Health Information

System Introduction and Concepts

Maria Bea C. Lao, RMT, MSMT

Health Information System
AY 2019-2020
Health Care
in the sector

Health • “glue” that links health information to

Information Management
the health care delivery system

Information Technology • Critically necessary tool

• The world’s most information-intense • BUT NOT SUFFICIENT for ensuring
industry effective management support
• Complexity and uncertainties inherent
Health Institutions and
Information Processing
HEALTH INFORMATION SYSTEM

- Strongly influence quality and efficiency of health

care;
- Technical progress offers advanced opportunities
to support health care.
What is the significance of
information systems for health care?
1. Information processing
a. Important quality factor, but an enormous cost
factor (productivity factor)
 b. Should offer a holistic view of the patient and of
the hospital.
c. MEMORY and NERVOUS system of the hospital
Effects of Information System
Examples:
a. Incorrect reports → may lead to erroneous and even harmful
treatment decisions
b. Repeated Examinations or Lost Findings → have to be searched,
and the cost of health care may increase.
c. Information should be documented adequately → enabling health
care professional to access the information needed and to make
sound decisions.
“In general clinical patient-related information should be available ON
TIME, and it should be UP-TO-DATE and VALID”
Note: Information processing as a cost factor

2007 data:
- States of OECD spent between 6% and 15% of
their total gross domestic product for health
care
- Computer-based and non-computer-based
information
NOTE: Information as a productivity factor
 st
21 century – century of information technology or
information society

Informatics and information and communication technology

(ICT) are playing a key role

PRODUCTIVITY = ration of output and input

Hospital based productivity = ratio of number of cases and
full-time employees
Note: Holistic View of the patient
“information processing in a hospital should offer a
comprehensive, holistic view of the patient and the
hospital”

HOLISTIC – have complete picture of the care of a patient

available, independent of health care institutions and hospital
departments in which the patient has been or will be treated.
* This holistic view can reduce undesired consequences of
highly specialized medicine with various departments and
health care professionals involved in patient care.
Note: HIS as MEMORY and NERVOUS SYSTEM

-Comprising the information processing and

 storage in a hospital to a certain extent can
be compared to the information processing
of human being.
-Also receives, transmits, processes, stores
and present information
Health Institutions and Information
Processing

A paper-based
patient record
archive as one
 information
storing part of the
hospital's memory
and nervous
system
Health Institutions and Information
Processing

Snapshot in a server
room of a hospital
showing the
computer-based
 nerve cords of the
hospital's memory
and nervous system
Information and
Communication Technology

-Impact on quality of care

-Impact on economics
-Changing health care
Impact on quality of health care

✓ computer-supported information systems ✓+

clinical documentation and knowledge-based
decision support system

LEADS to: progress on costs and quality of

information processing in health care
Impact on economics
ICT worldwide market volume is nearly 2.5 trillion € in
2009 with a growth rake of about 5% per year

✓Major factor for quality and efficiency of health

care ✓ICT in health care also emerged to a leading
industry ✓Increase in economic relevance (in health
care)
Changing health care
1. Computer-based tools and Computer-based
trainings
2. Computer-based documentation
3. Decision Support Tools
4. Communication using technology
Importance of Systematic
Information Management
❖All groups of people and all areas of a hospital
depend on its quality
❖The amount of information processing in
hospitals is considerable
❖Health care professional frequently work with
 the same data
Health Institutions and Information

Processing Summary
Information processing:

• Is an important quality factor, but an enormous cost factor as well.

• Is becoming a productivity factor
• Should offer a holistic view of the patient and of the hospital.

A hospital information system can be regarded as the memory and

nervous system of a hospital

Information and communication technology has become economically important

and decisive for the quality of health care. It will continue to change health care
Health Institutions and Information
Processing The integrated processing of information is important
because:
• all groups of people and all areas of a hospital depend on its quality,
• the amount of information processing in hospitals is considerable, and
• health care professionals frequently work with the same data

The systematic processing of information:

• contributes to high-quality patient care, and

• reduces costs

Information processing in hospitals is complex and therefore we need:

• the systematic management and operation of hospital information systems, and •

medical informatics specialists responsible for the management and operation of hospital