HIM and IT – Friends or Foe ?

Sallyanne Wissmann Director, Health Information Service Mater Health Services, Brisbane

• • • • •

Health Information Managers (HIM)

Health information management – – Patient administration data Clinical data Health records management Clinical forms management Coding and classification Information privacy

Players

• • • • • • •

Information Technology / Service (IT)

New system requirements / BA Project managing new system implementations Software development System administration and management Infrastructure & networks PC, laptop, printer management Telephony & mobile device management

Friend

Both involved Good, regular, open door Participatory, common ground Mutual

Relationship Characteristics

Attribute IT projects Communication Involvement Respect Foe

HIM not involved Lack Lack Little

If we agree that HIM and IT professionals should be friends… What does this look like ?

How do you forge this relationship ?

Goal

Health Information Managers are respected by IT professionals for their expertise and contribute at all times as partners, advisers and stakeholders in progressing the organisation’s information management and IT agenda

Vote

 This doesn’t happen in my organisation  This sometimes happens, but could be improved  This happens where I work

Context – Mater Health Services

Provides public and privately funded health services in Brisbane 7 1,037 Hospitals Beds 90,462 Discharges 9,971 Births 91,834 ED attendances 188,914 Outpatient attendances

Context – Mater Health Services

• • • • • 1,300,000+ patients on the Patient Master Index 1,000,000+ health records 100+ information systems that contain patient health information 40+ requests for new clinical systems / databases a year 4 years into a long journey towards an Electronic Health Record

Forging a Better HIM-IT Relationship

a) – – – – – – Be involved in the organisation’s ICT Strategic Plan – Does your organisation have one ?

Have you read it ?

Did you contribute to it ?

Do you understand it ?

Does it include health information management components ?

Have you had a conversation with the author about it ?

When is it due for renew / revision ?

Forging a Better HIM-IT Relationship

b) – – – – – – Establish your vision for health information management in your organisation – What is it ?

Is it documented ?

How does it fit in with the organisation’s strategic direction ?

Who knows about it ?

Does it influence decision making and daily operations ?

How does it add value in your organisation ?

What does a culture of health information management / data management look like in your organisation ?

ICT Strategic Plan…Vision…

Forging a Better HIM-IT Relationship

c) – – Be a leader in health information management – Is it clearly stated in your Position Description ?

– – What type of strategic decisions do you make?

Do you have a balance between operational management and strategic leadership ?

Are you asked to advise and contribute to organisational issues related to or that have an impact on health information management ?

Promote a culture of health information management / data management ICT Strategic Plan…Vision…Leader…

Forging a Better HIM-IT Relationship

d) Get Executive support – Do you have Executive support for health information leadership ?

– Do you have Executive support for being a partner, adviser and stakeholder in the organisation’s information management and IT agenda ?

ICT Strategic Plan…Vision…Leader…Executive Support…

Forging a Better HIM-IT Relationship

e) – – – – – – Take responsibility for health information management governance in your organisation – What does best practice look like ?

Develop appropriate policies Establish relevant governance committees and structures Be collaborative Develop a Health Information Management Framework Define the health record Monitor / report on governance status and issues ICT Strategic Plan…Vision…Leader…Executive Support… Governance

Forging a Better HIM-IT Relationship

f) – – Be involved in IT system specifications, testing, implementation and management – Do you know what new systems are currently being investigated ?

Be on IT project steering committees What about information management implications post project ?

ICT Strategic Plan…Vision…Leader…Executive Support… Governance…IT Systems…

Forging a Better HIM-IT Relationship

g) Identify health information management issues and address them – Be proactive – Develop and maintain good clinical relationships ICT Strategic Plan…Vision…Leader…Executive Support… Governance…IT Systems…HIM issues…

Forging a Better HIM-IT Relationship

h) – – – – Practice good management skills – Reliable Consistent Available Take action Follow up ICT Strategic Plan…Vision…Leader…Executive Support… Governance…IT Systems…HIM issues…Management Skills…

Forging a Better HIM-IT Relationship

i) – – – Build and maintain good relationships with IT staff – Initiate Ask to be involved Have regular contact It’s a partnership ICT Strategic Plan…Vision…Leader…Executive Support… Governance…IT Systems…HIM issues…Management Skills…Good Relationships

Closing Remarks

• • • • • • It doesn’t matter where you report in the organisation The ICT agenda is progressing, with or without our involvement The HIM role is to promote health information management best practice within the organisation Be a leader Be an influencer Take a stocktake of your relationship with IT in your organisation and resolve to make it better

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