Assignment on Health Information Technology - HIM 500

Running Head: HEALTH INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY 1
Health Information Technology
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HEALTH INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY 2
Introduction
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, in about 100 years, from 1900 to 2004,
the Australian population has grown from 4 million to 20 million (Kisely, S. 2013). This is a
relatively huge population that in one way or another requires health care services. The
Australian public and government are already aware of the challenges it faces regarding
healthcare delivery and is already assessing options that will improve overall efficiency in the
health sector. Although the health of the Australian population has improved over the last
century with the Australian Bureau of Statistics reporting life expectancy to be 80 years old in
2004, more efforts need to be made to reduce the mortality and morbidity rates as much as
possible (Siahpush, M. 2014). The country has one of the highest life expectancy rates in the
world, and most of the population already has access to high-quality healthcare whether they
reside in the rural or urban areas of the vast country. About 66% of Australians live in the cities
while the rest of the culturally diverse nation live in the countryside. There are a few disparities
between the urban and rural authorities about the integration of health information technologies,
and thus about 2.4% of the population especially those in the countryside have much poorer
health than the other Australians.
Importance of Information Technology on Health Organizations
Health Information Technology refers to Information Technology that is applied health
and health care. Aspects of health information systems incorporate information management
conducted by computerized systems and the transfer and sharing of health information and
records via secure means between patients, providers, consumers and quality control experts
(Jones, S. 2013). Having an efficient health information system aids doctors, pharmacists,
patients, nurses and other healthcare providers to securely electronically access and share a

HEALTH INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY 3
patient’s crucial medical records thus enhancing the speed of coordination, safety, quality and
cost of patient care.
The following is a list of areas that benefit from improved and advanced healthcare
information systems;
i) Improved healthcare productivity, quality, and effectiveness
ii) Patients enjoy reduced healthcare costs
iii) Increase in accuracy of healthcare records and procedural correctness by preventing
medical errors
iv) Improved healthcare work processes and coordination in increased administrative
efficiency
v) Reduced paperwork hence saving time
CHALLENGES FACING IMPLEMENTATION OF HEALTH INFORMATION
TECHNOLOGIES IN AUSTRALIA
Since 1993, efforts by government agencies in Australia such as the National Health
Information Agreement, The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, The Australian Bureau
of Statistics and The Health Insurance Commission, have established a framework of corporation
in between these agency for the betterment of the Australian Health Information Technologies
(Merlin, T. 2016). As is it being with any other advancement of a government program, there
certain obstacles that hinder the timely progress of health information systems. Each year an
estimated 18000 people are believed to die as a result of apparent ‘medical errors.' Below is a
look at the barriers to the implementation of health information technology.