Report: Informatics in Healthcare Sector and Hand Hygiene Tracking

This report examines the application of informatics within the healthcare sector, emphasizing the increasing use of technology to enhance patient care. It explores key areas such as electronic medical records and the standardization of surgical informatics, including the concept of the Operating Room of the Future (ORF). The report also discusses the role of health information technology companies like Cerner and Epic, focusing on their electronic health record (EHR) software and its utility for surgeons. A central focus is placed on Hand Hygiene Tracking Systems, detailing their design and function in preventing healthcare-associated infections through electronic monitoring of hygiene practices, including the use of ceiling sensors and practitioner badges. The importance of these systems in improving awareness and patient safety is also highlighted.

Running head: INFORMATICS IN HEALTHCARE SECTOR
INFORMATICS IN HEALTHCARE SECTOR
Name of the Student
Name of the university
Author note

1INFORMATICS IN HEALTHCARE SECTOR
With every passing day, healthcare sector is becoming high-tech as the healthcare
professionals are now making use of more and more technology so that the patients can get
better care. The most popular area where the healthcare professionals are making use of
technology is in informatics. This refers to the way in which the health related informations
are managed and organized (Hebda, Hunter and Czar, 2020). Making use of electronic
medical records, devices collecting health related information and other such available
electronic information standards. The standards for different procedures and usage of surgical
informatics need to be defined as well as implemented properly. In surgery, informatics help
in achieving Operating Room of the Future (ORF) that includes encompassing processes,
storing as well as indexing various details related to biomedical or kinetic markers,
pathological or tissue recognition and other such vital information which can be retrieved by
surgeons as and when required (Gu, Li, Li & Liang, 2017). Operating room automation
system is being used in the operation theatres that are a combination of hardware and
software developed to establish control on multiple operating room devices through the
medium of a common interface.
Cerner and Epic are involved in the health information technology and develop
electronic health record software catering to organizations of different sizes. Cerner offers
software solutions that include analytics, clinical solutions, revenue cycle management,
services, population health management and interoperability. On the other hand Epic
provides patients experience, managed care, clinical, mobile device software, telehealth,
interoperability, revenue cycle management, government regulations and artificial
intelligence and analytics. Epic and Cerner are used for electronic health records and these
health records can be of help to the surgeons at the time of surgery (Hebda, Hunter and Czar,
2020). The data associated with previous medical history of the patient can be obtained from
these electronic health records that can help the surgeons in having a prior knowledge about

2INFORMATICS IN HEALTHCARE SECTOR
the allergies and many other important that are in general considered before performing any
surgery.
The topic selected for the final assignment project is Hand Hygiene Tracking
Systems. The development of Hand Hygiene Tracking Systems helps in keeping track of the
hygiene of the hands through electronic medium. Hand hygiene helps in preventing the
transmission of healthcare related infections. Electronic Hand Hygiene monitoring and
prompt devices have been designed to overcome certain problems related to monitoring
hygiene. These at the same time will also bring in improvisations in compliance. These
devices monitor entry and exit to the rooms as well as use of soap by making use of ceiling
sensors and the badges that are worn by the practitioners (Hong et al., 2015). These badges
can sense alcohol rub and the device establishes a connection in between the ceiling sensors
and the badges. This device will help in increasing the awareness of the practitioners thus
enhancing their empathy for the patients. At present, this is considered as the primary
measure which can be taken to prevent transmission of healthcare related infections. The
source of many diseases is transmission of germs from one to another and this device can
certainly help in checking it.

3INFORMATICS IN HEALTHCARE SECTOR
References
Gu, D., Li, J., Li, X., & Liang, C. (2017). Visualizing the knowledge structure and evolution
of big data research in healthcare informatics. International journal of medical
informatics, 98, 22-32. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijmedinf.2016.11.006
Hebda, T., Hunter, K. and Czar, P. (2020). Handbook of Informatics. 6th ed. Pearson.
Hong, T. S., Bush, E. C., Hauenstein, M. F., Lafontant, A., Li, C., Wanderer, J. P., &
Ehrenfeld, J. M. (2015). A hand hygiene compliance check system: brief
communication on a system to improve hand hygiene compliance in hospitals and
reduce infection. Journal of medical systems, 39(6), 69. DOI 10.1007/s10916-015-
0253-z