MHA FPX 5016 Assessment 2 Information System Job Description and Summary MHA-FPX 5016 Introduction to Health Information Systems Information System Job Description and Summary

Introduction

The healthcare industry is constantly evolving, and with the adoption of electronic health records, it is crucial for organizations to have a robust health information management system to ensure their data is accurate, protected, accessible, and compliant. Vila Health Independence Medical Center needs to recruit a Health Information Manager to oversee the current electronic health record system and ensure long-term meaningful use compliance.

Organization’s Need

With the implementation of electronic health records, the role of a certified health information manager becomes essential to ensure Vila Health’s information is protected and managed according to meaningful use guidelines. The growth of health information technology is transforming the operations of healthcare organizations. Over 98% of all hospitals in the United States have demonstrated meaningful use and/or have adopted, implemented, or upgraded an EHR system (Health IT, 2017). To manage the increasing IT demands, Vila Health must hire a health information manager. This manager will organize, oversee, and protect patient health information, including symptoms, diagnoses, medical history, laboratory results, and procedures, ensuring the data’s quality, accuracy, accessibility, and security (Mayo Clinic, n.d.). The meaningful use guidelines have objectives that healthcare professionals and hospitals must meet to qualify for CMS incentive programs, which aim to improve quality, safety, efficiency, reduce health disparities, engage patients, and enhance care coordination while maintaining privacy and security (Mushtaq, 2015). The health information manager will ensure long-term compliance by monitoring workflows and integrating processes.

Vila Health’s Independence Medical Center must eventually transition completely from paper-based processes. EHR systems contain fewer errors than paper records, and healthcare providers will no longer need to rely on paper charts. Using EHRs instead of paper allows multiple users to access files from any location (USF Health, 2021). To succeed, providers must have highly integrated EHRs that facilitate open collaboration (Mushtaq, 2015). EHR integration is vital for ensuring quality, safety, and efficiency. With an integrated system, practitioners can share patient healthcare data in real-time, enabling clear communication without data loss (Nexhealth, n.d.). This issue was identified by the Quality Assurance Manager at Vila Health, making it crucial to hire the right candidate to resolve these issues and ensure the long-term use of meaningful use and current incentive programs. Recruiting the right candidate will be challenging, as it is important to clearly outline the position requirements in the job advertisement to attract qualified candidates.

Financial Impact

There are financial implications to hiring a new health information manager. The costs of hiring a new employee extend beyond their salary and include recruiting, training, employee benefits, and salary (Davies, 2020). Recruitment costs include job advertising, drug screens, background checks, and the internal recruiter’s time spent reviewing resumes and interviewing candidates. It is estimated that a company spends an average of $4,129 per hire (Society for Human Resource Management, 2021). Recruitment is the first step, followed by training, which is one of the costliest investments. Companies spend an average of $1,286 annually on training an employee, with training taking up to 42 hours to complete (Mueller, 2021). The salary and benefits are the most obvious costs, with the average nationwide salary for health information management at $76,762 (ZipRecruiter, n.d.). Benefits can range from minor (e.g., free meals) to major (e.g., life insurance, disability coverage, medical and dental plans), typically amounting to 1.25 to 1.4 times the salary (Boston Business Journal, n.d.). To gain leadership buy-in, I have identified recommendations to support the hiring need. Rapidly emerging technology in the healthcare industry can boost operational efficiency and reduce healthcare costs. By integrating all systems, a Health Information Manager can lower administrative expenditures (Siddhartha, 2019). Integrating these systems into a unified system can expedite data retrieval, leading to quicker diagnoses and treatments.

Conclusion

Vila Health Independence Medical Center needs a Health Information Manager to maintain meaningful use guidelines and find solutions to close compliance gaps identified by the Quality Assurance Manager. Having someone in this position will boost efficiency and lower costs. Hospitals with EHRs have been found to lower their average costs by 12% (Highfill, 2019).

References

Boston Business Journal. (n.d.). How much does an employee cost?