Health Care Reform: The Importance of Information Technology Management

Prior to the adoption of the new Health Care Reform, the Obama administration must look at recommendations made by the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HiMSS). Back in May 2009, the HiMSS, made several recommendations as to the necessity of technology improvements to unsure effective and efficient delivery in health care reform.

Whether it be health care reform specifically or any large or small entity these days the effectiveness and efficiency of the delivered service or product is in direct proportion to its quality of information technology and management services. This becomes especially true with the speed at which information technology improvements are being launched. Each new information technology improvement design should be considered by the Obama administration as yet another method to ensure maximum effectiveness in health care reform and any new health care delivery process.

Of course all the money dedicated to the new health care reform programs and initiatives will be for nil without an adequately funded information technology infrastructure. The entire medical community must be provided either the monetary solution or the equipment resources to upgrade and establish information technology consistency. It would be devastating for all beneficiaries if those trained in health care delivery, that are the crux of the health care reform plan, be diverted to un untrained area like information technology.

We all have an example of being confronted with incorrect or inadequate information data that is almost impossible to overcome. Because as we all know (or not know) what the computer shows it gospel.

There are many questions surrounding the health care reform but the need for consistent information technology management is not one of them. Some recommendations made by HiMSS are:

• Invest a minimum of $25 billion in health IT. This would be to help non-government practices and hospitals to create all medical records electronically.

• Create health care standards and reporting practices so automated medical records are consistent and easily interpretable.

• Allow incentive for greater coordination of care for all which would be absolutely necessary with eligible patient expansion.

• Provide funds for oversight at all levels of new and existent health care programs.

This funding, and the subsequent health care reform consistent resource establishment, is a must not a luxury. The truth is that if the information technology infrastructure is not in place prior to the implementation of the new health care reform programs the probability of mass confusion and failure is great.

While I do not necessarily support the new health care reform programs or this administrations agenda I do not want to see wasted funding and tax dollars because of a lack of proper funding distribution or naivety in thinking the current information technology is in any way adequate for this expansion.

Being a proud information technology manager, if and when the health care reform plan falls short of its hype, the last thing I want is for the fault of the failure to be targeted at the information technology systems. God help us all... to survive the health care reform legislation.

Source:

http://www.himss.org/2009calltoaction/HIMSSCallToActionDec2008.pdf

Other technology articles:
http://www.associatedcontent.com/user/653753/robert_cooper.html