Information technology in healthcare - for the individual and the doctor

Jodie Humphries

Healthcare - ever changing to benefit those that work within the industry and those that require the service that it provides. Part of this ever-changing healthcare is technology. Information technology in healthcare is one part of the sector which is trying to change and shape itself to become a more important part of the industry.

Using information technology in healthcare to manage personal information is an important part of our changing healthcare system. Not only does it provide every individual with a better knowledge of their health, it allows each and every person, plus their doctor to better manage their healthcare by improving how people communicate with each other, and also how health information is maintained.

Using computers and other electronic devices makes it easy for an individual, their doctor, and other healthcare providers (such as hospitals, labs, and X-ray facilities) to store, share and access a persons health information. Using computers in this way is known as Health Information Technology (HIT) or Health IT.

Using information technology in healthcare

Health information technology may be useful for the following according to About.com

• Reducing paperwork by eliminating the need for handwritten medical records.

• Reducing medical errors by transmitting accurate information electronically and eliminating mistakes due to misreading of your doctor's handwriting.

• Reducing health care costs by decreasing the need for repeat medical tests by different doctors and eliminating storage space and staff time to maintain medical records.

• Improving your quality of care by decreasing medical errors and assuring that all your health care providers have accurate and timely information.

Although HIT has many uses throughout our healthcare system, three important types of health IT may affect you in the near future as more consumers use personal health records (PHRs) and more physicians use electronic health records (EHRs) and electronic prescribing (e-Rx).

Personal Health Records

Your personal health record (PHR) is an online document with information about your health (and the health of family members) that you keep up to date for easy reference. Using yourPHR , you can keep track of your family's health information, such as the date of your children's immunizations, last physical exam, major illnesses and operations, allergies, or a list of family medicines.

A PHR is something that you have to maintain, but you main responsible for it. From your PHR, your physician is able to know all your medical information. It gives you control over your data.

Personal health records have become a reality for millions of Americans, the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society's annual conference heard in March.

A symposium ahead of the giant event in Atlanta, Georgia, was told that patients are already using PHRs to order medications, securely email their doctor and better manage their healthcare.

In particular, PHRs are proving powerful tools to empower patients to engage with and take more control of their healthcare, resulting in better and more cost effective outcomes.

Many PHRs are easy to use and may be provided free from your health plan, the government, your doctor's office, and private companies. Some PHR companies charge a monthly or annual fee. Since your PHR is online, you can get into and manage your health information from anywhere that you have access to the internet.

Electronic Health Records

Moving away from what the patient controls, and on to the electronic health record (EHR), which is computer-based document that is used by doctors, a doctor's staff, or a hospital. An EHR (similar to your old paper medical chart) contains health information from your doctor and other healthcare providers. A typical EHR has information about your health conditions, allergies, treatments, tests, and medications.

The US healthcare system initiative to develop a national electronic health record infrastructure by 2014 aims to successfully share and exchange health information and support personal health records for all Americans.

Many EHRs can connect with healthcare providers outside a doctor's office such as specialists, labs, imaging facilities (X-rays, CT Scans, MRIs), and the local hospital. This allows doctors to share up-to-date information with other providers as well as getting quick and easy access to tests and hospital information.

As many healthcare professionals know, since everyone involved in the industry can share accurate information, an EHR can help lower the chances of medical errors and may help improve the quality of healthcare.

Some EHRs have medical alerts to remind doctors to perform certain tests or procedures. For example, if you have diabetes, a doctor's EHR may remind him or her to order a blood sugar test.

Depending on the EHR used by doctors, an individual may be able to link a personal health record with a doctor's electronic health record and share information back and forth.

Electronic Prescribing

Electronic prescribing or e-prescribing (eRx) is a way for doctors and other healthcare providers to send prescriptions to a pharmacy electronically. Instead of writing out a prescription and having an individual take it to s drugstore, a doctor can order medication through an office computer, which then sends a secure electronic prescription to your pharmacist.

Electronic prescribing helps to:

• Avoid mistakes due to a doctor's handwriting or a pharmacist's misreading of a doctor's prescription abbreviations.

• Avoid harmful drug interactions by letting a doctor know that the drugs being ordered may interact with a medication an individual is already taking.

• Allows a doctor to see what medications are on an individual's health plan's drug formulary to make sure the drug being ordered is covered.

Information technology in healthcare is about involving everyone - from the individual, to the doctor, to the hospital, to the pharmacy. It allows everyone to be connected to improve the quality of care offered and provided. Information technology inhealthcare is full of benefits for everyone.

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