Various reasons explain why the health information management was created. These include the fact that it facilitates in planning information systems, development of health policies, recognition of the current and future informational needs, protection and care regarding health records, and the determination of how effective the system is in detection of health problems. Research by Shi & Singh (2009) indicates that several improvements will take root in health information management in the future. For instance, the system should work to address the privacy concerns raised by people utilizing the health system. Three barriers that will prevent health information management from achieving future goals include competition, patient’s fears, and lack of computer skills.
This research paper explores five reasons that contributed to the formation of health information management, future of health information management, and the barriers that may abound in HIS efforts to achieve future goals.
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Firstly, health information management was created as a protection measure. According to Gillies (2003), health information management helps in protection and caring of records. This is done through electronic and traditional means in various offices, such as health insurance companies, hospitals, and physician offices. Secondly, it was formed in order to facilitate the development of health policies. This is given credence by the fact that records can be accessed and, thus, aid in the formulation of health policies basing on current and past trends. Thirdly, health information systems are instrumental in planning information systems. This abounds from the improvement that HIS has undergone using digitalized systems, such as computers. Health information management was also created to facilitate the recognition of current and future information trends. The storage of records which is the main purpose of HIS facilitates this as records can be easily accessed and the trends determined. Lastly, health information management was also formed to aid in ascertaining how effective is the system in discovering health problems. It should be noted that health information management comprises the information from physicians and other medical professional regarding their discoveries in their various fields. Thus, HIS plays a significant role in determining the effectiveness of the system relating to detection of health problems (Shi & Singh, 2009).
Gillies (2003) asserts that there will be significant improvement in HIS in the future, which centers on the fact that it will be utilized at many stages of the healthcare process. This will also usher in a further development of more clinical terminologies. The clinical terminologies will be developed because new diseases keep emerging from time to time. The terminologies have three benefits that include identification of symptoms regarding a certain disease, treatments of the disease, and reimbursing of doctors for services they have provided. Privacy as a concern will also be dealt with in the future (Shi & Singh, 2009). This follows people’s complains regarding how easily their information is available to the public. Thus, stringent measures will be taken to ensure that only professional and trustworthy people have access to the public’s health information.
Computer illiteracy by older nurses and physicians is considered as one of the barriers. Research also indicates that a problem will arise when doctors retire instead of getting familiar with HIS technologies. Secondly, patient’s privacy fears will hinder HIS efforts in collection of information necessary for several of its purposes of creation. This includes the determination of current and future trends in the system. Lastly, competition between health providers is also a barrier because the health providers will shy away from sharing information for purposes of benefitting others.
In conclusion, reasons why HIS was created include protection and care regarding health records, planning of information systems, and the determination of how effective the system is in detection of health problems. It is projected that HIS will undergo different improvements in the future. Privacy is also an issue that will be checked since many patients fear the leaking of their information on the internet. Lastly, competition amongst healthcare providers and computer illiteracy are the main hindrances to achievement of HIS goals.