Medical Informatics in the United States Health System

This article explores the evolution of health care informatics and the future of health information technology in the United States health system. It discusses the use of information technology in supporting back office and clinical sections, the development of electronic medical records, and the adoption of EMR by hospitals. The article also highlights the slow adoption progress of EHR technology among non-federal acute care health providers and the future of HIT.

Running head: QUALITY STRATEGIC PLANNING AND EXECUTION IN HEALTHCARE
Medical Informatics in the United States Health System
Name
Institution

QUALITY STRATEGIC PLANNING AND EXECUTION IN HEALTHCARE
Introduction
Health informatics uses information technology to analyze and organize medical records
to better healthcare results. Today, Information Technology is not only being used in supporting
back office but also in the clinical sections. Sweeney (2017) notes that nursing and healthcare
informatics are significantly developing areas within the field of medicine and are further
establishing new and arising technology. According to Sweeny (2017), the ‘Technology Boom’
at the beginning of the century has significantly assisted information and informatics systems
evolve further. Some of the aspects that have evolved from this development include advanced
patient education, improved health outcomes, and delivery of care.
Evolution of Health Care Informatics
The area of informatics in healthcare informatics began between 1965 and 1970. The
most remarkable effort was undertaken under the authority of American Society for Testing and
Materials (ASTM). According to HIMSS (2013), ASTM introduced standards for “laboratory
message exchange, properties for electronic health record systems, data content, and health
information system security.” Soon after, the first electronic medical record was developed and
new system of names and terms for particular services and regimen came to be. In 1970s, the
bioinformatics subspecialty was introduced as a study of organic data, such as DNA.
Consequently, government entities and professional associations came together with an aim to
come up with a format for registration of patients, transaction of financial messages, insurance
claims, orders, discharge, and observation. Correspondingly, requests for systematized
information exchange frameworks for pharmacy and radiology disciplines continued to improve.
The global standards were eventually incorporated shaping the health informatics field into the
complex system that it is currently.

QUALITY STRATEGIC PLANNING AND EXECUTION IN HEALTHCARE
Today, human interface, machine learning, and the increment of computing speed have
significantly improved application capabilities of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to a crucial stage.
Moreover, AI based applications have been able to advance quality of life and health for millions
of people in the recent years. In the recent past, scientists have developed more sophisticated
medical devices and the use of robotics in medicine has begun. Also, unification of information
systems and medical devices has developed, and the frameworks are now more prevalent in the
clinical setting. Even though computer science applications in real-world labs and clinics is slow,
there are promising signs that the innovation pace is improving.
Electronic Medical Record (EMR)
An EMR is a computer application that incorporates: clinical documentation, entry of
physician order, controlled medical lexicon, clinical decision support, and repository of clinical
data. The EMR is used by all practitioners to manage, monitor, document delivery of healthcare
services. The adoption of EMR by a hospital is measured using Electronic Medical Record
Analytical Model (EMRAM). This framework was developed to track the progress of healthcare
providers towards achieving an environment of paperless patient record (Noraziani, Nurul’Ain,
Azhim… & Siti Nurul, 2013). Notably, the healthcare providers are scored from Stage 0 through
Stage 7 based on their level of EMR adoption. The numerous EMRAM stages examine the
extent of health IT optimization and adoption. The EMRAM provides a roadmap for changing
healthcare through IT ranging from limited ancillary department system automation to a
paperless, integrated and automated EMR environment. The aim of this is to ensure that the
clinical data is being used to improve the patient’s safety as well as the quality of the services
provided.

QUALITY STRATEGIC PLANNING AND EXECUTION IN HEALTHCARE
The table below shows the stages of EMR adoption
Stages 0-1: Very basic automation of individual areas
Stages 2: Ability to start bringing disparate data together
Stages 3-6: Implementation of advanced clinical systems
Hospital EMR Adoption
According to an article published by Health It Gov (2019), the meaningful use and
adoption of electronic health records (EHRs) are main goals of Federal Health IT Strategic Plan
and the Act of 2009 by the HITECH. As of July 2017, 186 certified developers of health
information technology provided authenticated health IT to 4,520 non-federal acute care
hospitals. This included hospitals with Critical Access taking part in the incentive program of
Medicare EHR (Healthitgov, 2019).

QUALITY STRATEGIC PLANNING AND EXECUTION IN HEALTHCARE
The data from the above figure was obtained from American Hospital Association with
an aim to explain adoption trends of EHR technology among non-federal acute care health
providers in between 2008 and 2015. Notably, Larger practices adopt more quickly due to more
resources. However, exception is growing where adoption and use leading to better outcomes has
begun. The slow adoption progress can be attributed to (i) expensive cost of systems; (ii) leaden
development of data standards; (iii) the systems are not user friendly; and (iv) most of the
patients do not believe that the industry can hold their information securely.
Future of Health Information Technology (HIT)
The future belongs to the analytical and creative informatic experts to act as a link
between the clinicians and the team of information technology (Moon, 2018). IT is continuously
changing the healthcare landscape making it so much more available to people. Moreover, it is

QUALITY STRATEGIC PLANNING AND EXECUTION IN HEALTHCARE
improving its effectiveness and reducing a lot of costs associated with healthcare as well.
Moreover, the IT is expected continuously contribute significantly to shaping U.S healthcare in
the future as much as it has in the past. Other expected outcomes include virtual healthcare
whereby a patient can be ‘seen’ without need for physical exam. Also, development of systems
improvements to manage complex information (e.g., genetics). This HIT will have several
impacts on the mangers such as complex and quickly evolving work environment. Effective
managers must use technology themselves and understand well enough to manage effectiveness
of their employees use. Additionally, dependency will create new norms around computer
competencies, processes during ‘downtimes’, etc.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it is clear that the days of IT being used only in the back office are gone
clinical sections. This can be attributed to the ‘Technology Boom’ at the beginning of the century
which significantly assisted information and informatics systems evolution. Today, human
interface, machine learning, and the increment of computing speed have significantly improved
application capabilities of Artificial Intelligence (AI). The study expounds more on the EMR
which is used by all practitioners to manage, monitor, document delivery of healthcare services.
The adoption of EMR by a hospital is measured using Electronic Medical Record Analytical
Model (EMRAM). The healthcare providers are scored from Stage 0 through Stage 7 based on
their level of EMR adoption. The IT is expected continuously contribute significantly to shaping
U.S healthcare in the future.

QUALITY STRATEGIC PLANNING AND EXECUTION IN HEALTHCARE
References
Healthitgov. (2019). Healthitgov. Retrieved 19 September, 2019, from
https://dashboard.healthit.gov/evaluations/data-briefs/non-federal-acute-care-hospital-
ehr-adoption-2008-2015.php
HIMSS. (2013). HIMSS. Retrieved 19 September, 2019, from
https://www.himss.org/library/interoperability-standards/Evolution-of-Healthcare-
Informatics-Standards
Julianne Sweeney, B. S. N., & Sweeney, J. (2017). In This Section. OJNI, 21.
Moon, M. (2018). Medicare Now and in the Future. Routledge.

QUALITY STRATEGIC PLANNING AND EXECUTION IN HEALTHCARE