WHAT IS A HEALTH MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM?
A health management system (HMS) is a medical process in which an assessment of the economic type cost-benefit analysis determines a body’s regulation of its physiology and health. The incorporation of calculations into body regulation provides science grounded approach to mind-body phenomena which cannot be explainable by low-level theories.
A health management information system is an essential building block for the strengthening of a health system. It is a data collection system that is specifically designed to assist in planning, decision making, management in healthcare facilities and organizations.
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So, what are the steps in designing a health management information system?
The first process would be to review the existing system that is currently in use by the healthcare facility. Questions that one should ask is whether it assists the management in their day-to-day operations.
One should then define the data needs of the relevant units within the health system and determine the most appropriate and effective data flow. Designing the data collection and reporting tools is the fourth step in coming up with an effective health management information system. You should then develop the procedures and mechanisms for data processing including implementing a training program for data providers and data users.
Conducting a pre-test is key to check if everything works correctly. If not, a system redesign for data collection, flow, processing, and utilization are necessary. Continue monitoring and evaluating the system and develop an effective data and feedback mechanism hence enhancing your management information system.
There are many expectations for professional nurses in their discipline. Nursing professionalism comes from nurses developing their practice, therefore, educating others about the roles they play within the sector and act as leaders facilitating the channel of professional learning from the more experienced nurses to newer nurses.
Why is the use of an information system in healthcare important?
As the years continue passing by, so is healthcare which has become increasingly advanced over the years which has, in turn, led to a widespread use of the system worldwide. Information systems in healthcare have evolved from what it was used to be known in the past into a digital healthcare infrastructure. Some of the benefits of a health management information system are that it helps decision makers to detect and control emerging and endemic health problems by monitoring progress towards health goals and promote equity.
Health management information systems empower individuals and communities with timely health-related information thereby improving the quality of services that are provided by the various healthcare facilities.
A good HMIS system strengthens the evidence base for effective health policies which permits evaluation and enables innovation through research. Health management information systems help mobilize new resources which ensures accountability in how they are to be used hence improving governance.
Nursing information system (NIS) is also a part of HMIS which are computer systems that manage clinical data from a variety of healthcare environments in an efficient timely manner aiding nurses in improving patient care. The nursing information system in nursing practice assists nurses in the enhancement of their documentation providing data for research that aids at examining them interrelationships between data elements and nursing outcomes thereby facilitating the development of the nursing process. NIS also guides nursing research in assessing variables on multi levels which include institutional, local, regional and national levels. It helps in the identification of trends to build information which help to further develop nursing knowledge. In education, nursing information systems help develop a body of knowledge where the focus is on the nursing process, therefore, enhancing accurate documentation by the student nurses.
What are the components of a health management information system?
The primary components of a working and integrated health management information system include:
Data component – comprises of knowledge and information
Network component – also comprises of hardware and software i.e. physical infrastructure
System component – relates to operations that involve information and data
Integration component
Management component
The data is considered the heart of a health management system network which provides information and how the information relates to other systems providing efficiency and consistency.
