Health Information Management Systems Strategic Plan - Term Paper Example

Health Information Management Systems (HIMS) Strategic Plan Number The Paper Outline I. Introduction of the strategic plan II. The Internal Medicine Clinic (i) Strengths (ii) Weaknesses (iii) . Opportunities (iv) (iv). Threats III. Strategic Plan process (i) Vision (ii) Mission Statement (iv). Business Objectives (v). Key strategies IV. Critical Assumptions and Risks (i) Strategies for Strengthening Priority HIMS Components (ii) Major Goals V. Summary of HIMS Resource Requirements VI. Summary of Cost requirements VII. Expected Products, Milestones and Benefits VIII. Appendices IX. References I. Introduction to the Strategic Plan The purpose of this strategic plan is to illustrate the significance of the health information management system (HIMS) in the XYZ world. And to achieve this, activities related to HIMS in XYZ in will be reviewed. XYZ’s Internal Medicine Clinic provides healthcare services for all health conditions of patients. The outcome of this HIS strategic research is expected to illustrate a strategic appraisal and introductory determining factors for implementation in acknowledging areas that need improvement and enable effective preparations for prospective health information system programs as indicated in Figure 1. II. The Internal Medicine Clinic (i) Strengths In strengths and opportunities, the significance of the systems in terms of the accuracy of data keeping, and ways through which the process can be improved are looked to earn the process more credibility by limiting avoidable medical errors. Due to advancing technological innovation n the contemporary world, HIMS programs are more preferred to primitive conventional data collection and maintenance processes, which was mainly kept on hard copies (Emmendorfer et al, 2012; Diana, Kazley, & Menachemi, 2011). (ii). Weaknesses Although, there is substantial support for development of the HIMS within the department in different quarters, the implementation of HIMS has been uneven since the technological growth reached a crescendo in the first decade of the twenty-first century. This has impacted a disorderly system. In light of this, it is imperative to address matters relating to human resourcing and HIMS organization within the facility, and the regional offices to guarantee sustainability of personnel or technologies. Further, current techniques of data gathering are overly complex and are largely problematic for clinicians to use. (iii). Opportunities The XYZ’s Internal Medicine Clinic has immense opportunities that will likely result in its HIMS growth and development. An issue such as increasing market segments, which are set to develop in the current technology aided world, are one such opportunity. Further, globalization through, brought about by the Internet revolution is likely to offer immense outsourcing potential for clients across the globe. Distribution channels looking forward to new and effective treatment options, for instance, will likely impact positively on not only the department but the whole XYZ facility. (iv). Threats The entrance of several players in the healthcare market will likely shrink the returns the company gets from the targeted market of clients in need of the Internal Medicine Clinic services. New technology may make products obsolescent. High cost of HIMS maintenance and unpredictable economic conditions could hamper demand for the treatment options offered by the smaller unit of the facility. II. Strategic Plan process (i) Vision Setting up and maintaining a credible HIMS that reduces medical errors and guarantees clients proper health care and other related support services. This is achieved by establishing effective software, hardware and proficient personnel within the unit. The vision for the XYZ’s internal medicine unit within 5 years time is: will be carrying out the operations from a 500 sq. ft. unit within the facility. Its annual revenue will of $120,000 will be expected to be profitable. The unit will seek the services of health experts mainly proficient in surgery, nursing, support and management team. XYZ will offer cutting edge products and offer value-added services to a big customer base via the HIMS market segments. The Internal Medicine Clinic will offer be technical assistance and several clear-cut services as an improvement over possible offerings of rival facilities. The unit will maintain the growth and acquisitions in HIMS related options. (ii) Mission Statement The main purpose and responsibility of the Internal Medicine Clinic revolves around the structuring, developing and promoting advanced HIMS systems for expert data gathering and management and swift transaction processes. These web-based networks work with professional computer hardware and software supplied by genuine companies. Genuine systems with proper security forms the hallmark of ht e XYZ’s unit and aids proper record keeping to avoid the likelihood of medical errors that may be too costly for the facility. XYZ’s HIMS are distinguished from rivalry by their complicated crossing points, scalability and simplicity of improvement and are highly patented to avoid security concerns. Revenues are collected directly by computerized credit card and other modern technology options that are not prone to errors. (iv). Business Objectives To improve patient health care services through credible health information systems. To improve the well-being of general society by providing quality care. (v). Key strategies The following important measures will be pursued by the unit include; enhancing new product development by empowering Research and Development team; expanding connections with important technology networks; promoting extra venture technology assets; promoting HIMS among senior managers. Further, the following vital strategies will also form the basis of the strategic plan: finding new premises within the XYZ facility; commission evaluations of key market opportunities; start taking part in public awareness campaigns; developing market entry plans in other regions; venturing in strategic agreements with corresponding HIMS partners; and striving to improve the presence and exploitation of cutting edge technology in health care service provision. (vi). Critical Assumptions and Risks That once a client enters the health facility, he/she should be given adequate attention That every patient is ever right and must be accorded due respect That all the health professionals dealing with patients must handle them with care despite the contagious nature of their illnesses (vii). Strategies for Strengthening Priority HIMS Components Maintaining proper security measures to safeguard the systems from hacking. Proper maintenance of the records through regular updating would limit chances of loopholes in the provision of quality care, due to medical errors. Precision around these organizational issues is imperative to the effective future management of the HIMS, especially in an unpredictable competitive and demanding nature of a contemporary the hospital facility. (viii). Major Goals HIMS are aimed to promote daily operations within the unit: these include management decisions, preparation and setting of what should be solved first for effective provision of health services (Menon, Yaylacicegi, & Cezar, 2009). Further, information should form the basis of the response to data collection professionals; that is, the physicians, nursing staffs and health workers in the village, to demonstrate its advantages and essence to them. It is vital to incorporate all health supervisors in laying the foundation and management of information in reaching decisions related to planning and setting of health care priorities. Proper management of HIMS within the hospital facility, could result in more security of the Information systems; better patient service; more returns; Low employee turnover; and better services (Emmendorfer et al, 2012). Financially, the following important goals will be realized by the XYZ unit within three years: achieve revenue of $500,000 million by 2005; register yearly profits of $200,000 million in 2014; secure 5% of the $300 billion market segment by 2014. The unit will be transformed into the largest user of HIMS in the organization within 3 years. The strategic action programs that will be put to practice is as follows: The head of the department will plan complete business plan and find ways of raising the venture capital within half a year. This will enhance a review of the facility’s R&D in order to cash in on the immense opportunities of technology. (viii). Summary of HIS Resource Requirements Generally, all kinds of HIMS resources are operated in client-server networks and data processing within an organization. Most HIMS programs are supported by resident systems. Mobile computing has undergone remarkable evolution from the movable personal computers to portable PC such as tablets and Smartphone devices and software. Despite the tremendous technology developments, cloud computing is yet to be approved. This comes in the wake of data security issues of health records of clients. An effective HIS can be hosted by one or several applications with a particular use (Emmendorfer et al, 2012). Numerous sub-systems of applications can be significant use in the medical units. Notably, HIMSs can at times be divided into specific categories to enhance productivity. Such categories in a health care facility may include those that aid the monitoring of effective operations of the hospital staff and the other based on storage and management of patient data. Although, the coding usually varies, it is important in avoiding the chances of medical errors. According to Diana, Kazley, and Menachemi (2011), these involve the major tenets of HIMS, without which the process would be prone with errors. XYZ prioritizes HIMS, thus has advanced its IT resources and infrastructure. These resources encompass software, hardware and network systems (Lloyd et al, 2011). The maintenance of the network systems within various departments of the entire organization falls within the ICT department, which manages the Information Systems Unit (ISU). It is notable that the ISU maintains the organization’s fiscal system and runs all online communication processes within the organization. Hardware devices such as computers, printers and related devices are in regular usage at XYZ, with electricity supply relatively reliable, although a generator is sometimes used to when the facility faces a power outage. A catalog of all tangible computer components is maintained by the facility’s Corporate Services. The records indicate that about 200, such devices are operational. The records are reviewed on a monthly basis to keep it credible. Each new hardware device introduced for use is marked with a unique code to enable easy replacement once it is worn out. There are standardized procurement processes for hardware; therefore, a large number of the existing equipment is purchased leading to some kind of uniformity of the hardware used by the facility. This results in easier maintenance and supply of consumables as they are compatible. (ix) Summary of Cost Requirements To effectively maintain HIMS in the facility, the organization should rely on staffs that are knowledgeable on information systems. These would include about 20 ICT graduates; whose salaries would be $1,000 each per month inclusive of allowances (Lloyd et al, 2011). Effective servers with high-speed Internet connection (at a fee of $300 per month) would contribute toward effective HIMS systems in the organization. In a nutshell, adequate financial resources to maintain the machines and human resources, is the only panacea to effective HIMS. (x). Expected Products, Milestones and Benefits Ideally, HIMS should promote daily operations within the facility: these include management decisions, preparation and setting of what should be solved first for effective provision of health services (Menon, Yaylacicegi, & Cezar, 2009). Further, information should form the basis of the response to data collection professionals; that is, the physicians, nursing staffs and health workers in the village, to demonstrate its advantages and essence to them. It is vital to incorporate all health supervisors in laying the foundation and management of information in reaching decisions related to planning and setting of health care priorities. Proper management of HIMS within the hospital facility, could result in more security of the Information systems; better patient service; more returns; Low employee turnover; and better services (Emmendorfer et al, 2012). Appendices Fig. 1: Organisational structure of XYZ facility References Diana, M.L., Kazley, A.S., & Menachemi, N. (2011). An Assessment of Health Care Information and Management Systems Society and Leapfrog Data on Computerized Provider Order Entry. Health Services Research, 46(5), 1575-1591. Emmendorfer, T., Glassman, P.A., Moore, V., Leadholm, T.C., Good, C.B., & Cunningham, F. (2012). Monitoring adverse drug reactions across a nationwide health care system using information technology. American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy, 69(4), 321-328. Lloyd, S., Collie, J., McInnes, A., King, K., Lollback, A., & Garland, A. (2011). Smart use of data, information and communication: The INFORM-ed Best Local Practice Project - Grafton Base Hospital. Health Information Management Journal, 40(3), 26-30. Menon, N.M., Yaylacicegi, U., & Cezar, A. (2009). Differential Effects of the Two Types of Information Systems: A Hospital-Based Study. Journal of Management Information Systems, 26(1), 297-316. Read More