Health Information System Discussion 1

Answer

Health Information System Discussion 1

The constant advancement of technology in recent years has led to the increased incorporation of technology by physicians, doctors, and nurses in the health care departments. Information delivery and exchange are significant to the distribution of care on all categories of the health care structures from care teams, patients, healthcare providers, and organizations. Health information technology (HIT) and Health information systems (HIS) are a technological break that assists in the control of health care details with utter competence. The paper explores how HIS can be harnessed to improve the fragmentation in the healthcare sector, including the disparities experienced by the ethnic or racial minority population with regard to HIT.

HIS Discussion Response 1

In terms of how to improve healthcare fragmentation, one has to understand the concept of fragmentation and the effect it has on the system. Enthoven (2009), described fragmentation in health care as the absence of coordination or the logical misalignment of motives that brings about the inadequate distribution of resources or damage to patients. To finalize the point, fragmentation negatively affects the result, quality, and expenses. HIS can be harnessed to improve fragmentation through the coordination and establishment of medication technique. HIS enables healthcare providers, physicians, and patients to access healthcare information and to share diagnostics and ideas easily. Also, the system information system enables the patients to receive coordinated treatment from the providers (Ethoven, 2009) Thus, improving the health care delivery and outcome of the ailing person.

Another way that HIS can make improvements is through evaluating the care provider and organization assessment. The system has avenues where one can assess the performance of their staff based on their skills, performance, and the efficiency of an organization. Having access to this type of data makes it easier for one to make improvements where required for a  successful outcome in providing care (Enthoven, 2009). The Health Information system also saves time and reduces medical expenses. The reduction of expenses and saving of time can be accredited by the availability of technology since all the patient information are computerized and automated. Besides, resources are assigned in a planned manner which saves on energy, supplies, and expenses. Medical billing, patient scheduling, ePrescribing, master patient index are some of the features that makeup the HIS ensure the smooth running of the system in an organization.

Response to Samantha Dean

Healthcare delivery to racial and ethnic minority groups has proven to be difficult. This is because the majority of them cannot access healthcare insurance and facilities. Studies have shown that most of them are not likely to go online since they lack desktop computers. For minority groups to be included in the healthcare system, public and provider awareness should be raised. In that, the visibility of a crisis often impact the policies adopted to transform methods and techniques. Therefore, care providers should be notified of the nature of the problem to be able to address the problem at hand efficiently (KFF, 2008). One way for patients to be able to access their information is through the patient portal and schedule. The portal enables patients the ability to access their medical report, communicate with the doctor, setting medical check-up, and checking and paying medical bills online. The patient schedule saves on time and is convenient since they can schedule an appointment with the doctor online and not get to wait in line waiting to be attended to by the medic.

The expansion of health care coverage aims to incorporate the minority groups, by making it easier and cheaper for them to access insurance covers (KFF, 2008). Moreover, being able to afford an insurance cover makes it easier to determine whether people get the needed treatment at any given time and their health. With an insurance cover, one can use the medical billing feature which enables them to access their account details, payments, insurance detail, and billing. Technology has made life easy by making it a possibility to view, pay and access your medical files.

Discussion Response Joshua Gibbs

Health information technology as we all know entails the recovery, sharing, retention, and data usage associated with a person’s healthcare. Medical professionals have adopted the HIT system in their daily activities to manage a large amount of data. Whereas, patients are increasingly interested in learning about their health and being a part of it. Besides, HIT provides great value and accessible health care, and it is quick and more precise. The variables that were noted based on health disparities among the Whites and African-Americans were conclusive. In that, the percentage gap that distinguished the variables was the internet access and education level. Research has displayed that online patient societies are evolving through both mainstream social societies and condition-specific (Gibbson, 2011).

With regards to the halt in patient care and backup requirement in the event of system collapse, Gibbson (2011), has described in details potential opportunities that addresses the healthcare distinctions. Provider-related opportunity gives service providers the opportunity to be able to get feedback on the quality of their care to a sick person during a clinical encounter or their overall performance. The goal of HIT is to reduce disparities by exposing clinical practices that do not reach the required standards and guidelines to all patients. The action makes providers focus on making improvements on the level of care and coordination (Gibbson, 2011). Through HIT, physicians have the opportunity to engage and harmonize with providers. The use of email, detectors, and social media links caregivers to their patients enabling them to monitor their blood levels and more to reduce the occurrence of diseases. Communication is key between caregivers and their patients and is highly required for a successful relationship and outcome.

In conclusion, HIT and HIS have made things easier for all medical practitioners since everything has been digitized. However, one point that is still relevant in their work is the patient-centered objective where their care comes first. The system has made work easier for patients and caregivers in the retrieval, store, and access to medical information. Some implementations seek the incorporation of racial and ethnic minorities in the healthcare sector which will allow them unlimited access to medical insurance.