Today, more than ever before, healthcare institutions are continuously adopting information and technology tools and applications to not only facilitate better service delivery to patients and partners, but also to streamline their business operations and processes (Tan & Tan, 2010). In this perspective, the Chief Information Officer (CIO) survey therefore becomes important for the Health Management Information System (HMIS) industry because it assist health institutions to project current and future informational and technological needs (Dearstyne, 2010), not mentioning the fact that it provides quantifiable and easily interpretable data on the industry trends, and how customer or patient feedback could be used to streamline service delivery in healthcare settings (Tan & Tan, 2010). More importantly, CIO surveys assist health institutions to collect important data while engaged in the development of customer service programs for clients. For example, a CIO survey would be mandatory when a health institution is charged with the responsibility of developing a web-based enterprise architecture or customer service system that would permit subscribers to access and manage their health profiles and benefits while employing online protocols.
According to Tan & Tan (2010), “…hardware includes all physical devices (machines, storage, and input/output devices) that constitute a computer system” (p. 86). The convergence of technology witnessed in the 21st century has endless possibilities into the management of health information. In this context, the choice of hardware investments for HMIS future should be informed by, among other things, the capacity of the hardware to provide efficient and timely services to customers, capacity to reach a wider audience, capacity to be integrated onto a web-based framework, and ease of use (Carnicero et al, 2006). Traditional hardware investments for effective HMIS implementation included the central processing unit (CPU), primary and secondary storage, and input and output devices (Tan & Tan, 2010). With advances in technology, however, healthcare institutions must start thinking about new hardware investments that can be incorporated in their already existing health management information systems for effective and efficient management of important patient information. Consequently, some of the hardware investments that need to be considered as key to HMIS future include: new payment models, generally referred to as bundled or episode-based payment; electronic health registers (EHRs) for faster accessibility of patient information and effective diagnosis of the patient’s illness, and; other informational gadgets such as personal digital assistants (PDAs) to assist in the efficient collection of data during wait times and in facilitating clinical decision support for clinicians as well as patients (Tan & Tan, 2010; Draper, 2011; Carnicero et al, 2006).
The actual results of the CIO survey, in this context, will most probably reinforce the predictions stated above due to the fact that the responses received from the survey are reflections of the current trends and future requirements of hardware investments in HMIS. These trends and requirements are industry-specific, according to Carnicero et al (2006), thus the probability of attaining comparable results in both settings. Of importance here is the fact that CIO surveys are used to strengthen the case about the need for the health organization to invest in health management information systems for effective delivery of services.
Lastly, current literature demonstrates that electronic health registers can save lives, improve treatment outcomes for the patients, and ensure faster and effective delivery of services (Carnicero et al, 2006). Results of a recent survey conducted in the U.S. among 2,153 adults demonstrates that almost “…three-quarters of respondents agree that patients could receive better care if doctors and researchers were able to share information more easily via electronic system and 63% agree sharing of such information could decrease medical errors” (Bright, 2007, para. 2). It is also generally felt that the adoption of electronic health registers in healthcare settings could reduce costs (Tan & Tan, 2010). Consequently, investment in an effective and efficient EHR must be a top priority for the CIO if health institutions are to benefit from the above named advantages.
Reference List
Bright, B. (2007). Benefits of electronic health records are seen as outweighing privacy risks. Web.
Carnicero, J., Blanco, O., & Mateos, M. (2006). The application of information and communication technologies to clinical activity: Electronic health and clinical records. Pharmaceuticals Policy & Law, 8(1), 69-82
Dearstyne, B.W. (2010). Groundbreaking trends: The foundation for meeting information challenges and opportunities. Information Management, 44(2), 27-32
Draper, A. (2011). Managing bundled payments. Healthcare Financial Management, 65(4), 110-118
Tan, Joshia, & Tan, Joseph. (2010). Basic hardware, software, and interface concepts in healthcare services organizations. In: J.K.H. Tan & F.C. Payton (eds) Adaptive health management information systems: Concepts, cases, and practical applications, 3rd Ed. Sudbury, MA: Jones & Bartlett Publishers