Hospital information management systems (HIMSs) are vital for improving healthcare quality. Currently, healthcare organizations need to deal with a large amount of data that needs to be distributed among a wide variety of stakeholders. According to Ross and Venkatesh (2016), a HIMS is “an integrated information system which improves patient care by increasing the user’s knowledge and reducing uncertainty allowing rational decisions to be made from the information provided” (p. 65). In other words, HIMSs let healthcare professionals make data-driven decisions, which is crucial, according to the principles of evidence-based care and quality management. Despite high implementation costs, utilization of HIMSs is associated with improved patient satisfaction, decreased waiting and admission time, and increased adequacy of decisions (Ross & Venkatesh, 2016). Thus, quality management in modern reality is challenging without an effective quality management system.
Many quality improvement initiatives fail even with a fully functional HIMS in place. The problem is often lack of adherence to the initiative due to improper policies, practices, and procedures. Policies are guiding principles, procedures are the practice by which policies are implemented, and practice are the actual and customary application of policies (Robinson, n.d.). Policies, procedures, and practices are foundations of quality, as they help to guide all the decisions and daily routines of a wide variety of stakeholders (Robinson, n.d.). Thus, every quality improvement initiative should change the current policies and practices to ensure adherence. However, these policies need to be written clearly, and information about changes in current practices should be delivered to every stakeholder to ensure survival of quality improvement initiatives.
Reference
Robinson, L. (n.d.). Best practices: Policy and procedure management. PolicyMedical. Web.
Ross, D. S., & Venkatesh, R. (2016). Role of hospital information systems in improving healthcare quality in hospitals. Indian Journal of Science and Technology, 9(26), 65-98.