What Is the Patient Information Management System?
According to a 2010 update by the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society, the health care field is extremely welcoming of the technological advances that are taking place to increase the efficiency of maintaining patients’ medical charts. These changes have caused many providers to rely on patient information management systems to store important health data.-
Definition
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According to the November 2006 publication by Image Computing Systems Laboratory, patient information management systems are electronic databases that store patient files in a centralized location. There is no limit to the amount of pages, or files, that can be uploaded into patient information management systems.
Features
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The November 2006 publication by Image Computing Systems Laboratory states that patient information management systems can contain any type of information about a patient, from his general demographics to the kinds of medication he is on.
Format
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Patient information management systems are formatted to read like a regular medical chart. Users can click on files that they want to open, and the document will appear on the screen. Files can be emailed, faxed or printed upon request.
Users
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Not everybody can access a patient information management system, because medical files are highly confidential documents that are protected by the HIPAA regulation. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, patient information management systems are highly restricted areas, so users are assigned (usually doctors, nurses or medical assistants) and given special permission to access information when appropriate.
Significance
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Patient information management systems have helped doctors’ offices become more efficient. Instead of writing everything down by hand, medical staff can input information directly into a system that will do all the storing and filing for them. Also, patient information management systems make patient data easily accessible.
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