Community Health Information (CHI) is a network that has emerged with the aim of reducing cost on healthcare. The network makes use of integrated telecommunications and computer services that allow patients to smoothly communicate with their health providers (Weaver, 2011). There are myriad of services provided through the network such as paying of bills, purchasing drugs from pharmacies and accessing health information. Currently, communication technology used by CHI is increasingly being empowered and made cost effective (Weaver, 2011). Indeed, the network has enhanced sustainable organization of information and therefore, participants can work coherently toward attaining common goal of assisting vulnerable communities. This paper explores the working principles of Community Health Information.
CHI has fostered universal links between health providers and patients since it has made it possible to interchange ideas electronically. Information shared is ultimately used by competitive participants such as health agencies targeting individual homes, clinics and physicians in provision of services (Weaver, 2011). As an example, Wisconsin Health Information Network (WHIN) is one of the CHINs (Zinn, 2011). This network is fully developed and functioning on behalf of the community. It emerged to access and dispense information voluntarily from patients to medical providers. Ultimately, WHIN developed and became compatible with other networks. Therefore, it can connect with its participants effectively (Weaver, 2011).
Who is the provider(s) that contribute the CHIN?
Several groups act as providers of CHINs. For instance, some networks are non-profit making thus are operated by government of states concerned. On the same note, Institutions can come up with health information networks though they are operated at some cost (Weaver, 2011). Moreover, there are those CHINs that are vendor-owned while others are provident by private operating database. For example, WHIN is a profit driven network that arose to provide health information services for communities (Zinn, 2011).
Who does the CHIN serve?
CHINs have heap of users whom they serve. In most cases, the government is the major user that utilizes the network to connect with people. For instance, the ministry of health uses the network to disseminate health information to people in all regions and also globally. Moreover, educational researchers benefit from services provided by CHINs (Zinn, 2011). To emphasize on this, medical researchers occasionally share researched data with clinicians and pharmacists through the network. It is also essential to note that patients are served sustainably by the networks since they can pay their medical bills through CHINs (Zinn, 2011). In line with this, patients also receive medical information from their health providers through the same channels. As a result, health regulators can reach out to various agents in the process of fostering communal health. Indeed, this may prove to be easier and simpler since minimal time is taken to disseminate and receive information (Weaver, 2011). In extreme cases, employers also benefit from the networks bearing in mind that they can enquire and make financial plan for hospitals on behalf of their employees.
Provide an overview of the information contained in the CHIN
There are federal regulations that are meant to monitor the activities of community health information networks. For instance, some acts indicate the initiatives in CHINs providers (Zinn, 2011). Other information found in CHINs is on reduction of costs to enable beneficiaries to access healthcare services at a lower outlay. In this case, administrators provide information on how to reduce health costs without decimating the benefits. In this case, patients are given opportunities and informed on how to determine effectiveness and costs of myriad of treatment services. Hospital administrators also make use of these networks. This enables them to examine the quality of services alongside care provided. Using this information, they can review the consequences that govern their operations. Besides, additional information derived from these networks is about their mission statement. This indicates what the networks are up to and their potentials. Finally, they have goals that are clearly stated in terms of types of services provided and how this is achieved (Weaver, 2011).
Current operational status of the CHIN and an evaluation of the effectiveness of the CHIN to serve the community
Currently, there are major networks that have dominated the market and are at different stages of development. However, each network has well established goals (Weaver, 2011). CHINs have fostered effective functionality in clinical communications (Zinn, 2011). Most of the providers have successfully reached out for a large number of beneficiaries and are eligible for easier access and delivery of health information globally. Hospitals have effectively relied on the networks in accessing their participants and patients. Additionally, this has enhanced knowledgeable skill and choice whereby paperwork has been significantly minimized. Besides, redundancy has been eliminated especially where patients are less educated (Weaver, 2011). It is also profound to note that CHINs have lowered the cost benefits thus increasing contact to litigation. Having integrated myriad of practical-management schemes, CHINs have challenging future of initiating improved applications in healthcare provision (Weaver, 2011). In this case, specific applications will be implemented. Some of the applications may include insurance services, medical libraries, eligibility notification and verification (Zinn, 2011). Though the networks have been faced by challenges in justifying costs, their comprehensive designs have changed the face of many communities in terms of health services.
In recap, it is imperative to note that CHINs are integrated networks that use computer technology to disseminate health information to communities thus improving healthcare services. It is also evident that these networks have numerous benefits to targeted users. Beneficiaries of CHINs include the government, people, hospitals, clinicians, education researchers and pharmacists. Nevertheless, numerous weaknesses are facing such networks and are hoping to be decimated in future. Of great importance is that CHINs have reduced healthcare spending of countries’ income due to pocket friendly administrative costs that duplicate to positive impacts on people’s health.
References
Weaver, G. (2011.) CHINs: making the important decisions- community health information networks. Web.
Zinn, A. (2011). CHIN primer – community health information networks and the national healthcare reform plan. Web.