This milestone paper provides a foundational analysis in preparation for a consultation at Featherfall Medical Center, focusing on the history and current landscape of healthcare information management and technology. The paper examines key historical developments in health informatics, identifies standard technologies and best-practice guidelines for technology use, and assesses how different healthcare roles at Featherfall interact with these systems. It also proposes a systematic approach to evaluating new health information technologies that align with organizational needs and comply with healthcare regulations and laws. This analysis will serve as a strategic guide for improving Featherfall’s outdated technology infrastructure and addressing its compliance, operational, and communication issues.
HIM 500 Rubric Overview
Imagine you have been contracted to consult on the recent developments at the Featherfall Medical Center. Featherfall has been struggling of late; it has had a series of problems that have prompted your hiring. It has faced the following issues:
- Featherfall has recently violated several government regulations regarding the current state of its technology and how it is being used. The technology system is vastly out of date, and staff are not always using the technology that is in place or they are using the technology inappropriately. These problems have lost the institution lots of money for not meeting government regulations and have caused operational and ethical problems from inefficient and ineffective use of technology.
- The staff at Featherfall are not well-trained on the use of technology and do not communicate appropriately about technology use. The roles that pertinent to your consult are the health information management team, the clinical staff (doctors, nurses, etc.), and administrative staff. The health information management team uses proper coding practices, and the current technology system serves them well, despite its age. However, other roles in the hospital have had issues with the system. Clinical staff, for instance, have had record-keeping issues both due to lack of training on the system and the system itself being out of date. Administrative staff within the organization have taken issue with the lack of communication about the technology and its use between the various roles. When the current technology system was chosen many years ago, the needs of these various roles were not considered.
In this milestone, you will submit a discussion of the history of healthcare information management/informatics and the current landscape in terms of technology. This milestone will set the stage for your project.
Specifically the following critical elements must be addressed:
- Preparation
for Consult: In this section of your final project, you will prepare
for your consultation on the organization’s technology choice. To
prepare, you will analyze the field of health information management for
determining standard technologies and guidelines related to technology
use in order to inform your technology selection.
- Analyze key historical events in the field of health informatics for how technology has been used that could inform the management of health information. Be sure to support your response with appropriate examples.
- Determine guidelines for technology use in the field of health information management that Featherfall could implement. Be sure to support your response with research.
- Determine the standard technologies currently used in the field of health information management. Be sure to support your response with research. For example, what record-keeping technologies are typically used in the field?
- Develop an overview of how the pertinent roles described at Featherfall would interact with technology.
- Describe the process you would use to evaluate new health information technology systems. Be sure that your process will evaluate new systems based on how they meet the needs of the organization and how they are compliant with health regulations and laws.
What to Submit
This milestone must be 2–3 pages in length (plus a cover page and references) and must be written in APA format. Use double spacing, 12-point Times New Roman font, and one-inch margins. All references cited in APA format.
Milestone One Guidelines RubricCriteriaMeets Expectations (100%)Partially Meets Expectations (75%)Does Not Meet Expectations (0%)ValuePreparation for Consult: Key Historical EventsAnalyzes key historical events in the field of health informatics for how technology has been used historically that could inform the management of health information, supporting response with appropriate examplesAnalyzes key historical events in the field of health informatics for how technology has been used historically that could inform the management of health information, supporting response with examples, but analysis is cursory or illogical or examples are inappropriateDoes not analyze key historical events in the field of health informatics18Preparation for Consult: GuidelinesDetermines guidelines for technology use in the field of health information management that Featherfall could implement, supporting response with researchDetermines guidelines for technology use in the field of health information management that Featherfall could implement, supporting response with research, but determined guidelines are inappropriate, or supporting research is misalignedDoes not determine guidelines for technology use in the field of health information management18Preparation for Consult: Standard TechnologiesDetermines the standard technologies currently used in the field of health information management, supporting response with researchDetermines technologies used in the field of health information management, supporting response with research, but determined technologies are not standard currently in the field, or supporting research is misalignedDoes not determine technologies used in the field of health information management18Preparation for Consult: RolesDevelops an overview of how the various roles at the healthcare institution interact with technology and the health information management teamDevelops an overview of how the roles at the healthcare institution interact with technology and the health information management team, but overview is cursoryDoes not develop an overview of how the roles at the healthcare institution interact with technology and the health information management team18Preparation for Consult: EvaluateDescribes the process that would be used to evaluate new health information technology systems for the institution that meet the needs of the organization and how they are compliant with health regulations and lawsDescribes the process that would be used to evaluate new health information technology systems for the institution, but description is cursory or misaligned with the needs of the organization or health laws and regulationsDoes not describe the process that would be used to evaluate new health information technology systems for the institution18Clear CommunicationConsistently and effectively communicates in an organized way to a specific audienceShows progress toward meeting expectations, but communication is inconsistent or ineffective in a way that negatively impacts understandingShows no evidence of consistent, effective, or organized communication
Solution
Featherfall Medical Center: Preparation for Health Information Management Consultation
Introduction
Featherfall Medical Center has encountered several issues with its current technology infrastructure, leading to regulatory violations, inefficiencies, and ethical concerns. To address these challenges, a foundational understanding of the history and standards in health information management (HIM) and health informatics is necessary. This discussion analyzes key historical events in health informatics, outlines current guidelines and standard technologies, describes the roles at Featherfall in relation to technology, and recommends a process for evaluating new systems.
1. Key Historical Events in Health Informatics
The field of health informatics has evolved significantly over the past century, impacting the way health information is managed and utilized. One of the earliest milestones was the adoption of electronic health records (EHRs) in the 1960s and 1970s. The development of the Problem-Oriented Medical Record (POMR) by Dr. Lawrence Weed in the late 1960s introduced a more structured approach to medical records, emphasizing comprehensive and accessible patient data (Weed, 1968).
In the 1990s and 2000s, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) established requirements for privacy and security of health data in the United States, further influencing the development of secure electronic systems (HHS, 1996). The Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act of 2009 provided incentives for healthcare organizations to adopt EHRs, which greatly accelerated their implementation and the digitization of patient data (Blumenthal, 2010).
These historical events demonstrate how technology adoption in healthcare has been closely tied to regulatory compliance, efficiency, and data integrity. For Featherfall, understanding these milestones can inform the need for up-to-date systems that comply with current regulations and enable efficient data management.
2. Guidelines for Technology Use in Health Information Management
There are several well-established guidelines for technology use in HIM, many of which are set by professional organizations such as the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA). Key guidelines include:
-
Data Privacy and Security: Technology must ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of health information, following standards like HIPAA.
-
Standardization: Use of standardized coding systems (ICD-10, CPT, SNOMED CT) for consistency and interoperability (AHIMA, 2022).
-
User Training: Comprehensive and ongoing training for all staff to ensure proper and effective use of technology (AHIMA, 2022).
-
Role-Based Access: Implementing access controls based on staff roles to minimize data breaches and misuse.
-
Continuous Evaluation: Regular assessment of technology systems for compliance, efficiency, and user satisfaction.
Featherfall should implement these guidelines to ensure compliance with regulations, promote best practices, and foster effective technology use across all staff levels.
3. Standard Technologies in Health Information Management
The current landscape of HIM is dominated by integrated EHR systems such as Epic, Cerner, and MEDITECH, which provide comprehensive platforms for record-keeping, scheduling, billing, and data analytics (HealthIT.gov, 2022). These systems are designed to support interoperability and communication across departments. Other standard technologies include:
-
Clinical Decision Support Systems (CDSS): Provide evidence-based support for clinical decisions.
-
Health Information Exchange (HIE): Facilitate the secure sharing of patient information between organizations.
-
Patient Portals: Allow patients to access their health data and communicate with providers.
For record-keeping, most organizations rely on certified EHR systems that meet Meaningful Use standards and regulatory requirements, supporting accurate documentation and coding (HealthIT.gov, 2022).
4. Interaction of Roles with Technology at Featherfall
-
Health Information Management Team: Primarily interacts with EHR systems for coding, documentation, and compliance. Their work depends on accurate, timely data entry and standardized processes.
-
Clinical Staff: Use technology for patient charting, accessing records, ordering tests, and care coordination. Adequate training and user-friendly systems are critical for clinical efficiency and patient safety.
-
Administrative Staff: Rely on technology for scheduling, billing, communication, and reporting. Interdepartmental communication and access to relevant data are essential.
Currently, the HIM team at Featherfall uses proper coding practices and adapts well to the technology, while clinical and administrative staff experience challenges due to lack of training and outdated systems. Effective consultation must address these gaps through role-specific training and improved communication protocols.
5. Process for Evaluating New Health Information Technology Systems
A comprehensive evaluation process should include:
-
Needs Assessment: Engage all relevant stakeholders (clinical, administrative, HIM) to identify requirements and pain points.
-
Market Research: Review available systems that meet industry standards and regulatory requirements.
-
Compliance Check: Ensure potential systems comply with HIPAA, HITECH, and local regulations.
-
Usability Testing: Involve end-users in demos and pilot testing to assess ease of use, workflow integration, and training needs.
-
Cost-Benefit Analysis: Evaluate implementation, training, and maintenance costs versus expected benefits.
-
Vendor Assessment: Assess vendor reputation, support, and capacity for integration with existing infrastructure.
-
Implementation Plan: Develop a timeline for deployment, data migration, training, and ongoing evaluation.
This process ensures the chosen system addresses Featherfall’s unique needs, supports all roles, and meets regulatory standards.
Conclusion
A strategic approach to health information management at Featherfall Medical Center requires an understanding of historical developments, adherence to best practice guidelines, adoption of standard technologies, and alignment of technology use with organizational roles. A rigorous, stakeholder-driven evaluation process is essential for selecting new health information technology systems that ensure compliance, efficiency, and high-quality care.
References
AHIMA. (2022). Practice Brief: Information Governance in Healthcare. American Health Information Management Association. https://www.ahima.org/
Blumenthal, D. (2010). Launching HITECH. The New England Journal of Medicine, 362(5), 382–385. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMp0912825
HealthIT.gov. (2022). Certified Health IT Product List (CHPL). https://www.healthit.gov/
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS). (1996). Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA). https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/
Weed, L. L. (1968). Medical records, patient care, and medical education. Canadian Medical Association Journal, 99(13), 671–676. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1932827/