LESSON 5:

HEALTH INFORMATION SYSTEMS

AT THE END OF THE DISCUSSION,
STUDENTS SHOULD BE ABLE TO:
 DISCUSS THE ROLES OF HEALTH INFORMATION SYSTEM;
 ENUMERATE THE COMPONENTS OF A HEALTH INFORMATION
SYSTEM; and
 IDENTIFY THE DIFFERENT DATA SOURCES FOR A HEALTH
INFORMATION SYSTEM,
Introduction:

 Health informatics is the application of both technology and systems

in a healthcare setting.
 The combination of elements in an HIS enables the provision of
more efficient and effective healthcare services.
Overview:

 Health information systems - captures, stores, manages, or transmits

information related to the health of individuals or the activities of
organizations that work within the health sector.

 Routine information systems;

 Disease surveillance systems
 Laboratory information systems
 Hospital patient administration systems (PAS); and
 Human Resource Management Information Systems (HRMIS).
Overview:

 a well-functioning HIS is an integrated effort to collect, process, report

and use health information and knowledge.

 decisions informed by evidence contribute to more efficient resource

allocation
 information about the quality and effectiveness of services can
contribute to better outcomes.
Overview

 information systems should become sustainable and not overburden

health delivery staff, or be too expensive to run.

 employees need feedback on how the routine data they collect can be
utilized.
Role and Function of Health
Information Systems
Files Are Easier to Access
 Health information systems have revolutionized the way that doctors and health
care professionals maintain patient information.

More Controls
 Doctors may have permission to update, change and delete information from the
electronic medical record.
Easy to Update
 Health information systems let doctors create electronic medical records for their
patients.

Communication
 Health information systems abet communication between multiple doctors or
hospitals.
Note:

“A good Health Information Systems delivers the accurate information

in a timely manner, enabling decision-makers to make better-informed
choices about different aspects of the health institution, from patient
care to annual budgets. It also upholds transparency and accountability
due to the easier access to information.”
Components of
Health Information
Systems

The six components of Health

Information System:

(Framework and Standards for

Country Health Information Systems,
The Health Metrics Network, 2008)
Components of Health Information Systems

Health Information Systems Resources

 These include the legislative, regulatory, and planning frameworks.
Resources
a. personnel
b. financing
c. logistics support
d. information and communications technology (ICT)
e. coordinating mechanisms within and between the six components

Indicators
 Indicators need to encompass determinants of health; health system inputs, outputs and
outcomes, and health status
Components of Health Information Systems (cont.)

Data Sources
 Can be divided into two main categories:
(1) population-based approaches (censuses, civil registration and population surveys)
(2) institution-based data (individual records, service records and resource records).
Other data-collection approaches and sources:
a. occasional health surveys
b. research
c. information produced by community-based organizations
Components of Health Information Systems (cont.)

Data Management
 Collection, storage, quality-assurance and flow, to processing, compilation and
analysis

Information Products
 Data transformed into information

Dissemination and Use

 The value of health information is enhanced by making it readily accessible
3 Subdivisions of H.I.S

INPUTS

PROCESS

OUTPUTS
Inputs > refer to the health information system resources
- health
- institutional coordination and leadership
- health informatics policies
- financial and human resources
- infrastructure

Process - indicators
- data sources
- data management

Outputs - Information products. 

- Dissemination and use. 
Different data sources for Health
Information System
Sources of Information
 Demographic data 
a. age (or birth date)
b. gender
c. race and ethnic origin
d. marital status
e. address of residence
f. names of and other information about
immediate family members
e. emergency information
f. Information about employment status
(and employer), schooling, and education.
 Administrative data
a. services provided (e.g., diagnostic
tests or outpatient procedures)
b. charges and amounts paid, c. the
kind of practitioner (physician, podiatrist,
psychologist), physician specialty
d. nature of institution (general or
specialty hospital, physician office or
clinic, home care agency, nursing home,
and so forth).
Sources of Information

 Health status (or health-related quality of

life)
 reported by individuals themselves
 Health risk information   reflects domains of health (physical
functioning, mental and emotional well-
 reveals lifestyle and behavior being, cognitive functioning, social and role
 facts about family history and functioning)
genetic factors to evaluate  perceptions of one's health in the past,
propensity for different diseases. present, and future and compared with that
of one's peers.
Sources of Information
 Patient medical history
> considers data on previous medical
encounters such as:
- hospital admissions
- surgical procedures
- pregnancies and live births, and the
like
> includes information on past medical
problems and possibly family history or
events (e.g., alcoholism or parental
divorce).
 Current medical management 
> includes the content of encounter forms or
parts of the patient record. Such information
might reflect:
- health screening
- current health problems and diagnoses
- allergies (especially those to medications)
- diagnostic or therapeutic procedures
performed
- laboratory tests carried out,
- medications prescribed
- counseling provided.
Sources of Information

 Outcomes data 
 comprise a wide array of measures of the effects of health care and the aftermath
of various health problems
 they might reflect health care events such as re-admission to hospital or
unexpected complications or side effects of care
 also include measures of satisfaction with care.
KEY POINTS TO REMEMBER
 Health information systems refer to any system that captures, stores, manages or
transmits information related to the health of individuals or the activities of
organizations that work within the health sector.
 HIS improves the services because files are easier to access, more controls, easy
to update and communication.
 The components of an HIS are (Inputs) Health Information System Resources;
(Processes) Indicators, Data Sources, Data Management; (Outputs) Information
Products and Dissemination & use.
 The different data sources are: Demographic data, administrative data, Health
Risk Information, Health Status, Patient medical history, Current medical
management and outcomes data.