HIM Role in an Acute Care Setting and a Clinic Setting, Term Paper Example

Considering Health Information Management Professionals, it is worth saying that they are mainly the guardians of patient heath data. A peculiar thing is that they prove to represent the client’s interests within the issues of privacy as well as security; moreover, Health Information Professionals represent the client’s interests in many other matters, including such as, for instance, record access and some common patient’s education with regards to individual health data. In any way, as for this paper, the focus lies in communicating the challenges that Health Information Management Professionals face while collecting data and the type of data they are accountable for collecting; additionally, the paper is aimed at figuring out what their job duties are and what type of patients they provide care.

Obviously, Health Information Management Professionals specialize in dealing with health data and medical information, managing computer information systems, and organizing the diagnoses as well as the other procedures for health care dimensions. In accordance with the surveys that Nicola Yelland conducted, one can come to understanding that people have to “…become effective citizens of the information age.” (Yelland, 2006, p. 121) On the basis of the aforementioned argument, it becomes apparent that one has to inevitably accept the requirements of the 21^st century and change not just the technologies yet the attitude towards certain issues. To be precise, one should understand that HIM role within the area of health care system appears to be of great importance, since the aforementioned specialists administer all the dimensions of the content of both client medical information and client information system. Regarding the job responsibilities, one cannot but encounter the fact that they can incorporate the aspects of clinical data maintenance, information analytics and classifying the utilizing standard coding principles. In addition, job responsibilities include both elaborating and managing health information systems. It is important to admit that Health Information Management Professionals are responsible for ensuring that patient’s health information is not disclosed to the public and proves to be kept in accordance with state laws.

Apparently, the special skill set of HIM professionals proves to become sought after in modern-day health care system. The increased significance of gathering accurate health information continues to broaden the role of Health Information Management Professionals. While the initial responsibilities of Health Information Management Professionals include implementing as well as maintaining quality healthcare, some expanding responsibilities within the area of information technologies have just opened (Nunn, 2003). One cannot but encounter the fact that information technologies appear to possess one of the most tremendous impacts on the contemporary society. The point is that present-day individuals emerged to be absolutely obsessed about the items, which are tightly connected with IT evolution; consequently, the global storage dimensions are encountering serious alterations from the perspective of its core aims andthe policy used. Taking a view of the main changes in the field of health care services, it becomes certain that the issue of digitalization cannot be underestimated; this very process is thought to possess exceptionally positive social outcomes. The point is that its “on-screen formatting” principles makes different damages impossible (Gilster, 2007, p. 139). Concerning the fact whether the process of digitization occurred as the mandatory modern-day constituent, it is necessary to admit that today’s innovations within the area of information technology have resulted in a real breakthrough in people’s attitude towards everyday’s life. All in all, it is still worth highlighting the fact that only 20 percent of healthcare organizations utilize electronic health records system (Jackson, 2003).

Among the challenges that Health Information Management Professionals face, one cannot help but become aware that the issue of discrimination emerges to be quite a challenging area; the point is that this social problem is likely to negatively influence both sexes. Some modern-day scholars advance an argument that approximately 20 percent of all the patients experience different of forms of discrimination when staying in the hospital. There is the partial practice that various ethnic groups are evaluated in accordance with their personal attitudes towards life; what is more, the nurses tend to make emphasis on the appearance of their clients, neglecting the principles of human rights. Despite the fact that the issue of discrimination with nursing field is responded by a number of anti-discrimination policies, one can still eyewitness the problem of patient’s disregard in many today’s hospitals.

As a result, being Health Information Management Professionals has to include a vivid obeying the norms of moral while treating the patients, since ignoring their human rights cannot but lead to some dreadful consequences for health care system in general.

It is clear that HIM professionals prove to increase the visibility of health care system. Considering the specifics of HIM professionals, it becomes apparent that they are likely to deal with a huge number of ethical dilemmas, especially when it comes to dual relationships, confidentiality issues and boundary aspects. Each specialist is seen to have his/her own set of standards that form a unique system of personal values. However, each professional sooner or later faces some challenges because of different nature of psychological boundaries that are a great hindrance to Health Information Management Professionals. All in all, it is worth indicating that HIM professionals occur as an integral part of health care system; what is more, the typical day-to-day activities of HIM professionals give the evidence that pursuing a career in health information management requires the insight into absolutely various fields of studies.

References

Gilster, P. (1997). Digital Literacy. New York: Wiley and Computer Publishing.

Jackson, K. (2003). Connecting for Health: Rallying for the Personal Electronic Medical Record. For the Record, 15 (18):16–19.

Nunn, S. (2003). The Road Less Traveled. For the Record, 15 (15):30–32.

Yelland, N. (2006). Changing Worlds and New Curricula in the Knowledge Era. Educational Media International, 43 (2): 121–131.