Question

It is not uncommon for an inpatient facility HIS to be comprised of 60 to 400 different software applications. Why such a complex arrangement of multiple individual systems?

(250 words) No written responses please, only typed.

Answer 1

HIS or Hospital Information System is a component used in health informatics that helps in the administrational needs of the hospitals. Nowadays, there are lot of software applications that are being used simultaneously in the hospital for inpatient data facilities. Even though this had made the system complex, it has got its own benefits also. They are:

1. It eliminates the error caused while entering the details in any one system. With multiple individual systems, the chances of causing error are reduced.
2. It enhances the integrity of the information and also reduces the duplication of the entry of information.
3. Hospital information system reduces transcription errors to a great extent.
4. Efficient and accurate processing of various aspects of the patients such as diet, distribution of medical aids etc.
5. Effective administration of finance and also the engineering side of the hospital is secured.
6. Multiple software are provided in one HIS with an aim to increase the specialty-specific extension of the software. Some examples are Laboratory Information System (LIS), Policy and Procedure Management System (PPMS), Picturing Archiving and Communication System (PACS) etc.
7. Multiple software in the system helps the healthcare professionals to coordinate and provide various information of the patient within a limited time.
8. Reduction in the difficulties caused to the patients is also an added advantage of the Hospital information system with multiple software. With reduced readmissions, waiting time and also the reduction in cost should be considered significant among them.