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More than Hospital Administration Technology 

Staff Reporters

In contrast to hospital administration systems [HASs], according to Richard Mata MD MIS, clinical information systems [CISs] deal directly with patient care processes and results. Clinical system sophistication varies widely from hospital to hospital and has the strongest presence in tertiary care centers. And, some hospitals have become nearly “paperless” due to the installation of leading edge clinical information systems.

Leading Edge Hospitals

Several leaders have emerged in the field of clinical informatics, most of which are tertiary care centers and teaching hospitals. Whereas the typical hospital only has about 3 to 5% of its budget allocated toward information systems, these medical centers often have a much greater percentage earmarked for such systems.

Functions and Functions

Hospital clinical information systems [CISs] encompass a wide range of features and functions, and modules may include the following:

• pharmacy information systems which may include bar coding and drug interaction checking;
• computer physician order entry [CPOE] systems allowing clinicians to directly order tests and treatments on line. These systems can also check for selected appropriateness of care parameters;
• other departmental systems such as laboratory information systems [LISs], radiology systems, and intensive care clinical computing; and
• electronic medical record (eMR) systems, which allow physician orders, free text clinical notes, decision support, radiology images, and other areas to be nearly fully computerized, allowing a “paperless” medical institution.

High Start-Up Costs

Both budget outlays and implementation strategies for these systems are highly variable and require much deliberation and foresight. The start-up costs of these systems can vary from several hundred thousand dollars for a departmental system in a community hospital to tens of millions of dollars for EMR systems in large centers.

Assessment

In addition, ROI calculations become more subjective, as ROI is more dependent on cost avoidance (e.g., from fewer medical errors, more efficient work processes) rather than revenue generation. However, improvements in quality of care from well thought-out development and implementation can still provide significant financial returns.

More info: www.HealthcareFinancials.com

Conclusion

Please contribute your own thoughts, experiences, questions, knowledge and comments on this topic for the benefit of all our Executive-Post readers.

Related Information Sources:

Practice Management: http://www.springerpub.com/prod.aspx?prod_id=23759

Physician Financial Planning: http://www.jbpub.com/catalog/0763745790

Medical Risk Management: http://www.jbpub.com/catalog/9780763733421

Healthcare Organizations: www.HealthcareFinancials.com

Health Administration Terms: www.HealthDictionarySeries.com

Physician Advisors: www.CertifiedMedicalPlanner.com

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Filed under: Information Technology | Tagged: Add new tag, CIS, HIT |