National Health Information System

Health information is often collected haphazardly. The World Health Organization and the National Health Information Infrastructure (NHII) aim to change this in order to reduce disease and improve overall quality of health.

Problem

• A systematic method to capture health information is lacking in the U.S. The burden of record tracking currently falls upon the shoulders of health care workers. Not only does this take time away from patients, but it also results in inconsistent information that cannot be easily utilized to examine both personal and national health issues.

Solution

• Information relative to all health fields would be easily shared with the implementation of a national health information system. In addition to the improvement of health, such a system would result in less time and money wasted by researchers, health care providers and patients.

Health Metrics Network

• In 2005, the Health Metrics Network (HMN) was developed as the first global network of health information systems. The goal, according to HMN's website, is that "accurate, reliable information leads to effective decision making, resulting in better health outcomes."

Involvment with HMN

• Over fifty countries, numerous nongovernmental organizations, government agencies, and nonprofits such as the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation are involved with the HMN. These organizations believe in the purpose of an integrated health information system.

Status in the U.S.

• Currently, in the U.S. a national health information system is more of a concept than a reality. In 2006 and 2007, however, the federal government sponsored a collaborative to discuss "ways to share patient health information electronically between health-care providers, insurers, and health-care agencies."