HIS L5: HEALTH INFORMATION SYSTEM RTRMF

Introduction legislative, regulatory

Health Information System refers to any and planning
system that “captures, stores, manages or transmits frameworks required for
information related to the health of individuals or the a fully functioning health
information system, and
activities of organizations that work within the health
the resources that are
sector.” required for such a
system to be functional.
Roles and Functions of HIS
Indicators Processes
1. Files are easier to access
A core set of
✓ These systems are electronic, so the days of indicators and related
hard files and loose papers are over. targets is the basis for a
2. Better control health information
✓ Only authorized staff can access the system plan and strategy.
Indicators need to
information of the patient
encompass determinants
✓ Doctors may have permission to update, of health; health system
change and delete information from the inputs, outputs and
electronic medical record. outcomes; and health
✓ The receptionist, however, may only have status
the authority to update a patient’s Data Sources Processes
These can be divided
appointments.
into two main categories:
3. Easy to update ✓ Population-based
✓ Health information systems let doctors approaches
create electronic medical records for their (censuses, civil
patients. registration and
population
✓ Patient information can be pulled up for
surveys)
review at any time and copies can be made ✓ Institution-based
for the patient upon request. data (individual
4. Improved communication records, service
✓ Health information systems abet records and
resource records)
communication between multiple doctors
Data Management Processes
or hospitals. This covers all aspects
✓ According to Government Health IT, of data handling from
medical professionals must pay close collection, storage,
attention to confidentiality issues, such as quality-assurance and
flow, to processing,
patient privacy and security safeguards to
compilation and analysis
ensure unauthorized users cannot access Information Products Outputs
the information. Data must be
transformed into
Components of Health Information System information that will
become the basis for
evidence and knowledge
Health Information Inputs to shape health action
Systems Resources Dissemination and Use Output
These include the The value of health
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 HIS L5: HEALTH INFORMATION SYSTEM RTRMF

information is enhanced functioning, and perceptions of one's health in

by making it readily the past, present, and future and compared
accessible to decision- with that of one's peers.
makers and by providing
incentives for, or Patient medical history
otherwise facilitating,
information use ✓ considers data on previous medical encounters
such as hospital admissions, surgical
Data Sources for Health Information System procedures, pregnancies and live births, and the
Demographic data like
✓ it also includes information on past medical
✓ consist of facts such as age (or birth date), problems and possibly family history or events
gender, race and ethnic origin, marital status, (e.g., alcoholism or parental divorce).
address of residence, names of and other
information about immediate family members, Current medical management
and emergency information. Information about
✓ includes the content of encounter forms or
employment status (and employer), schooling
parts of the patient record. Such information
and education.
might reflect health screening, current health
Administrative data problems and diagnoses, allergies (especially
those to medications), diagnostic or therapeutic
✓ involves facts, with respect to services provided procedures performed, laboratory tests carried
(e.g., diagnostic tests or outpatient procedures), out, medications prescribed, and counseling
and also typically include charges and amounts provided.
paid, the kind of practitioner (physician,
podiatrist, psychologist), physician specialty, Outcomes data
and nature of institution (general or specialty
✓ comprise a wide array of measures of the
hospital, physician office or clinic, home care
effects of health care and the aftermath of
agency, nursing home, and so forth).
various health problems
Health risk information ✓ they might reflect health care events such as re-
admission to hospital or unexpected
✓ reveals lifestyle and behavior (e.g., whether an complications or side effects of care, and also
individual uses tobacco products or engages include measures of satisfaction with care.
regularly in strenuous exercise) ✓ outcomes assessed weeks or months after
✓ facts about family history and genetic factors to health care events, and by means of reports
evaluate patient’s propensity for different directly from individuals (or family members),
diseases. are desirable, although these are likely to be the
least commonly available (Donaldson and Lohr,
Health status (health-related quality of life)
1994).
✓ is generally reported by individuals themselves,
Key Points to remember
reflects domains of health such as physical
✓ Health information systems refer to any system
functioning, mental and emotional well-being,
that captures, stores, manages or transmits
cognitive functioning, social and role
information related to the health of individuals
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 HIS L5: HEALTH INFORMATION SYSTEM RTRMF

or the activities of organizations that work

within the health sector.
✓ HIS improves the services because files are
easier to access, more controls, easy to update
and communication.
✓ The components of an HIS are (Inputs) Health
Information System Resources; (Processes)
Indicators, Data Sources, Data Management;
(Outputs) Information Products and
Dissemination & use.
✓ The different data sources are: Demographic
data, administrative data, Health Risk
Information, Health Status, Patient medical
history, Current medical management and
outcomes data.

3 |Agustin, G. N. BMLS 1B