Hardware and software that process data and information for problem-solving

Information systems include the hardware and software that process data and information for problem-solving. Health information systems (HIS) provide information within the healthcare setting, which includes collecting, storing, and managing EHRs. Health information systems include both clinical and administrative information systems. Select either an administrative information system or a clinical information system currently used within your organization and address the following requirements:

Include the following sections (detailed criteria listed below and in the grading rubric).

Title Slide
Include your name and session.
Description (1 slide)
Describe the selected information system.
Include the name of the product.
Identify the system as administrative or clinical.
Describe the purpose of the information system.
Workflow and Outcomes (1 slide)
Explain how the selected information system can be used to impact workflow.
Explain how the selected system can be used to impact client outcomes.
Provide an in-text citation on slide from one scholarly source to support your writing.
Documentation and Communication (1-2 slides)
Describe how the selected information system supports documentation of client care.
Describe how the selected information system supports communication between healthcare professionals.
Provide an in-text citation on slide from one scholarly source to support your writing.
Quality, Ethical, Efficient Care (1-2 slides)
Explain how the selected information system supports the provision of client-centered care within your organization:
Quality care
Ethical care
Efficient care
Provide an in-text citation on slide from one scholarly source to support your writing.
Client-Centered Care (1 slide)
Describe how the selected information system supports the provision of client-centered care within your organization.

Supporting Documentation of Client Care

The EHR is the official legal record of care and ensures high-quality documentation:

Legibility and Completeness: Digital documentation is inherently legible and utilizes standardized, required fields and structured templates to ensure essential data points are not missed, enhancing the completeness and clarity of the record (Theera-Ampornpunt, n.d.).

Timeliness: Point-of-care documentation (e.g., documenting vital signs directly from monitors or using mobile devices) ensures records are updated in real-time, providing the most current snapshot of the patient's condition for all providers.

Auditing and Compliance: The system creates an electronic audit trail of every entry and access, supporting regulatory compliance and accountability for all recorded actions and decisions (NIH, 2013).

Supporting Communication between Healthcare Professionals

EHRs serve as the primary communication hub for the interdisciplinary team:

Shared Overview: Provides a single, unified view of the patient's status, ensuring all members of the care team—physicians, nurses, therapists, and pharmacists—are referencing the same, current information (Bardram & Houben, 2015).

Secure Messaging/In-Basket: Features like encrypted, internal messaging (in-basket) and secure portals facilitate task-oriented communication for critical activities like clarifying orders, receiving consultations, or coordinating patient transfers without relying on pagers or phone calls (Chase et al., 2014).

Interoperability: Ideally, the EHR facilitates secure sharing of patient data with external specialists, pharmacies, and other facilities, breaking down information silos that can hinder coordinated care (Simbo AI, 2024).

The EHR plays four roles in collaboration: a repository, a messenger, an orchestrator, and a monitor. Recording and curating patient information in the integrated EHR can increase professionals' workload, and incomplete or low-quality information shared in the EHR may result in a lack of trust among care providers (Chase et al., 2014).

🌟 Quality, Ethical, Efficient Care

EHR Support for Provision of Client-Centered Care

Dimension	How the EHR Supports Client-Centered Care
Quality Care	Clinical Decision Support & Standardization: The EHR embeds evidence-based practice guidelines, protocols, and alerts (e.g., sepsis screening tools) directly into the workflow. This consistency ensures every patient receives care that meets the highest standards, regardless of the individual provider (Delaney et al., 2022).

Sample Answer

Workflow and Outcomes

Impact on Workflow

The EHR system significantly streamlines healthcare workflow by centralizing information and automating tasks:

Reduced Redundancy: Eliminates manual chart pulling, paper filing, and data re-entry, freeing up staff time (VILMATE, n.d.).

Streamlined Orders: Computerized Physician Order Entry (CPOE) allows clinicians to enter orders (medications, labs, imaging) electronically, instantly routing them to the correct department, which reduces transcription errors and delays (Theera-Ampornpunt, n.d.).

Immediate Access: Provides ubiquitous and simultaneous access to the complete patient record for all authorized providers, regardless of their location, which is critical in multi-disciplinary care settings (Cerchione et al., 2023).

Impact on Client Outcomes

EHRs directly contribute to improved client outcomes by enhancing safety and quality:

Reduced Medical Errors: The system provides Clinical Decision Support (CDS) tools, such as real-time alerts for drug-drug interactions, allergy conflicts, and appropriate medication dosages, which actively prevent prescribing errors (Cerchione et al., 2023).

Enhanced Patient Safety: Automated reminders for preventive screenings (e.g., mammograms, flu shots) and adherence to evidence-based clinical guidelines ensure patients receive the most appropriate, timely care (Cerchione et al., 2023).

Improved Chronic Disease Management: EHRs allow for trend analysis and population health management, helping to monitor and manage conditions like diabetes or hypertension more effectively, leading to better long-term health (Reza, Prieto, & Julien, 2020).

EHRs have been shown to improve patient outcomes by supporting evidence-based practices and clinical decision-making. EHRs can provide alerts and reminders for preventive care and screenings, helping healthcare providers adhere to best practices and guidelines (Cerchione et al., 2023).