Goal and overview of information technology in

healthcare. Important and emerging issues of IT in

health sector.

Bibek Ale Magar

/2074
 Information Technology In Healthcare
Goal And overview
Health Information Technology (Health IT) is a broad term that describes the technology and
infrastructure used to record, analyze, and share patient health data. Various technologies include
health record systems, including personal, paper, and electronic; personal health tools including
smart devices and apps; and finally, communities to share and discuss information. Some of this
technology can tell the patient whether they need to go on a diet too, and most of the time the
golo diets is what they should be doing or they should be taking pill.

The purpose of Health IT is to provide better care for patients and help achieve health equity.
Health IT supports recording of patient data to improve healthcare delivery and allow for
analysis of this information for both healthcare practitioners and ministry of health/government
agencies. This data is used for the implementation of policies in order to better treat and prevent
the spread of diseases.

Health IT improves the quality of healthcare delivery, increases patient safety, decreases medical
errors, and strengthens the interaction between patients and healthcare providers. In low and
middle-income countries the need for reliable and affordable medical record software is
paramount. The Open MRS community helps meet this specific need by developing and
supporting the Open Medical Record System an open source electronic health record platform,
specifically designed for low-resource environments, and is completely free.

Health Information Technology Important

The use of Health IT in medical clinics improves the quality of healthcare that is delivered by
providing accurate patient records and allows doctors to better understand the patient’s medical
history. Having a comprehensive patient history empowers doctors to more accurately treat
ailments and prevent over-prescribing medications which can be fatal. Without medical records,
physician’s would need to depend on the patient’s memory, which can lead to inaccurate medical
history due to forgetfulness, complex drug names, and ailments affecting the patient’s
recollection.

Patients that suffer from disease and ailments directly benefit from Health IT because of the
improved level of care. The benefits of electronic health records include: Better health care by
improving all aspects of patient care, including safety, effectiveness, patient-centeredness,
communication, education, timeliness, efficiency, and equity.

Understanding Health Information Technology

All people have some ability to manage their health and the health of those they care for.
However, with the increasing complexity of health information and health care settings, most
people need additional information, skills, and supportive relationships to meet their health
needs.

Disparities in access to health information, services, and technology can result in lower usage
rates of preventive services, less knowledge of chronic disease management, higher rates of
hospitalization, and poorer reported health status.

Both public and private institutions are increasingly using the Internet and other technologies to
streamline the delivery of health information and services. This results in an even greater need
for health professionals to develop additional skills in the understanding and use of consumer
health information.

The increase in online health information and services challenges users with limited literacy
skills or limited experience using the Internet. For many of these users, the Internet is stressful
and overwhelming even inaccessible. Much of this stress can be reduced through the application
of evidence-based best practices in user-centered design.

Emerging Issues in Health Information Technology

During the coming decade, the speed, scope, and scale of adoption of health IT will only
increase. Social media and emerging technologies promise to blur the line between expert and
peer health information. Monitoring and assessing the impact of these new media, including
mobile health, on public health will be challenging.

Equally challenging will be helping health professionals and the public adapt to the changes in
health care quality and efficiency due to the creative use of health IT. Continual feedback,
productive interactions, and access to evidence on the effectiveness of treatments and
interventions will likely transform the traditional patient-provider relationship. It will also
change the way people receive, process, and evaluate health information. Capturing the scope
and impact of these changes and the role of health IT in facilitating them will require
multidisciplinary models and data systems.

Conclusion
Such systems will be critical to expanding the collection of data to better understand the effects
of health IT on population health outcomes, health care quality, and health disparities. Patients
that suffer from disease and ailments directly benefit from Health IT because of the improved
level of care. The benefits of electronic health records include: Better health care by improving
all aspects of patient care, including safety, effectiveness, patient-centeredness, communication,
education, timeliness, efficiency, and equity.