Hospital Information Systems
In a hospital, there are a lot of activities wherein using technology would be beneficial.
Computers can simulate new patterns of decision-making as well as different types of decisions
that would have not be possible before its arrival.
Through computerization, duplicate information is reduced, and a more accurate and relevant
data can be extracted giving hospitals an opportunity to improve operational productivity without
increasing the costs.
The advent of information technology in the hospital environment coincides with the need to
have relevant and correct data gathered from various sources and placed it under one hospital
information system. The abundance of data in hospitals surfaces the need to have a system for
obtaining administrative and patient data, convert data into a report and to assist in medical or
administrative audits as well as utilization reviews. In addition, the capability to store and
retrieve correct, relevant and reliable data, summarize such in a report and share it across other
applications in the hospital environment greatly adds value to effectively manage the hospital
and patient care.
Hospital Information System (HIS)
Hospital Information System or HIS gives accurate and timely information required by each
management level to help them make informed decisions. HIS has a critical role in planning,
initiating, organizing and controlling the subsystems of the hospital producing a more connected
organization. HIS also improves patient care through data assessment enabling recommendations
to be placed, thus helping hospitals to have a more proactive review in the quality and
appropriateness of health care.
The Objectives of HIS
HIS assists a hospital to attain greater operational efficiency and have control of data-oriented
task in the areas of administration and patient care. An HIS that is well-designed, integrated and
customized to the needs of a hospital may improve the productivity of the hospital’s personnel
and gives the control for each department and service center in processing their own information
to contribute in quality patient care.
Need for HIS
The need for HIS arises from the following factors:
Complexity of hospital as an organization
Limited resources
Prolific information-generating organization
Cost-effectiveness of services
Increase quality of information and
Medical research
HIS acts as a transaction system and control reporting system that helps improve operational and
strategic planning.
, Table 48.1: Description of a Hospital Information System
in Terms of the Main Information Entities
Applications of HIS
1. External information system – demographic, mortality and morbidity data.
2. Internal information – patient care systems (record keeping, clinical laboratories,
radiology, cardiology, nursing services, pharmacy services, intensive care monitoring,
imaging, nuclear, medicine, clinical information monitoring, clinical evaluation and
research).
3. Administrative and financial information system, including material management.
4. Strategic management (budgeting, medical care evaluation, service utilization data).
, Fig. 48.1: Representation of an HIS and its external links
Appropriate Design
a. Functionality, receptiveness, dependability, availability, flexibility, ease of deployment,
modularity, efficiency, security, user-friendly, evolutionary growth and cost control.
b. Choosing the appropriate design for specific situations depend on the characteristic of the
organization which includes the external and internal environment of a hospital, its
system objectives and the design attributes.
Stages of Computerization
1. Initiation
Introduction of computers
Encouragement of users
Users’ resentment
Simple accounts-type applications
Centralized data processing division
2. Contagion
Eager users
Development of required applications
Free computing to users
Expenses referred to as overhead expenses
Expansion of data processing, equipment and staff
Lack of planning and control of management
3. Control
The organization takes control
Management is focused on benefits rather than the cost of data processing
Data processing budget do not increase or has very minimal increase
Focus on giving the department a professional look
In a hospital, there are a lot of activities wherein using technology would be beneficial.
Computers can simulate new patterns of decision-making as well as different types of decisions
that would have not be possible before its arrival.
Through computerization, duplicate information is reduced, and a more accurate and relevant
data can be extracted giving hospitals an opportunity to improve operational productivity without
increasing the costs.
The advent of information technology in the hospital environment coincides with the need to
have relevant and correct data gathered from various sources and placed it under one hospital
information system. The abundance of data in hospitals surfaces the need to have a system for
obtaining administrative and patient data, convert data into a report and to assist in medical or
administrative audits as well as utilization reviews. In addition, the capability to store and
retrieve correct, relevant and reliable data, summarize such in a report and share it across other
applications in the hospital environment greatly adds value to effectively manage the hospital
and patient care.
Hospital Information System (HIS)
Hospital Information System or HIS gives accurate and timely information required by each
management level to help them make informed decisions. HIS has a critical role in planning,
initiating, organizing and controlling the subsystems of the hospital producing a more connected
organization. HIS also improves patient care through data assessment enabling recommendations
to be placed, thus helping hospitals to have a more proactive review in the quality and
appropriateness of health care.
The Objectives of HIS
HIS assists a hospital to attain greater operational efficiency and have control of data-oriented
task in the areas of administration and patient care. An HIS that is well-designed, integrated and
customized to the needs of a hospital may improve the productivity of the hospital’s personnel
and gives the control for each department and service center in processing their own information
to contribute in quality patient care.
Need for HIS
The need for HIS arises from the following factors:
Complexity of hospital as an organization
Limited resources
Prolific information-generating organization
Cost-effectiveness of services
Increase quality of information and
Medical research
HIS acts as a transaction system and control reporting system that helps improve operational and
strategic planning.
, Table 48.1: Description of a Hospital Information System
in Terms of the Main Information Entities
Applications of HIS
1. External information system – demographic, mortality and morbidity data.
2. Internal information – patient care systems (record keeping, clinical laboratories,
radiology, cardiology, nursing services, pharmacy services, intensive care monitoring,
imaging, nuclear, medicine, clinical information monitoring, clinical evaluation and
research).
3. Administrative and financial information system, including material management.
4. Strategic management (budgeting, medical care evaluation, service utilization data).
, Fig. 48.1: Representation of an HIS and its external links
Appropriate Design
a. Functionality, receptiveness, dependability, availability, flexibility, ease of deployment,
modularity, efficiency, security, user-friendly, evolutionary growth and cost control.
b. Choosing the appropriate design for specific situations depend on the characteristic of the
organization which includes the external and internal environment of a hospital, its
system objectives and the design attributes.
Stages of Computerization
1. Initiation
Introduction of computers
Encouragement of users
Users’ resentment
Simple accounts-type applications
Centralized data processing division
2. Contagion
Eager users
Development of required applications
Free computing to users
Expenses referred to as overhead expenses
Expansion of data processing, equipment and staff
Lack of planning and control of management
3. Control
The organization takes control
Management is focused on benefits rather than the cost of data processing
Data processing budget do not increase or has very minimal increase
Focus on giving the department a professional look
