ELEMENTS OF INFORMATION LITERACY

LESSON 5:
HEALTH INFORMATION SYSTEMS AND 2. Access – it comes in variety of ways:
LITERACY Population Based (Census, Registration, Surveys)
and Institutional Based (Individual Records, Service
Records).
In Health Informatics or Health Information System,
it is very important to the health care professionals 3. Evaluate
that they were literate not only in the language of
• ACCURACY – is it the information you need?
computer but also to the information and the system
he/she handles and manages. • AUTHORITY – is it credible?

• Literacy is the ability, confidence and • OBJECTIVITY – supporting information

willingness to engage with language to acquire,
construct and communicate meaning in all
aspects of daily living, there are three types of
literacy, Computer Literacy, Information
Literacy and Information System Literacy.
• Computer Literacy it is knowledge in
computer hardware and software applications
• Information Literacy is the ability to
recognize the information needed to be stored
and discarded
• Information System Literacy is the
ability to know how the information systems
work.
Health information can help the clinicians to make
good strong decisions to provide proper patient
management
ELEMENTS OF INFORMATION LITERACY
• CURRENCY – does the information updated?
• COVERAGE – Is it complete? Is it available?
4. Organize - Organize the information
gathered in a way that provides clarity to the
question/cases.
5. Use - Last element of information literacy.
Date and information can be utilized to answer and
make better decisions.
HIERARCHY OF DATA/INFORMATION IN
INFORMATION SYSTEM LITERACY
1. Data – a thing, no meaningful relationship to
anything else. Factual
2. Information – formatted, filtered, organized,
structure interpreted and summarized data.
3. Knowledge – application of information to
make a decision or take an action.
4. Wisdom – if the expertise is added in the
knowledge.

1. Recognize - Describe the question you’re

trying to answer. The information needed by the
clinicians.
INFORMATION SYSTEM COVERS ALL THREE
LEVELS:
1. Database – data level
2. Information storage and retrieval
system – information level
3. Knowledge system – knowledge level.
Information system makes a slow progress in terms
of health services. WHERE IT IS LOCATED?
1. In-house – developed and managed in the
health care organization
2. Shared – developed and managed at the
vendor site
3. Turnkey system – developed by vendor,
installed and managed by health care
organization
4. Stand-alone – lack of information sharing.
Legacy system.
➢ Health Informatics- the application of both
technology and systems in a health care setting.
Health information technology focuses in tools,
health information systems cover the records,
coding, documentation, and administration of
patient and ancillary services.
➢ Health Information (HIS) cover systems that capture,
store, manage, and transmit health-related
information that can be sourced from individuals or
activities of health institution. Includes disease
surveillance systems, district level routine
information systems, hospital patient administration
systems (PAS), human resources management
information systems (HRMIS) and Laboratory
Information System (LIS).
➢ The information collected from a well-functioning
HIS is useful in policymaking and decision making of
health institutions and the basis in creating program
action. Translates efficient resource allocation at the
policy level, and improvement quality and
effectiveness of health at delivery level. HIS should
be sustainable, user-friendly, and economical. Health
care personnel should be educated on the use of the
routine data collected from the system and the
significance of good quality data in improving health
(Pacific Health Information Network, 2016).
TYPES OF HEALTH INFORMATION SYSTEM:
1. Operational and tactical systems (Work
Instructions, Procedural Manual, Lab
Guidelines)
2. Clinical and administrative systems
3. Subject and task-based systems (Electronic
Medical/Health Records)
4. Financial systems (Billing, revenues)
ROLES AND FUNCTIONS OF HEALTH
INFORMATION SYSTEM
Sheahan (2017) defines health information systems (HIS) as a mechanism
which keeps track of all data related to the patient such as patient’s medical
history, contact information, medication logs, appointment schedule, insurance
information, and financial account including billing and payment.
1. Easier access to files. The systems have
revolutionized the collection and
management of patient information. The need
of hardcopy of the patient’s medical records
becomes optional as the systems are
electronic.
2. Better control. Only authorized personnel
can have access information on the patient’s
health. Doctors may be given permission to
update patient information while a
receptionist may only have the authority to
update patient appointments.
3. Easier update. After creation of the record,
patient information can be accessed and
reviewed any time and copies can be printed
and released to the patient upon request.
4. Improved communications. HIS assists
communication among doctor and hospitals.
However, medical professionals must adhere
to regulations on patient privacy and security
to ensure that information is kept confidential
and safe from the unauthorized access.
COMPONENTS OF HEALTH INFORMATION
SYSTEMS
The Health Metrics Network (HMN), in its Framework and
Standards for Country Health Information Systems (2008),
defines health information systems as consisting of six
components.
1. Health Information Systems Resources -
these include the framework on legislation,
regulation, planning, and the resources
required for the system to be fully functional.
(e.g., personnel, logistics support, financing,
ICT, and the component’s coordinating
mechanism).
2. Indicators - the basis of the HIS plan and
strategy includes indicators and related
targets such as the determinants of health;
health system inputs, outputs and outcomes;
and the health status.
3. Data Sources- It is divided into two main
categories: Population based and Institution
based.
4. Data management - it refers to handling of
data, starting from collection and storage to
data flow and quality assurance, processing,
compilation and data analysis.
5. Information products. – Data is
transformed into useful information that
serves as evidence and provides insight
crucial to shaping health in action.
6. Dissemination and use – HIS enhance the
value of health information by making it
readily available to policymakers and data
users
INPUTS – refer to the health information system
resources.
PROCESS – it is a core indictor are needed as bases
for program planning, monitoring and evaluation.
OUTPUTS – refers to the transformation of data into
information that can be used for decision-making and
to the dissemination and use of such information.
DIFFERENT DATA SOURCES FOR HEALTH
INFORMATION SYSTEMS
1. Demographic data – refers to the facts about the
patient which include age and birthdate, gender,
marital status, address of residence, race and
ethnic origin. Information on educational
background and employment is also recorded
along with information on immediate family
members to be contacted during emergency.
2. Administrative data – includes information on
services such as diagnostic tests or out-patient
procedures, kind of practitioner, physician’s
specialty, nature of institution, and charges and
payments.
3. Health risk information – records the lifestyle
and behavior of a patient and fact about his or her
family’s history and other genetic factors.
4. Health status – refers to the quality of life that a
patient leads which is crucial to his or her health.
This shows the domains of health which include
physical functioning, mental and emotional well-
being, cognitive functioning, and social
functioning.
5. Patient medical history – gives information on
past medical encounters like hospital admissions,
pregnancies and live births, surgical procedures,
and the like. It also includes previous illnesses
and family history.
6. Current medical arrangement – reflects the
patient’s health screening sessions, diagnoses,
allergies (especially on medications), current
health problems, medications, diagnostics or
therapeutic procedures, laboratory test, and
counselling on health problems.
7. Outcomes data – present the measures of after
effects of healthcare and of various health
problems. These data usually show the health
care events (e.g., readmission to hospital,
unexpected complications or side effects) and
measures of satisfactions with care. Outcomes
directly reported by the patient after treatment
will be most useful.
ADVANTAGES OF HEALTH INFORMATION
SYSTEMS:
1. Data Centralization. Health Information
System help to keep all data centralized bridging
geographical barriers as any patients’ files can be
accessed from any hospital or clinic provided,
they are connected to the central database.
2. Increase Efficiency. It is a result of easy
accessibility of the patient’s information such as
patient histories as there are no need to wait for
the physical file to be brought. It is also
eliminating some clerical processes such
appointment reminders and laboratory result
notifications.
3. Security and Confidentiality. Health
Information Systems help improve the security of
patient health information as they usually require
authentication to be accessed.
4. Storage and access capabilities: With
electronic files there is potential for increased
storage capabilities and the files can be accessed
by multiple sites at the same time.
5. Increased Accuracy. Health Information
System can be built with the ability to detect and
flag results that seem out of range or even life-
threatening drug combinations. The detecting of
abnormal results can help with accuracy but does
not completely do away with human error during
data entry.
DISADVANTAGE OF HEALTH INFORMATION
SYSTEMS
1. Cost. The biggest problem associated with HIS
is costly for many reasons there is actual system,
which in most cases needs to be custom
developed and this will expensive, then there is
hardware that will be used to house the system
that will also run up the costs. Training costs.
2. Learning Curve. Some people are resistant to
change and even after the training they might be
hesitant to use the new system as it might have a
lot to learn.
LESSON 6: HEALTH MANAGEMENT
INFORMATION SYSTEMS
Health Management Information System (HMIS)
- is an information system specially designed to assist
in the management and planning of health programs,
as opposed to delivery of care.
ROLES OF THE HMIS
1. Complete- all information but avoiding
duplication
2. Consistent- assigning different definitions to
similar information from various sources.
3. Clear- as to what measured elements
4. Simple to use
5. Cost Effective- providing all the benefits
6. Accessible- should be able to use the system at
ease
7. Confidential- patient information is the top
priority.

BASIC FUNCTIONS OF HEALTH MANAGEMENT
INFORMATION SYSTEM
1. Data input – includes data acquisition and data
verification.
a. Data acquisition – refers to the generation
and collection of data through the input of
standard coded formats (e.g., bar codes) to
assist in the faster mechanical reading and
capturing the data.
b. Data Verification – involves the data
authentication and validation. The authority,
validity and reliability of the data sources
help ensure quality of the gathered data.
2. Data management – also called processing
phase, includes data storage, data classification,
data update, and data computation.
a. Data storage – includes preservation and
archiving the data. It is advisable that data
which are no longer actively used should be
archived. At times, it is mandatory and part
of legislation.
b. Data classification – also called as data
organization which sets the efficiency of the
system. Key parameters should be used for
data classification scheme for easier data
search.
c. Data computation - requires various forms
of data manipulation and data transformation
(ex. Math models, linear and nonlinear
transformations, statistical and probabilistic
approaches and other data analytic
processes). This function allows data
analysis, synthesis, and evaluation so that the
data can be used not only for decision-
making but also for other tactical and
operational use.
d. Data update – facilitates new and changing
information and requires constant
monitoring. For HMIS, the mechanism for
data maintenance must be in place for
updating changes for manual or automated
transactions.
3. Data output – includes data retrieval and data
presentation.
a. Data retrieval pertains to process of data
transfer and data distribution. The transfer
process considers the duration of transmittal
of required data from the source to the
appropriate end-users. The economics of
producing the needed information is a
significant criterion.
b. Data presentation is the reporting of the
interpretation of the information produced by
the system. Summary tables and statistical
reports are expected but the use of visuals is
encouraged especially for high-level
managerial decision-making because they
provide a better intuitive perspective of the
data trend.
DETERMINANTS OF HMIS PERFORMANCE
AREA
• Behavioral determinants. The data collector and
users of the HMIS need to have confidence,
motivation and competence to perform HMIS tasks
in order to improve the Routine Health Information
System (RHIS) process.
PRISM FRAMEWORK
The Performance of Routine Information Systems
Management (PRISM) is a conceptual framework
that broadens the analysis of HMIS or RHIS by
including the three determinants of HMIS
performance.

• Organizational determinants. Health workers and

data collectors work in organizations’ environments
which have value, norms, culture and practice. The
most important organizational factor which affects
the RHIS process is related to structure, resource,
procedure, support services and the culture.

• Technical determinants. Technical factors

involve the overall design used in the collection of
the information. It comprises the complexity of the
reporting forms, the procedure set forward in the
collection of data, the overall design of the computer
software used in the collection of information.
LIST OF FUNCTIONS OF HMIS