Health Information Systems in

Nursing

Health Information Systems are digital systems with open

data that comes from different sources and that is
ethically used, through effective ICT tools, to generate
strategic information for the benefit of public health.
DORCAS LIPEKENE
Introduction

According to the World Health

Organisation (WHO), the health
information system collects data
from the health sector and other
relevant sectors, analyses the
data and ensures their overall
quality, relevance and timeliness,
and converts data into information
for health-related decision-making.
DORCAS LIPEKENE
How do health information systems
function
• Health information systems vary according to different hospitals. What is most important is that
patient information is up-to-date, organized, understandable and transferable.
• Some hospitals or health care centers may have their own type of software, used in data entry. In
Poland, Centrum e-Zdrowia, is responsible for implementing IT projects essential for the
functioning of health care system.
• During admission, an administrative staff will register patients' personal information before the
patient sees a doctor. Data gathered during this may include;
• Patients name

• Contact data

• Insurance data

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• Home address

• Next of kin and so on.

Health information systems are

able to help health professionals
keep up with a patient through
out their admission. A patients'
information is inserted into the
database. Recording their data
permanently and securely for
future use.
DORCAS LIPEKENE
In the hospital
setting

• Beside patient information, health

information systems are used in
hospitals to keep up with stockage
of important necessary everyday
material such as;
• Syringes

• Ppe

• Medication

• Gloves

• Masks etc.
DORCAS LIPEKENE
• HIS are used in organization of work in the hospital setting. Enabling proper shifting
patterns which keeps Healthcare workers in good mental states.
• In the cases of large hospitals, HIS help in secure transfer of hospital information
from department to another avoiding leaks of private information.
• Hospitals are also able to transfer a patient's medical history to another hospital in
case a patient is in an incident and are unable to provide information on their own.
This is in due to the possibility of shared databases like e-zdrowie or patient portal.

DORCAS LIPEKENE
How does a nurse use Information
systems?
A nurse, together with all other health professionals such as physiotherapists
and doctors use information system to provide good health care for their
patients.
Information systems are used to:
• Record drug procurements: health information systems often include
features for medication management. Nurses use these systems to verify
prescriptions, check for drug interactions, and document medication
administration through barcode scanning technology
• Documenting Care: Nurses enter and update patient information in real-
time during their shifts. This includes documenting assessments,
interventions, and patient responses to treatments, ensuring accurate and up-
to-date records.
• Reporting and Analytics: Health information systems provide tools for
generating reports on patient outcomes, compliance Dwith
O R C A Sprotocols,
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• Data Security and Privacy Compliance: Nurses are trained to use health
information systems while adhering to regulations regarding patient privacy
(such as HIPAA in the United States), ensuring that sensitive information is
protected at all times
• Scheduling and Workflow Management: Nurses utilize scheduling
features within health information systems to manage appointments,
coordinate care activities, and streamline workflows within the healthcare
setting.
• Accessing Patient Records: Nurses utilize health information systems to
quickly access electronic health records (EHRs) that contain comprehensive
patient data, including medical history, medications, allergies, and lab results.

DORCAS LIPEKENE
The Importance of health information
systems
• Improved Patient Care and Safety: Health Information
Systems (HIS) facilitate faster access to accurate patient data,
which helps healthcare providers deliver personalized care and
reduce medical errors.
• Performance Analysis: HIS enables organizations to assess
staff performance, analyze patient care quality, and monitor
service stability, leading to enhanced operational efficiency.
• Mitigation of Medical Errors: By automating data collection
and centralizing information storage, HIS minimizes the risk of
errors in diagnoses and treatment plans.
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• Resource Management : HIS aids in the rationalization of
available resources by providing insights into health service
utilization, promoting equity and effectiveness in health planning.
• Epidemiological Surveillance: these systems support public
health efforts by enabling the monitoring of diseases and risk
factors within populations, contributing to better health
outcomes.
• Improved Patient Satisfaction: Efficient management of
healthcare information allows staff to focus more on patient
needs, enhancing overall satisfaction with the care provided.

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• Facilitation of Research and Education : provides a structured
framework for collecting data that can be used for research
purposes and educational initiatives within healthcare settings.
• Enhanced Communication : improves communication among
healthcare professionals by ensuring that relevant information is
shared promptly and accurately across different departments.
• Cost Efficiency : By streamlining processes and reducing
redundancy in tests or procedures due to lack of information, HIS
contributes to significant cost savings for healthcare organizations.

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How to set up an efficient Health
Information Sytem in a healthcare
facility of health information systems include:
Components
• Electronic Medical Record (EMR) and Electronic Health Record
(EHR): These two terms are almost used interchangeably. An EMR
replaces the paper version of a patient’s medical history - think of it as
digital version of the paper charts in the clinician’s office. Electronic health
records (EHRs) can provide a more detailed record of a patient’s medical
history. The electronic health record includes more health data, test
results, and treatments. It also is designed to share data with other
electronic health records so other healthcare providers can access a
patient’s healthcare data.
• Practice Management Software: helps healthcare providers manage
daily operations such as scheduling and billing. Healthcare providers, from
small practices to hospitals, use practice management systems to
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• Master Patient Index (MPI): master patient index connects separate patient records across
databases. The index has a record for each patient that is registered at a healthcare
organization and indexes all other records for that patient. MPIs are used to reduce duplicate
patient records and inaccurate patient information that can lead to claim denials.
• Patient Portals: allow patients to access their personal health data such as appointment
information, medications and lab results over an internet connection. Some patient portals allow
active communication with their physicians, prescription refill requests, and the ability to
schedule appointments.
• Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM): Used commonly in telehealth set ups, remote patient
monitoring allows medical sensors to send patient data to healthcare professionals. While
usually meant to observe biometric data like heart rate, blood pressure, and blood oxygen
levels, it can be used to frequently monitor any symptom or condition in patients with chronic
conditions. The data is used to detect medical events that require intervention and can possibly
become part of a larger population health study.
• Clinical Decision Support (CDS): Clinical decision support systems analyze data from various
clinical and administrative systems to help healthcare providers make clinical decisions. The
data can help prepare diagnoses or predict medical events — such as drug interactions. These
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tools filter data and information to help clinicians care for individual patients
To help keep systems secure companies should:
• Train employees

• Encrypt data

• Back up data

• Monitor usage

• Buy insurance

• Access vendor vulnerability

• Utilize multi-factor authentication

In conclusion, HIS are of great importance for a health care facility because it
helps to implement good organization of work and proper planning for patients
and staff.
DORCAS LIPEKENE
 sources

• https://www.digitalguardian.com/blog/what-health-information-system

• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470186/

• https://www.nursingworld.org/content-hub/resources/nursing-resources/nursin
g-informatics/#:~:text=safety%20and%20privacy.-,What%20Is%20Informatics
%20in%20Nursing%3F,and%20wisdom%20in%20nursing%20practice
.
• https://www.paho.org/en/topics/health-information-systems

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