logo for information-management-architect.com
Home
Strategy
Framework
Business Case Analysis
Project Planning
Requirements Analysis
Architecture & Design
Build Phase
Quality Assurance
Transition to Production
Management Information
Business Intelligence
Data Warehouse
Tools
Jobs
leftimage for information-management-architect.com

Health Information Management

Accountable for health information management and want some practical suggestions to reduce information management costs?

What are health services?Health Information Management

Health departments are government agencies established to protect public health by regulating things such as:
  • Water quality;
  • Air quality;
  • Healthcare facilities;
  • Restaurant and beverage establishments;
  • Food processing facilities; and
  • Meat packing plants.
These departments might belong to federal, state provincial, city or township governments and they all have similar heath management information requirements.

What water quality information is monitored?

Health departments set standards, and monitor compliance, for freshwater treatment and sewage treatment e.g.
  • Drinking water includes municipal and well water; and
  • Sewage includes municipal sewage treatment facilities, septic tanks and other waste treatment mechanisms.
Monitoring responsibilities include:
  • Inspecting water treatment facilities, to ensure that:
    • Water meets quality standards; and
    • Water treatment equipment is properly maintained
  • Inspecting sewage treatment facilities to ensure that:
    • Treated sewage conforms to standards; and
    • Sewage treatment equipment is properly maintained.
New construction responsibilities include:
  • Issuing building permits;
  • Collecting permit fees; and
  • Certifying compliance with standards.
What healthcare facility information is required?

Health departments, in conjunction with medical professional associations, set standards, and monitor compliance, for all health care facilities such as:
  • Hospitals;
  • Clinics;
  • Nursing homes;
  • Extended care facilities; and
  • Dental clinics.
Responsibilities include:
  • Issuing permits;
  • Collecting fees; and
  • Inspecting facilities to ensure that:
    • Professional staff are qualified by appropriate medical professional associations;
    • Premises meet quality standards; and
    • Equipment is maintained properly.
Additional responsibilities include:
  • Issuing warnings;
  • Follow-up monitoring; and
  • Closing sub-standard facilities.
What food and beverage health information management is required?

Health departments set standards, and monitor compliance, for food and beverage establishments including:
  • Restaurants;
  • Bars;
  • Fast food outlets; and
  • Grocery stores.
Responsibilities include:
  • Issuing permits;
  • Collecting fees;
  • Inspecting food preparation facilities; and
  • Inspecting sanitation facilities and procedures.
What food processing information is monitored?

Federal governments, and health departments are responsible for setting standards, and monitoring compliance, for meat packing plants, and food processing facilities.

Information requirements include facility inspections, to ensure:
  • They meet quality standards; and
  • That equipment is maintained properly.
What meat packing information is monitored?

In addition to equipment and sanitation inspections, information concerning the source of animals and their food intake must be available to trace back causes of potential food chain problems.

What are some health information management challenges?

Government agencies, including health agencies, frequently operate independently and hence capture similar data in different computer systems. This presents challenges obtaining a consolidated view of the health information.

Much of the information is in different formats and/or uses different means of identifying establishments (or organizations).

Data warehouse applications are frequently developed to help provide a consolidated health profile and this involves information management projects, standards, best practices and specialized IT professionals.

Summary…

Health information management is a complex subject involving several levels of government with independent computer systems.

An information management strategy and framework, based on industry-wide best practices, is required to ensure optimal return on information management investment.


footer for Information management page