Advanced Information Management and the Application of Technology – C791 task 1.docx

Running head: Advanced Information Management and the Application of Technology – C791
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Advanced Information Management and the Application of Technology – C791
Task 1
Western Governors University

Advanced Information Management and the Application of Technology – C791 2
A1. Advantages and Disadvantages of a System
The technology now used as a replacement for paper-based medical records is Health
Information System (HIS). This electronic platform gives the authorized healthcare team the
ability to know their patient’s doctors’ orders, allergies, real-time test results, history and
medications at the touch of a button. This a form of knowledge comes have a variety of
advantages and disadvantages. (Gallagher Healthcare 2018).
Examples of the benefits with HIS include improved quality of care, convenience and
efficiency, saving space, patient access and financial incentives. The improved quality of care
comes with clear concise doctors’ orders instead of the guess work of poor handwriting that
increases interpretation errors. Convenience and efficiency occur with simply searching through
electronically filled records instead of rummaging in a paper chart. Medication reconciliations
documented can be easily reviewed for any drug incompatibilities. Having all records electronic
saves space in a medical office or hospital as a replacement of having bulky papers and cabinets.
Patients accessibility to their own records allows them to take control of their care and the
knowledge to prevent future illnesses. The government has financial incentives and Medicare
and Medicaid requirements can be met when establishing a HIS. (Gallagher Healthcare 2018).
This technology when fully embraced makes charting, treatments and medication administration
more efficient which then leads to more quality time at the bedside.
The disadvantages of using a HIS are potential privacy and security issues, inaccurate
information, frightening patients needlessly and malpractice liability concerns. The concern of
hacking sensitive information of a HIS is the potential privacy and security issues. Inaccurate
information could be in the chart and not updated between visits or seen by other doctors which
could cause a delay in care. Patients can be frightened on what they see when visiting their

Advanced Information Management and the Application of Technology – C791 3
patient portal if they don’t understand the terminology. The data from paper-based charts may
not have been completely copied into the electronic record and could lead to legal issues and
malpractice liability concerns. (Gallagher Healthcare 2018). Technical problems and glitches can
keep staff from giving medications, charting and reviewing test results in a timely manner. The
time to train staff to the HIS, updates, implementation of program, changeover of paper charts to
electronic, maintenance and additional software can be very costly.