitoring and evaluating the general healthcare services provided by the clinic. Healthcare information standards require that any information on patients should be handled with great privacy. Therefore in its implementation process, vendors consider following the good practice guidelines. Protecting patient’s information through confidential measures will help in keeping with the regulation standards. This includes issues like information access, storage, disposal or even disclosure. Obtaining of valid authorization helps ensure that the information to be released falls in the right hands of trained individuals. Adhering to the HIPAA regulations where patient’s information is only to be shared under his or her consent and within the framework of healthcare practices. Federal guidelines governing healthcare information systems demand that patient information should not be disclosed to any party without the knowledge and permission of the patient. Health care information systems have ensured that there is easy access to and retrieval of information for the patients and the concerned party but still ensuring they work within the laws and regulations provided. The state considers that standards for privacy of individually identifiable health information be observed by all healthcare providers. The Privacy Act of 1974 gave patient control over their information hence checking it and giving the right to access by any party. Medicare condition of participation considers protection and safeguarding of the patient information by the HIM in every way so that it may not fall on the wrong hands, accessed without permission or destroyed. Therefore implementation of the HIM systems should consider all the relevant laws and regulations concerning the health and privacy of the patients. Vendor solution based on review The state of art electronic system is able to compile a single electronic health record for all patients attending UCFS. Exchange of information between staff is quick and it facilitates retrieval through coding. It is designed to operate on a single platform where it delivers support, reliability and usability of the information in the best way possible. It incorporates the use of access codes for those only required to access the patient information hence providing security. It allows prescribing of medications electronically, keep track of the patient and link health providers across various departments for easy sharing of information. Value is created for the vendors in the way they are able to interact with the system. Track of experience and great work achieved through the use of the system is electronically stored for future references. The system is able to detect and report errors that require correction hence proving its efficiency. Ability to limit access of information by parties that should not have it allows the vendors to keep There existed potential security risks for the past system of information handling but have entirely been eliminated by the installation of the current system. The Apex system allows for maximum security and compliance with the healthcare standards and regulations easily. The information stored is safe in that the system allows use of access codes, backup plan in case there are disruptions. Exposure of patient information could only have been made by the research teams which collect the information for research purposes. However, strict regulations have been placed in position to avoid leaking of the information or its subsequent use by parties that are not allowed to access the information. References Tan, J., & Payton, F. (2010). Adaptive Health Management Information Systems: Concepts, Cases, & Practical Applications. U.S.A: Jones & Bartlett Learning. Read More