The amount of information generated by the healthcare industry is nothing short of astounding. A plethora of data is amassed regularly, including transaction details, patient information, prescription and medication records, doctor’s care records, etc. All of this information has to be recorded, analyzed, and shared.
It makes it imperative for healthcare institutes to streamline the handling and transmission of this data. They have to ensure every critical piece of information is handled with aptness and precision. However, perhaps the most fundamental component of healthcare data management is its security. To ensure all data is secure, processing this data through health information management systems is critical.
The reliance on new forms of information technology is perpetually increasing. Thus, leveraging and handling this data has become a cornerstone to propelling the healthcare industry towards maximizing patient care and wellness.
The Significance & Impact Of Health Information Management Systems
Because health information management systems seamlessly operate on information technology, it makes PHI (Protected Health Information) for healthcare organizations hassle-free. Thanks to health information management systems, patients get optimum medical treatment on time with streamlined coordination from doctors and other healthcare providers. It is especially critical for patient diagnoses that require comprehensive and cross-specialty care. However, looking beyond this, health information technologies enable healthcare centers, hospitals, and even public sector insurance offices to mitigate discrepancies in patient records.
Additionally, health information management serves as an essential tool for public health research work. Today, several health researchers can exploit the many advantages provided by health information technology. Public health researchers can elicit valuable information from healthcare organizations to aid in their research work. Not only this, but they can also manage their studies while conducting research work, all thanks to technology and eLearning. Today, many public health professionals pursue masters in public health online to hone research and analytical skills.
Moreover, translating and analyzing an enormous amount of data also helps health information management professionals suggest critical recommendations to improve their systems further. According to George Zachariah, who represents the Dynamic Research Corporation, harnessing healthcare data allows analytics to see a more holistic picture. It enables them to determine how providers can cut down on costs, identify and weed out medical malpractice, enhance patient support programs, and improve patient wellness.
According to the Journal of AHIMA, HITECH Act and the COVID-19 pandemic propelled healthcare institutions to adopt the digitization of medical records. Another report suggests that the rate of adoption of electronic medical and health records increased to 89%. As a direct correlation, health information management professionals have played a profound role in gathering critical insights from this abundance of data.
What Does The Future Hold For Hospital Information Management?
Enhancements in health information management directly correspond to improvements in information technology platforms. Following this, advancements in the tech stratosphere have made health information systems considerably effective and fast. In light of this, mentioned below are some trends health information management is propelling towards:
Patient Information Security
With the availability and accessibility of patient information online, healthcare institutions have enjoyed faster and simpler transmissions and processing. However, this has also opened doors to potential cyberattacks. There have been instances of massive personal information and data leaks. According to the HIPPA Journal, there were 100 million records that were leaked and abused in 2015. And according to another report by TrapX Security, 2016 saw a 63% increase in cyberattacks.
Keeping patient and hospital data records secure is the leading edge of health information systems.
The Impact Of Internet Of Things On Mobile Healthcare
In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a significant and essential shift to telemedicine. In April 2020, telecare accounted for 43.5% of all primary care visits. Mobile applications for telecare have now become a standard in enabling healthcare institutes to organize patient care data. Mobile apps effectively utilize location services, store the history of different service providers, update appointment information, etc.
Apart from telecare applications, the increasing use of wearable technology has also enabled medical professionals to track and monitor patient vitals accurately. Wearable devices include EKG monitors, ECG monitors, and other track blood pressure levels, temperature, etc. Thanks to significant advancements in IoT, the transmission of healthcare data has become manageable. Furthermore, according to MarketandMarket statistics, by 2025, IoT will account for 30% of revenue generated solely from the healthcare industry.
Data Control & Knowledge Management
In the future, there will be a heightened need to develop streamlined protocols and regulations to ensure the secure utilization of all patient information. According to AHIMA executive vice president, beyond the capability to leverage healthcare data and transform it into actionable intelligence, there is an increasing need to control it. Therefore, implementing newer regulations or healthcare protocols in the coming years will be a vital component. It will help enhance the quality of patient care, mitigate costs, and boost efficiency.
Bottom Line
Health information management has revolutionized the healthcare industry. By amalgamating robust technology and medical procedures, patients can now attain optimum care, quick billing, and organized healthcare services. Technology is gradually penetrating every sector, and the healthcare sector is no exception. Given the compulsion to quickly embrace technology in the face of the pandemic, health experts now realize its growing importance. Thus, it is undeniably accurate that health information management will accelerate the healthcare industry to new heights.
