HIM and IT Friends or Foe ?

Sallyanne WissmannDirector, Health Information ServiceMater Health Services, Brisbane

PlayersHealth Information Managers (HIM)Health information managementPatient administration data Clinical dataHealth records managementClinical forms managementCoding and classificationInformation privacy

Information Technology / Service (IT)New system requirements / BAProject managing new system implementationsSoftware developmentSystem administration and managementInfrastructure & networksPC, laptop, printer managementTelephony & mobile device management

Relationship CharacteristicsFriendAttribute

FoeIT projectsBoth involvedCommunicationInvolvementRespectGood, regular, open doorParticipatory, common groundMutualHIM not involvedLackLackLittle

If we agree that HIM and IT professionals should be friends

What does this look like ?

How do you forge this relationship ?

Goal

Health Information Managers are respected by IT professionals for their expertise and contribute at all times as partners, advisers and stakeholders in progressing the organisations information management and IT agenda

Vote

This doesnt happen in my organisation

This sometimes happens, but could be improved

This happens where I work

Context Mater Health ServicesProvides public and privately funded health services in Brisbane

Context Mater Health Services1,300,000+ patients on the Patient Master Index1,000,000+ health records100+ information systems that contain patient health information40+ requests for new clinical systems / databases a year4 years into a long journey towards an Electronic Health Record

Forging a Better HIM-IT RelationshipBe involved in the organisations ICT Strategic PlanDoes your organisation have one ?Have you read it ?Did you contribute to it ?Do you understand it ?Does it include health information management components ?Have you had a conversation with the author about it ?When is it due for renew / revision ?

Forging a Better HIM-IT RelationshipEstablish your vision for health information management in your organisationWhat is it ?Is it documented ?How does it fit in with the organisations strategic direction ?Who knows about it ?Does it influence decision making and daily operations ?How does it add value in your organisation ?What does a culture of health information management / data management look like in your organisation ?

ICT Strategic PlanVision

Forging a Better HIM-IT RelationshipBe a leader in health information managementIs it clearly stated in your Position Description ?What type of strategic decisions do you make?Do you have a balance between operational management and strategic leadership ?Are you asked to advise and contribute to organisational issues related to or that have an impact on health information management ?Promote a culture of health information management / data management

ICT Strategic PlanVisionLeader

Forging a Better HIM-IT RelationshipGet Executive supportDo you have Executive support for health information leadership ?Do you have Executive support for being a partner, adviser and stakeholder in the organisations information management and IT agenda ?

ICT Strategic PlanVisionLeaderExecutive Support

Forging a Better HIM-IT RelationshipTake responsibility for health information management governance in your organisationWhat does best practice look like ?Develop appropriate policiesEstablish relevant governance committees and structuresBe collaborativeDevelop a Health Information Management FrameworkDefine the health recordMonitor / report on governance status and issues

ICT Strategic PlanVisionLeaderExecutive Support Governance

Forging a Better HIM-IT RelationshipBe involved in IT system specifications, testing, implementation and managementDo you know what new systems are currently being investigated ?Be on IT project steering committeesWhat about information management implications post project ?

ICT Strategic PlanVisionLeaderExecutive Support GovernanceIT Systems

Forging a Better HIM-IT RelationshipIdentify health information management issues and address themBe proactiveDevelop and maintain good clinical relationships

ICT Strategic PlanVisionLeaderExecutive Support GovernanceIT SystemsHIM issues

Forging a Better HIM-IT RelationshipPractice good management skillsReliableConsistentAvailableTake action Follow up

ICT Strategic PlanVisionLeaderExecutive Support GovernanceIT SystemsHIM issuesManagement Skills

Forging a Better HIM-IT RelationshipBuild and maintain good relationships with IT staffInitiateAsk to be involvedHave regular contactIts a partnership

ICT Strategic PlanVisionLeaderExecutive Support GovernanceIT SystemsHIM issuesManagement SkillsGood Relationships

Closing RemarksIt doesnt matter where you report in the organisationThe ICT agenda is progressing, with or without our involvementThe HIM role is to promote health information management best practice within the organisationBe a leaderBe an influencerTake a stocktake of your relationship with IT in your organisation and resolve to make it better

Sallyanne.Wissmann@mater.org.au

AcknowledgementsImages sourced from:http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/staticfiles/NGC/StaticFiles/Images/Show/43xx/431x/4317_Unlikely_Animal_Friends-05_04700300.jpghttp://images.mirror.co.uk/upl/m4/oct2008/5/7/E769F585-CD63-D81C-4BFC39A5FE741EDF.jpghttp://www.digyourowngrave.com/content/animal_friends/owen_and_mzee.jpghttp://msnbcmedia4.msn.com/j/MSNBC/Components/Slideshows/_production/ss-091103-animal-friends/ss-091103-animal-friends-17.grid-6x2.jpghttp://webecoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/owen_mzee.jpg

Accessed 24/10/2010

This afternoon I want to use my experience to put a challenge to you. Even though I work in a hospital environment, I would like you to think about the environment you work in. My goal is for you to take away something of relevance to you in your role from my presentation.The responsibilities of the roles of health information managers and the IT service may be different in your organisation, although I would expect some similarities with this list.Im sure if I asked for a vote, that you would all agree that we would prefer a friend relationship rather than a foe relationshipRegardless of where you report in the organisation, you can no longer ignore the ICT agenda as the management of patient information is central

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