Health Informatics Report: Analysis of Chapters 7 and 8 Assignment

This report analyzes electronic health records (EHRs), medical coding, and third-party payers, drawing from Chapters 7 and 8 of a health informatics textbook. The report begins with an introduction summarizing the key concepts of the chapters, including the purpose of medical coding, the benefits of EHRs in minimizing medical errors, and the functionalities of different health plans such as PPO, HMO, and POS. The discussion section critiques the content, highlighting the importance of efficient database management and the impact of third-party payers on healthcare costs. The report emphasizes the significance of coding systems like ICD-9-CM and the role of electronic encounter forms. It also examines the structure of various health plans and the implications of third-party payers on healthcare regulation and cost inflation. The conclusion summarizes the benefits of EHRs in improving healthcare quality and suggests a critical view on the role of third-party health providers. The report stresses the need for quality care and chronic disease management. The report also includes references to relevant academic sources.

Running head: Health Informatics
Health Informatics
Name of the student:
Name of the university:
Authors notes:

1HEALTH INFORMATICS
Introduction
This paper focuses on the topic of electronic health record and discusses the purpose
of medical coding in today’s digital times. Physician documentation have become easier due
to use of technology in the form of diagnostic coding, e prescribing or clinical patient records
among others. It needs to be controlled and evaluated for efficient treatment. The medical
errors are minimised through use of the electronic records and has proved to be efficient in
health management of patients in both hospital and smaller health organizations (Brook et al.,
2016). Lastly, the paper will highlight the advancements of the technology and how these
records are shared easily through the health care settings. Progress notes in clinical records
with the use of advanced technology helps to acknowledge the care plan and assessment of
patient record.
Discussion
The efficient process of storage and processing the database is beneficial and manages
the medical records efficiently. Many times prescriptions of diagnostic results are misplaced
or delayed to the physician, the coding and examination process has minimised the confusion
and the mismanagement of prescriptions. The purpose of medical coding is to make an
assessment by expert that can be directed for treatment. Coding can be done with the help of
software or documentations. Electronic Encounter Form (EEF) charges and details the
procedure of patients visit and gives systematic approach. ICD-10-9CM is very useful as they
give the pathology details of diseases by American association that helps the patients to

2HEALTH INFORMATICS
ascertain which health care settings to visit and also the clinical modification (Patel & Ahadi,
2017). PPO stands for Preferred Provider Organization which is a health plan that works with
providers like hospitals and benefits service to plan members in low rate. Members are
needed to pay at the time of service and the charges are generally high. The Health
Maintenance Organization charges fees annually for a fixed charge. This kind of service
provides the lowest choice to clients. The patients are met by primary care physicians
according to whose the patient care is designed. Point of Service Plan is amalgation of former
two plans and receive service from non-network providers. This plan assures lower medical
costs for limited choices.
Third party payers are the benefited organization who gives medical care in exchange
of beneficiaries in the form of insurances and others (Ekblaw, Halamka & Lippman, 2016).
According to me these organizations are the reason for rising medical costs and less efficacy
in health care regulation. For instance, a small visit to a doctor is cost effective but in the case
of third party payers the diagnostic tests and prescription result in inflation of costs which is
provided in insurances.
Conclusion
Thus, it can be concluded that EHR has revolutionised the health care system and
proved beneficial in minimising the errors, which occurred in paper base system. The quality
of the medical facilities enhanced after the use of electronic means in the form of prescribing
and storage. The third party health providers must be disallowed for they are the reason

3HEALTH INFORMATICS
behind increasing costs. The purpose of electronic means has helped in quality care and
chronic disease management.

4HEALTH INFORMATICS
References:
Brook, R. A., Sax, M. J., Carlisle, J. A., & Smeeding, J. E. (2016). Health Plan Coverage for
Medical Devices and the Use of Electronic Medical Record Systems. Value Health,
19, A308.
Ekblaw, A., Azaria, A., Halamka, J. D., & Lippman, A. (2016, August). A Case Study for
Blockchain in Healthcare:“MedRec” prototype for electronic health records and
medical research data. In Proceedings of IEEE open & big data conference (Vol. 13,
p. 13).
Gaffney, A. W., White, A. C., Woolhandler, S., Himmelstein, D., Christiani, D. C., &
McCormick, D. (2019). Effect of High-Deductible Health Plans on Healthcare
Access, Financial Strain, Medication Adherence, and Outcomes for Patients with
COPD: Findings from the National Health Interview Survey. In D93. PAYING FOR
CARE IN PULMONARY DISEASES (pp. A7033-A7033). American Thoracic Society.
Patel, H. P., & Ahadi, N. J. (2017). Basics of Billing and Coding: A Primer for the New
Hospitalist Attending. In Hospital Medicine (pp. 75-83). Springer, Cham.