Health Information Technology Basics

1. Health Information Technology Basics January 8, 2011 by Leola McNeill adapted from Information Technology Basics by June 2009, Kayla Calhoun & Dr. Frank Flanders

2. Objectives Define information technology. Describe how technology impacts the healthcare industry Describe Concept of Health Informatics technology Compare and contrast current types of healthcare networks information technology (IT) applications. What are long range plans for information technology and careers.

3. Information Technology Method used to: • Process • Protect • Store • Transmit • Retrieve DATA

4. Health Information Technology (HIT) • Information Technology is the wave of the future for healthcare management • HIT- refers to the technology used to create, transmit, store, secure and manage an individual’s health data. • Currently electronic health data is limited to a single healthcare system, facility or office.

5. Concept of using IT in healthcare • The concept of interoperable sharing of health information will authorized entities access (i.e. physician's, billing) • IT use in healthcare is a expanding concept to have an impact on: • Enhancing healthcare safety • Decrease healthcare cost, and • Enhance healthcare quality • The need has been recognized by the private sectors and at the highest levels of government

6. Define modern health information technology. Use of computer hardware and software to manage health care information Increases legibility

7. Data • The vision is that reliable health-related information will exist electronically in a format that can be securely and easily accessed by authorized agencies to: • Improve the health of the individual • Improve health a community • And ultimately of the U.S. population as a whole

8. Datacontinued. • Health information is obtained, entered electronically, stored and retrievable to promote continuity among providers • Data entered electronically promotes adherence to the National Patient Safety Goals (NPSG) • The Joint Commission lists the current standards and goals on its website: • http://www.jointcommission.org/standards_information/npsgs.aspx

9. Data Storage • After data is converted into bits, it can be stored in bytes (a string of 8 bits) • Primary storage, or memory, is located in the hard drive and can be directly accessed by the central processing unit (CPU) • Secondary storage: located outside the computer; ex: disks, CDs, USB sticks, external hard drives • Good for security purposes

10. Challenges of Healthcare Data Protection • Prevention of data corruption • Limits access to data • Disk encryption • Backup – internal or external copies of data files in case of accidental data loss • Data masking – hiding specific private data within a database • Data erasure – destroys all electronic data on a hard drive to maintain privacy if it is discarded or reused

11. Data Processing • Conversion of data into usable information • Fetches instructions for a program from memory • Decodes and reads instructions • Portions of the CPU connect and execute instructions • Writes back the results to memory

12. Data Transmission Physical transfer of data over a medium, such as copper wire, optical fiber, or wireless Networks: enable two or more computers to share files, printers, and communicate with each other

13. Health Information Networks Local Area Network (LAN): contained within one healthcare practice or hospital commonly referred to as an intranet Wide Area Network (WAN): connects several healthcare practices or hospitals Ex: Internet

14. Health Information Networks, continued. Client-server: Healthcare organization computers are all connected by a central server; can be LAN or WAN Peer-to-Peer: Healthcare facility or office practice computers are connected to each other, but files are not stored in a central location; can only be LAN

15. Health Information Networks, continued. Server: large & powerful digital storage point that performs a service for other computers in a network; file, print, web, mail is used to maintain patient information Use of a server makes it easier to maintain security and perform backups when health information files are centrally stored Health Information is protected by HIPAA (Health Information Privacy and Accountability Act)

16. Internet • With the advances in technology, the internet is used for obtaining and providing health information • IP Address: each computer has one; enables data to be sent to and received from a specific computer and creates an electronic fingerprint for legal purposes • E-mail

17. Data Retrieval “Science of searching” User enters a query (ex: search string on web search engine or computer hard drive) Computer information retrieval system scores objects in database by relevancy and displays those most relevant to the query

18. Common IT Applications Word processors: used to create and edit documents Spreadsheets: used to analyze figures and present information with graphs/charts Databases: stores information about a set of similar items

19. Common IT Applications Publishing: more control over formatting and arranging than word processing PowerPoint: used in business presentations and the classroom to present factual information or for persuasive purposes

20. Careers in Health Informatics Health Professionals use computers and store information electronically daily Health Informatics specialists are needed to manage those health information systems and protect client information. Some jobs in Health Informatics: Health Information Management Director Nurse Informatics Specialist Health Information Project Manager Chief Information Officer (CIO)

21. Top Skills of HIT Professionals are: Computer Networking Information Security Database Management Information Storage and Retrieval Risk Management

22. How fast things change!!!

23. Mass Data Storage and Retrieval • Challenge how to maintain security of information on server

24. Connect the Pieces of the Patient puzzle

25. Summary The information age has created the new career field of health information technology. The goal of Health Information technology is to use computer hardware and software to manage healthcare and patient information. Healthcare professionals use computer systems to gather, process, store, protect, transmit, and retrieve data. Computers are used in healthcare setting and connected to each other by networks, limited. Due to the complexity and extent of healthcare network, facilities may have one or more servers, which store patient files in a central location.

26. Summary, continued Health information is being transmitted across networks to promote continuity of care for patients among providers Common healthcare software applications are word processors, spreadsheets, databases, publishing, and PowerPoint Electronic Health Information companies exist to train and manage complex healthcare systems. Healthcare workers must be prepared to learn and adapt to the use of computer in healthcare. Challenges: Maintaining confidentiality; interoperability; consistent language and patient trust in security

27. Consider the possibilities… Questions?