Information Technology in Health

IT allows health care providers to collect, store, retrieve, and transfer information electronically. Information technology (IT) has the potential to improve the quality, safety, and efficiency of health care. Information technology plays an important role in the medical field. Information technologies are transforming the way health care is delivered. Innovations such as computerbased patient records, hospital information systems, computer-based decision support tools, community health information networks, telemedicine, and new ways of distributing health information to consumers are beginning to affect the cost, quality, and accessibility of health care. According to the Association of Medical Directors of Information Systems, it has advanced the health care industry in ways that benefit providers and patients. The significance of information technology is in its ability to impact so many different areas of the medical field, from the way patient information is stored, to enhancing robotics that can perform surgeries. By providing new ways for providers and their patients to readily access and use health information, information technology (IT) has the potential to improve the quality, safety, and efficiency of health care. Importance of IT in Health Delivering quality health care requires providers and patients to integrate complex information from many different sources. Thus, increasing the ability of physicians, nurses, clinical technicians, and others to readily access and use the right information about their patients should improve care. The ability for patients to obtain information to better manage their condition and to communicate with the health system could also improve the efficiency and quality of care. This potential to improve care makes broader diffusion of IT desirable. Some of the major benefits of IT in health care are:

Access to medical records will be faster and cheaper for the healthcare provider. Complete and accurate health record of the patient. More efficient delivery of care. Can decrease time spent on administrative duties and increase time spent on direct patient care. Enhance clinical decision making process. Simplified Administration Informed Patients and Consumers through Clinical Information Systems Paperless Medicine through E-Prescription Empowered Clinical Teams through Computerized Decision Support Systems(CDSS) and Computerized Provider Order Entry (CPOE)

Role of IT in Health: IT is used in following different capacities in Health sector Human-computer interaction handheld computers handwriting and speech recognition automated data collection

Storage, processing, and compression computer-based patient records magnetic stripe cards picture archiving and communications systems medical imaging (X-Rays,MRI scans) digital signal processors

Connectivity Security Passwords fault tolerant computers encryption firewalls clinical information systems cabled, optical, and wireless networks Internet and electronic mail proprietary and consensus standards Medical Information Bus

Data refinement

decision support systems artificial neural networks knowledge-based systems relational databases knowledge discovery

1. Electronic Health Records Information technology has transformed the way that patient information is stored and accessed, as well as revolutionized billing and insurance procedures. Electronic Health Records (EHR) function as a database that store patients' health-related documents, such as their medical progress notes, immunization records, payment and account information and insurance data. They eliminate the need for doctors and hospitals to maintain hard copies of medical records, and have provided medical staff with an easy and efficient way to access patient information. They have also created systems that make it easy to submit claims and be paid by insurance companies more efficiently. EHRs were originally envisioned as an electronic file cabinet for patient data from various sources (eventually integrating text, voice, images, handwritten notes, etc.). Now they are generally viewed as part of an automated order-entry and patient-tracking system providing real-time access to patient data, as well as a continuous longitudinal record of their care. 2. Medical Equipment Information technology is providing the medical field with improved capabilities to perform tests, evaluate medical conditions and even perform surgeries with more accuracy. It is being integrated into machines and equipment, such as MRI's, to enhance a doctor's ability to see images more clearly. Information technology is also abetting the creation of medical robotics, which are computer-operated machines that perform surgeries through the use of information technology navigational systems. Acute point-of-care settings such as a hospital's intensive care unit or patient's bedside require each class of medical device to use the same terminology and data organization to seamlessly and reliably communicate physiological data. IT is facilitating the development and adoption of standards for medical device communications throughout the healthcare enterprise as well as integrating it into the electronic health record 3. Disease Registries Information technology is used in the developments and advancement of disease registries. Disease registries are databases that track and monitor types of diseases that affect a group or large population of people. Information technology allows researchers to store this data electronically, and lets them perform automated updates, generate reports and perform analyses. 4. Quality Management Information technology allows health care organizations to have a better handle on their quality management efforts. Health care organizations can set up computer systems to perform automated quality assurance audits and generate reports on the findings. For instance, information technology systems can digitally pull information from electronic patient files and

perform a quality audit on how many times in a month that patient received a particular treatment. Then, the system can generate a report of the findings. This information may be used for quality management purposes, and to determine if there are deficiencies that need to be addressed. 5. Computerized Provider Order Entry (CPOE): CPOE in its basic form is typically a medication ordering and fulfillment system. More advanced CPOE will also include lab orders, radiology studies, procedures, discharges, transfers, and referrals. CPOE has proven to be reliable and has helped in: Reducing medication errors, including adverse drug events; Decreasing dosage errors; Prescribing certain medicines more precisely. Prescribing with improved accuracy.

CPOE systems have been shown to reduce errors by eliminating issues surrounding illegible handwritten orders, improving the tracking of orders over time and patient location, screening for inappropriate or erroneous orders (such as ordering contraindicated medications or treatments) and improving the communication amongst the care team. CPOE has received most of the consideration by the press in regard to IT in healthcare and seems to be one of the most popular areas of incorporation in clinical care. 6. Clinical decision support system (CDSS): The CDSS has been defined as a system that provides clinicians or patients with clinical knowledge and patient-related information, intelligently filtered and presented at appropriate times, to enhance patient care. CDSS provides physicians and nurses with real-time diagnostic and treatment recommendations. The term covers a variety of technologies ranging from simple alerts and prescription drug interaction warnings to full clinical pathways and protocols. CDSS may be used as part of CPOE and EHR. The four key functions of electronic CDSSs are: Administrative: Supporting clinical coding and documentation, authorization of procedures and referrals. Managing clinical complexity and details: Keeping patients on research and chemotherapy protocols; tracking orders, referrals follow-up and preventive care.

Cost control: Monitoring medication orders; avoiding duplicate or unnecessary tests.

Decision support: Supporting clinical diagnosis and treatment plan processes; and promoting use of best practices, condition-specific guidelines and population-based management.

7. Picture archiving and communications system (PACS): This technology captures and integrates diagnostic and radiological images from various devices (e.g., x-ray, MRI, computed tomography scan), stores them, and disseminates them to a medical record, a clinical data repository, or other points of care. 8. Electronic materials management (EMM): Health care organizations use EMM to track and manage inventory of medical supplies, pharmaceuticals, and other materials. This technology is similar to enterprise resource planning systems used outside of health care. A full inventory system for medical supplies is maintained which notifies availability of medical supplies as well as notifies about shortage of any. 9. Electronic patient records (EPR) Storing patient records in databases and then creating EPR for easy access, retrieval and utilization. EPR includes a central data repository of patient information available to all health care providers. 10. Electronic Scheduling of Appointments Electronic scheduling of appointments for consultations and hospitalizations that will be available to referring general practitioners and, eventually, patients. This allows for quick and easy tracking of medical experts as well as patients 11. E-prescribing E-prescribing allows electronic prescriptions filled by physicians to flow to both the pharmacy and the Prescription Pricing Authority that manages payments. Physicians who use electronic prescriptions can view patient records, confirm medications and dosages listed on formularies and know what medications have already been prescribed by other doctors. E-prescribing helps eliminate problems with illegible penmanship, reduces pharmacy staff time and avoids paper waste

12. Hospitals Diffusion of information technology in hospitals varies with the type of technology. In general, the various IT applications fall into three categories: Administrative and Financial Systems Systems that facilitate billing, accounting, Cost accounting systems,Patient registration, Personnel and payroll and Electronic materials management Clinical Systems Systems that facilitate or provide input into the care process like Computerized provider order entry for drugs, lab tests and procedures, Electronic health record, Picture archiving and communication systems for filmless imaging, Results reporting of laboratory and other tests, Clinical decision support systems, Prescription drug fulfillment, error-alert and Electronic monitoring of patients in intensive care units Infrastructure Systems Those systems which support both the administrative and clinical applications. Infrastructure technologies build the base that other technologies work from, and include both widely diffused technologies, such as e-mail and telecommunications, and those that are less common, such as wireless connections and voice recognition. Infrastructure investments also include maintaining secure information systems that comply with federal security rules. 13. Health Information Technology The demand for online medical information and simplified, standardized methods to access healthcare information and services is crucial in making healthcare safe and available to all. Appropriate standards for healthcare information and systems provide the cornerstone to achieving a healthy healthcare infrastructure. This idea is to contribute to the healthcare industry by advancing healthcare information standards that are complete and testable and by providing the necessary conformance tests, tests tools and techniques where appropriate. 14. Telemedicine The purpose of the Telemedicine is to promote access to medical care by consumers and health professionals via information and telecommunications technology. An important element of this is to advance the use of telemedicine through the development or identification of technology, clinical, and administrative standards related to the ongoing delivery of health and medical care. Telemedicine allows patients to gain access to healthcare

professionals, electronically regardless of their location. It can provide faster, more affordable healthcare services, especially when telemedicine is integrated into the entire health and medical care a patient receives via the traditional in-person environment. 15. Consumer Health Informatics Consumer health informatics has been defined as the study, development, and implementation of computer and telecommunications applications and interfaces designed to be used by health consumers. The basic principle is that of empowering people to play a greater role in their own health care and to be active participants in decisions affecting their health. Information technology can be used to provide more health-related information to consumers. Taking measures to prevent illness and disease, by adjusting lifestyles or taking safety precautions, for example, could have a positive impact on the health care delivery system and allow people to lead healthier lives. Shared decision support systems are designed to inform patient/provider decisions regarding prevention, diagnosis, management, and treatment, and ultimately to improve the quality of care and reduce costs. Choices are made collaboratively by patients and their caregivers. Some regard these computer-based systems as transforming the culture of the health care system to one in which patients, physicians, and other providers play equal roles in decision making. Information technology also could play an important role in reducing a consumers need for health care services. Demand Management can be defined as the the support of individuals so that they can make rational health and medical decisions based on a consideration of the benefits and risks of the options available. Current examples include health risk appraisals, written and audiovisual media, telephone counseling services, and community resources. Although a comprehensive demand management system does not yet exist, information technologies can make interventions more available and effective, and provide a sophisticated, multipurpose information system based on a new concept of the individual health record. When developed, these comprehensive services will allow consumers to understand, choose, and evaluate health services in new ways, and could have a positive impact on health care costs and quality.