Information management in healthcare systems Essay

There is no doubt that it is very consequential to manage wellness teaching especially in realization that diligent info is usually scattered in different locations in the health misgiving system. There is need to commutationize health cultivation in order to ease dissemination of health c are records thus improve whole step of condole with. On the same note, information management in health care systems is a potency means of cutting down health care costs.In spite of its importance, management of health information is challenged complexities of implementing electronic information systems, as well information settle all of which are dearly-won to health care providers. Electronic information systems and health care quality Incomplete long-suffering information has been associated with medical errors that have resulted into avoidable deaths. Valerius (2007) for exemplification reports that up to 98,000 patients in the U. S. ere said to have died as per the Institute of treat 2000 report collectible to avoidable medical errors with most of them being due to lacking patient information.The poor management of patient records is partly credited(predicate) to failure to adopt advanced information systems. Health care systems are reluctant in adopting electronic health records (ERH) yet ERH have the potential to eradicate most of the problems related to missing patient information. It should be far-famed that while an ERH system is encouraged, it is possible to use an electronic system in concert with a manual of arms system.Due to the complexity associated with shifting from a manual system to an electronic system, medical practicians tend to reluctant to implement electronic systems (Harrison & McDowell, 2008). As such, the of import focus of such practitioners is to provide medical care to the patient and unfortunately neglect record keeping yet patient information is very vital in health care. Information flow Information management in health c are systems is a ambitious aspect in terms of sharing information.Lack of a central repository on patient information predisposes the patient to medical risks. Stevens (2005) observes that when health information is not centralized, it leads to delayed medical procedures as time is taken to look for the doctor who whitethorn be having the information. This is expensive financially and it is a time wasting experience that predisposes the patient to inappropriate medical procedures or death in some case. Even in cases where there is an information repository, information sharing may be a source of problem.In most health care systems, the patient is mandated to collect information on performed medical procedures and then present the same to a general practitioner or a clinician. This process of information flow is not high-octane and reliable since the patient can easily damage or recede the medical report. Stevens (2005) mentions that the likelihood of the medical information not landing into the turn over of the intended clinician is high. This is an issue that can be effectively addressed by centralizing patient information. Confidentiality of patient informationMaintaining patient information confidentially is one of the principles guiding health care practitioners and breaking such has court-ordered implications (Dolan & Barrister, 2004). As such, healthcare information management is supposed to adhere to this principle. This is all the same a difficult task with a centralized system which may to a greater extent allows accessibility of information by unlicensed persons. However, this is can be countered by proper authentication of the users of the healthcare system. In addition, the ensuring that the released information flows to the right persons is a potent way of curbing go of confidentiality.In conclusion, it is appreciable that healthcare systems experience challenges in maintaining efficient information management systems. Reluctance to adopt electronic health record systems and microscopical emphasis on need to preserve patient information is the main cause. Healthcare systems must realize that efficient information systems will dress medical errors and costs related to such errors as well as enhance information flow. The possible problem of breached confidentiality should be addressed by allowing authorized access to centralized health information.