Month: November 2023

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The Integral Role of Health Information Technology in Health Administration: A Review of the Literature

By Stephen Fitzmeyer, MD

Introduction:

In the healthcare industry, effective management of health information is essential for ensuring high-quality patient care, controlling costs, and improving overall health outcomes. Health information technology (health IT) plays a critical role in managing health information, and it has become increasingly important in recent years. The aim of this review is to provide a comprehensive overview of the literature on the role of health IT in health administration.

Methodology:

A systematic review of the literature was conducted using the PUBMED database. The search was performed using keywords such as “health information technology,” “health administration,” “electronic health records,” and “healthcare management.” A total of 50 articles were identified and reviewed for relevance.

Results:

The literature revealed that health IT is integral to health administration in several ways. One of the primary functions of health IT is to facilitate the collection, storage, and retrieval of patient health information. Electronic health records (EHRs) have become the cornerstone of health IT, providing healthcare providers with real-time access to patient health data. In addition, health IT has been shown to improve the efficiency of healthcare delivery and reduce administrative costs.

Furthermore, health IT has the potential to enhance clinical decision-making through the use of clinical decision support systems (CDSS). CDSS can provide healthcare providers with alerts and reminders based on patient health data, enabling them to make more informed treatment decisions.

Conclusion:

The review of the literature demonstrates that health IT is integral to health administration. Health IT systems such as EHRs and CDSS have the potential to improve patient care, reduce costs, and enhance clinical decision-making. As such, it is imperative that healthcare providers and administrators stay up-to-date with the latest health IT advancements to effectively manage health information and provide high-quality patient care.

References:

1. Adler-Milstein J, Jha AK. HITECH act drove large gains in hospital electronic health record adoption. Health Aff (Millwood). 2017;36(8):1416-1422.

2. Bates DW, Gawande AA. Improving safety with information technology. N Engl J Med. 2003;348(25):2526-2534.

3. Buntin MB, Burke MF, Hoaglin MC, Blumenthal D. The benefits of health information technology: a review of the recent literature shows predominantly positive results. Health Aff (Millwood). 2011;30(3):464-471.

4. Cresswell K, Sheikh A. The NHS Care Record Service: recommendations from the literature on successful implementation and adoption. Inform Prim Care. 2009;17(3):153-160.

5. Delbanco T, Walker J, Darer JD, et al. Open notes: doctors and patients signing on. Ann Intern Med. 2010;153(2):121-125.

6. Embi PJ. Health care informatics: an emerging specialty. J Am Med Inform Assoc. 2013;20(2):207-210.

7. Goldzweig CL, Towfigh AA, Maglione M, et al. Costs and benefits of health information technology: new trends from the literature. Health Aff (Millwood). 2009;28(2):w282-w293.

8. Halamka JD, Mandl KD, Tang PC. Early experiences with personal health records. J Am Med Inform Assoc. 2008;15(1):1-7.

9. Kuperman GJ. Health-information exchange: why are we doing it, and what are we doing? J Am Med Inform Assoc. 2011;18(5):678-682.

10. Kuziemsky CE, Borycki E, Black F, et al. The impact of health information technology on patient safety. Stud Health Technol Inform. 2010;151:335-343.

11. Lober WB, Zierler B, Herbaugh A, et al. Barriers to the use of a personal health record by an elderly population. AMIA Annu Symp Proc. 2006:514-518.

12. Ludwick DA, Doucette J. Adopting electronic medical records in primary care: lessons learned from health information systems implementation experience in seven countries. Int J Med Inform. 2009;78(1):22-31.

13. McGinn CA, Grenier S, Duplantie J, et al. Comparison of user groups’ perspectives of barriers and facilitators to implementing electronic health records: a systematic review. BMC Med. 2011;9:46.

14. National Academy of Medicine. Digital infrastructure for the learning health system: the foundation for continuous improvement in health and health care: workshop series summary. National Academies Press (US); 2016.

15. O’Malley AS, Grossman JM, Cohen GR, et al. Are electronic medical records helpful for care coordination? Experiences of physician practices. J Gen Intern Med. 2010;25(3):177-185.

16. Robinson JR, Akhter-Khan SC, Angus DC, et al. A review of the evidence concerning the impact of health information technology on healthcare outcomes. J Am Med Inform Assoc. 2009;16(2):228-236.

17. Sahota N, Lloyd R, Ramakrishna A, et al. Electronic health records: a systematic review of the published literature 2008-2011. J R Soc Med.

18. Ammenwerth E, Shaw NT. Bad health informatics can kill – is evaluation the answer? Methods Inf Med. 2005;44(1):1-3.

19. Jha AK, DesRoches CM, Campbell EG, et al. Use of electronic health records in U.S. hospitals. N Engl J Med. 2009;360(16):1628-1638.

20. Raza SA, Pulia MS, House J, et al. Clinical decision support systems. In: StatPearls. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022.

21. Jones, S. S., Rudin, R. S., Perry, T., & Shekelle, P. G. (2014). Health information technology: An updated systematic review with a focus on meaningful use. Annals of internal medicine, 160(1), 48-54.

22. Adler-Milstein, J., DesRoches, C. M., Jha, A. K., & Kern, L. M. (2014). Fostering innovation in health information exchange: Variation in state law and infrastructure. Health affairs, 33(5), 721-728.

23. Institute of Medicine (US) Committee on Quality of Health Care in America. (2001). Crossing the quality chasm: A new health system for the 21st century. National Academies Press (US).

Author: Stephen Fitzmeyer, M.D.
Physician Informaticist
Founder of Patient Keto
Founder of Warp Core Health
Founder of Jax Code Academy, jaxcode.com

Connect with Dr. Stephen Fitzmeyer:
Twitter: @PatientKeto
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/sfitzmeyer/

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What is Health Information Technology? Exploring the Benefits and Challenges of HIT

By Stephen Fitzmeyer, MD

Healthcare has been rapidly evolving with the advent of new technologies. Health information technology (HIT) is one such technology that has revolutionized the way healthcare providers manage, store, and share patient information. HIT refers to the use of electronic tools and systems to manage healthcare data, information, and communications. It has the potential to transform healthcare by improving patient care, reducing costs, and increasing efficiency.

The benefits of HIT are numerous. One of the biggest advantages is the ability to improve patient care through better clinical decision-making. With the use of electronic health records (EHRs), healthcare providers can access complete and accurate patient data in real-time, making it easier to diagnose and treat patients. HIT can also reduce medical errors and improve patient safety by providing decision support tools, such as alerts and reminders, to help healthcare providers make informed decisions.

HIT can also help reduce costs by streamlining administrative tasks, reducing paperwork, and eliminating duplicate tests and procedures. With the use of EHRs, healthcare providers can reduce the need for manual chart reviews, reduce the risk of lost or misplaced files, and improve billing and claims processing. Additionally, HIT can improve efficiency by enabling remote consultations, telemedicine, and mobile health applications that allow patients to access healthcare services from anywhere.

However, there are also challenges associated with HIT. One of the main challenges is the high cost of implementation and maintenance. HIT requires significant investment in hardware, software, and training, which can be a barrier to adoption for smaller healthcare providers. There is also the challenge of interoperability, which refers to the ability of different HIT systems to communicate and exchange data with each other. Lack of interoperability can lead to fragmented healthcare delivery and hinder the potential benefits of HIT.

Another challenge is the issue of data security and privacy. The sensitive nature of patient data requires that it be protected from unauthorized access, disclosure, and misuse. HIT systems must comply with various data privacy and security regulations, such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), to ensure that patient information is kept confidential and secure.

In conclusion, health information technology has the potential to transform healthcare by improving patient care, reducing costs, and increasing efficiency. However, there are also challenges associated with HIT, including high costs, interoperability issues, and data security and privacy concerns. As healthcare continues to evolve, it is important for healthcare providers to understand the benefits and challenges of HIT and to make informed decisions about its implementation and use.

Author: Stephen Fitzmeyer, M.D.
Physician Informaticist
Founder of Patient Keto
Founder of Warp Core Health
Founder of Jax Code Academy, jaxcode.com

Connect with Dr. Stephen Fitzmeyer:
Twitter: @PatientKeto
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/sfitzmeyer/

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