Health Information Technology

Health Information Technology

Information Technology (IT):  It is the branch of engineering that deals with the use of computers and telecommunications to store, retrieve and transmit information.

Health Information Technology (HIT):  It is “the application of information processing involving both computer hardware and software that deals with the storage, retrieval, sharing, and use of health care information, data, and knowledge for communication and decision making”.

Benefits of HIT:

1.      Reduce paperwork:  The clipboard and new patient questionnaire may remain a feature of doctor’s office for some time to come.  But as more information gets added to EHR, doctor and hospital will have more of that data available as soon as you arrive.

2.      Get information accurately into the hands of people who need it:  Even in simple health care needs, coordinating information among care providers can be a daunting task, and one that can lead to medical mistakes if done incorrectly.  When all providers can share health information via EHRs, each of them has access to more accurate and up-to-date information about care.  That enables providers to make the best possible decisions, particularly in a crisis.

3.      Help doctors coordinate care and protect safety:  Suppose you see three specialists in addition to primary care physician.  Each of them may prescribe different drugs, and sometimes, these drugs may interact in harmful ways.  EHRs can warn care providers if they try to prescribe a drug that could cause that kind of interaction.  An EHR may also alert one of your doctors if another doctor has already prescribed a drug that did not work out for you, saving from the risks and costs of taking ineffective medication.

4.      Reduce unnecessary tests and procedures:  Have you ever had to repeat medical tests ordered by one doctor because the results weren’t readily available to another doctor? Those tests may have been uncomfortable and inconvenient or have posed some risk, and they also cost money.  Repeating tests whether a $20 blood test or a $2,000 MRI, results in higher costs in the form of bigger bills and increased insurance premiums.  With EHRs, all care providers can have access to all test results and records at once, reducing the potential for unnecessary repeat tests.

5.      Give direct access to health records:  In the United States, you already have a Federally guaranteed right to see your health records, identify wrong and missing information, and make additions or corrections as needed.  Some health care providers with EHR systems give their patients direct access to their health information online in ways that help preserve privacy and security.  This access enables you to keep better track of your care, and in some cases, answer your questions immediately rather than waiting hours or days for a returned phone call.  This access may also allow you to communicate directly and securely with your health care provider.