Introduction
Health informatics is the process of designing and adopting effective information based health care practices. It provides health professionals with the requisite incentives that foster communication, exchange of ideas, management of patient data and planning. In US, health professionals have been advocating for teamwork approach to enhance the provision of health care services through health informatics. They affirm that, the system holds immense relevance since it ensures optimal utilization of resources in the health sector.
How information systems can aid the implementation of EBP
As noted, evidence based practice (EBP) is the systematic application of best evidence in combination with clinical knowledge to aid the development of credible health care decisions. It also combines patient values and ethical expectations in guiding the development of health decisions through diverse techniques (Lee & Meuter, 2010). The techniques include, research, analysis of empirical studies, professional health reports, clinical experiences and expert opinion. The evidences give clear direction on the best and viable Medicare approaches that are worth adoption when treating a patient (Lee & Meuter, 2010).
This explains why the approach requires holistic integration of health informatics that holds the capacity of aiding communication between stakeholders. The system would foster research activities that are vital in establishing quality health care evidences pertaining to various diseases. Imperatively, research activities require effective information systems to aid data gathering, processing and dissemination. This is essential in ensuring timely execution of health care activities to facilitate the provision of quality and relevant Medicare to patients. Clearly, provision of accurate research findings depends on the techniques that are employed.
For instance, if effective IT systems were employed then, health care research initiatives would yield quality, reliable, timely and accurate results. However, use of unconventional approaches may compromise the quality of findings (Robert, Yong, Prosch & Paul, 2011). IT enabled systems are also significant in ensuring that clinical expertise reports are accurate and adequate analysis of case reports. Indeed, superior health care evidences with great impact cannot be achieved without proper integration of health informatics.
How inter-professional teamwork can be improved by the use of information systems
The need for quality health care and the increase in the cases of lifestyle health complications calls for the adoption of superior health informatics. This is critical in enhancing inter-professional teamwork in the health sector to boost quality delivery of health care services. Indeed, the integration of information systems in health institutions will improve inter-professional teamwork (Buntin, Blumenthal & Jain, 2010). It will enhance health care quality, increase access to health services through better techniques of data storing, analysis and sharing of health information. This will facilitate timely understanding of the specific diseases that a patient is suffering from thereby aiding drug prescription and designing of medical procedures. Sharing of health information through teamwork would also reduce the cost of acquiring and dissemination of such information to aid patient care, safety and creation of favorable health care environment.
Hogan, Barry, Burke, & Joyce (2011) indicated that, health informatics provides basic incentives that include software programs that aid team coordination. The systems ensure effective collaboration.and exchange of ideas between key stakeholders conveniently. For instance, the stakeholders do not need to meet physically but can have effective discussions through IT enabled systems such as teleconferencing. These systems would ease consultations between medical staff and patients. This facilitates the development of the best treatment for specific illnesses. Consequently, the IT systems hold the capacity to enhance electronic transfer of information to other health care providers and patients about certain health issues or new developments (Hogan et al, 2011).
References
Buntin, M., Blumenthal, D., & Jain, S. (2010). Health Information Technology: Laying The Infrastructure For National Health Reform, 29(6), 1214-1219. Web.
Hogan, C., Barry, M., Burke, M., & Joyce, P. (2011). Healthcare Professionals’ Experiences of the Implementation of Integrated Care Pathways. International Journal of Health Care Quality Assurance, 24(5), 334-347. Web.
Lee, F., & Meuter, L. (2010). The Adoption of Technology Orientation in Healthcare Delivery. International Journal of Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Marketing, 4(4), 355-374. Web.
Robert, K., Yong, L., Prosch, M., & Paul, S. (2011). A survey of Consumer Information Privacy from the Accounting Information Systems Perspective. Journal of Information Systems, 25(2), 47-79. Web.