Importance of Health Informatics, Research Paper Example

In today’s society, there is an increased emphasis placed upon health informatics and their role in promoting consumer advocacy and proper treatment. Perhaps the most relevant option is the electronic health record, which is designed to provide immediate and up to date information regarding a patient and his or her medical history. Different types of electronic systems are used in these processes in order to identify areas of growth and opportunity within this sector, and to capture the information that healthcare providers require in order to identify the appropriate treatment for all patients (Chavis, 2010). In addition, other trends that are critical to organizational operations include the development of specific identifiers that are used to keep patient names and records anonymous, while remaining easily retrievable (PHDSC, 2010). Therefore, it is important to determine how examples of this nature might be utilized in favor of improving existing healthcare objectives through expanded organizational capabilities and other related factors (PHDSC, 2010). These efforts are critical in order to demonstrate an effective understanding of the roles and expectations in supporting patient needs and confidentiality from a consumer-based perspective (PHDSC, 2010). These elements are very important contributors to the ability of healthcare organizations to make sense of medical records, to perform accurate diagnoses, and to prescribe prescription drugs that are best aligned with patient outcomes (PHDSC, 2010). Each of these elements is integral to the overall development and success of a healthcare organization and its patients in promoting recovery (PHDSC, 2010). These efforts also provide a greater understanding of the limitations that organizations possess in promoting health informatics in their facilities (PHDSC, 2010).

Baylor Health Care sought to overcome some of the key challenges involved in its existing information technology system through process innovation and strategic change, but these efforts necessitated a change in perception and policy regarding the organization and its strategic direction. Baylor’s Initiate software enables the organization to organize and all healthcare records efficiently and quickly (Initiate, 2010). The primary high performance principles that Baylor adopted are 1) Creating a business-driven strategy; 2) Using value as a platform for effective IT decisions; 3) Adopt flexibility and simplicity whenever possible; 4) Achieve near-term results with respect to development; 5) Improve productivity on an annual basis; and 6) Use the terms “business-smart” and “IT-smart” in order to describe the organization’s strategy in these areas (Dvorak et.al, 1997). Baylor has been largely successful in adapting to these requirements, and in making sure that the organization is a position to sustain competitive growth in its IT area of operations. Each of these principles serves as a key benchmark for Baylor in order to move forward in bringing efficiency and convenience to the organization as best as possible. In working to establish new discoveries and different levels of strategic growth, it is necessary to develop an effective approach that is based upon organizational core competencies, and how these operate in conjunction with each other to achieve the desired level of success. In recent years, the organization has turned to information technology as a means of supporting healthcare objectives, while also capitalizing upon its successes in patient care and treatment. These efforts are critical to the development of ongoing successful results and measurable outcomes for the foreseeable future with respect to patient care and the retrieval of information as efficiently as possible.

References

Chavis, J.C. (2010). Importance of health informatics. Retrieved from http://www.brighthub.com/health/technology/articles/64498.aspx

Dvorak, R.E., Holen, E., Mark, D., and Meehan III, W.F. (1997). Six principles of high-performance IT. Retrieved from   http://mkqpreview1.qdweb.net/Governance/Boards/Six_principles_of_high-performance_IT_245

Initiate (2010). Baylor Health Care System. Retrieved from http://www.initiate.com/customers/success_stories/Pages/BaylorHealthCareSystem.aspx

PHDSC (2010). Health information technology standards. Retrieved from http://www.phdsc.org/standards/health-information/I_Standards.asp