Nursing Informatics
Health information system (HIS) - a system designed to manage the data collected and stored in any
healthcare facility. This includes doctors’ offices, private and public clinics as well as hospitals. These
facilities collect, store, manage and send patients’ electronic medical records.
The goal of using health information systems is to improve patient treatment by having the most current
patient data available to every healthcare practitioner who treats this client.
Key Components:
1. Resources - the legislative, regulatory, and planning frameworks required for system
functionality. This includes personnel, financing, logistics support, information and
communications technology (ICT), and mechanisms for coordinating both within and between
the six components.
2. Indicators – a complete set of indicators and relevant targets, including inputs, outputs, and
outcomes, determinants of health, and health status indicators.
3. Data sources – including both population-based, institution-based data sources and community-
based organization.
4. Data management – collection and storage, QA, processing and flow, and compilation and
analysis.
5. Information products – data which has been analyzed and presented as actionable information.
6. Dissemination and use – the process of making data available to decision-makers and facilitating
the use of that information.
Types of Information system:
1. Electronic Medical Record (EMR) and Electronic Health Record (EHR)
Electronic medical records replace paper patient records. Medical information on each patient
must now be collected and stored electronically.
2. Practice Management Software
Assist healthcare facilities and personnel with the management of daily operations of the
facility. The goal is to automate administrative tasks carried out as part of doing business in
the facility.
3. Master Patient Index (MPI)
Aimed at connecting patient records more than one databases. The MPI contains records for
any patient registered at a healthcare organization. The intent of MPIs is to reduce duplicate
patient records and avoid inaccurate patient information that could result in patient claim
denials.
4. Patient Portals
This information system lets patients peruse their health data. They are able to access:
appointment information, medications they may be receiving, and their lab results via the
internet.
5. Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM)
Also termed “Telehealth”. RPM provides medical sensors that have the ability to transmit
patient data to healthcare professionals who might very well be halfway around the world.
RPM is a life-saving system for patients in remote areas who cannot access face-to-face
health care.
6. Clinical Decision Support (CDS)
CDS analyzes data from clinical and administrative systems. The aim is to assist healthcare
providers in making informed clinical decisions. CDS tools filter information to assist
healthcare professionals in caring for individual clients.
Function of Nursing Information System
When time and energy are at a premium, using a Nursing Information System (NIS) can assist in applying
nursing knowledge and wisdom to everyday care. Documentation can be more timely, more complete,
and more accurate.
It makes relevant patient data available in a usable form so patient care problems can be solved, processes
information to support management functions such as receiving data from departments and supplying data
to departments to make policy decisions, operating decisions as well as patient care decisions, provides
comprehensive automated information processing system for all phases of the nursing process, and
develops care plan for families and patients.
Main functions:
Nursing Clinical Record
Care evaluation
Discharge planning
Workload assessment (prospective and or retrospective)
Personnel management
Staff rostering
Attendance recording
Skill mix management
Costing
Budget management
Reference
Antoe, S. (2014, February 14). Nsg informatics. Retrieved from
https://www.slideshare.net/sangeethaantoe/nsg-infor
Levin, D. (2019, February 4). What is a Health Information System? Retrieved from
https://datica.com/blog/what-is-a-health-information-system/
Key elements of a health information system: United Nations Development Programme: capacities, focus,
his. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.undp-capacitydevelopment-health.org/en/capacities/focus/health-
information-systems/key-elements-of-a-health-information-system/
Lisa, L. G., Gladman, L., & Lisa. (2019, November 4). Types of Healthcare Information Systems - Scott-
Clark Medical. Retrieved from https://www.scott-clark.com/2018/10/01/types-of-information-systems-
used-in-healthcare-facilities/
4 Types of Healthcare Information Systems. (2017, December 21). Retrieved from
https://www.healthcarefirst.com/blog/4-types-healthcare-information-systems/
Mr. Babu. D (June 2012). Nursing Information Systems. Retrieved from
http://ajner.com/HTMLPaper.aspx?Journal=Asian%20Journal%20of%20Nursing%20Education%20and
%20Research;PID=2012-2-2-6
