State of Information Governance in Healthcare

State of Information Governance in Healthcare
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Information governance refers to the mechanics that are put in place to manage information strategically so as to enhance the performance of a system (“Information governance basics”, 2018). The healthcare performance is heavily reliant on good information management. There are various levels of information to be managed in the healthcare system. On the one hand, there are inventories that are very important. A proper pharmaceutical record will ensure that the facility stocks all the requisite drugs. On the other hand, the patient’s records are also vital for sustained, informed decisions on patient’s treatment plan. Properly kept information is key to patient’s health. On the one hand, even when the regular attending physician is not present, another doctor is able to review the patient’s record and treat them accordingly. The patient’s history also helps in formulating the case for a patient and therefore continually helps the facility improve their services to a patient. Information governance is primarily targeted on the growth of an institution (“Information governance basics”, 2018). For example, keeping a record of all the equipment available will help institutions to determine what should be purchased in the net round so as to maintain constant growth.
Information governance takes place through a lifecycle. It begins with the collection of data. This data is recorded and kept in a way that is coherent and easily retrievable (Knight & Stainbrook, 2014).

This information is preserved in various forms to ensure that it will not get lost. In modern times, the most common method of data storage is electronic media. This media has the advantages of ease of retrieval and consumes significantly less speed. The transfer of this information is quite easy and fast, and therefore it encourages information transfer (Knight & Stainbrook, 2014). Despite the great need for information governance in healthcare, this sector has lagged behind. One of the gaps that has caused this is the lack of the necessary skills and resources required to manage information.
Until recently, patient’s data was logged into physical files by the receptionists using ink. These methods were prone to damage and distortion especially if the writing is not easily legible. To ease this work, software development companies have created several Health Information Management Systems (HIMS). However, the implementation of this technology has not been so forthcoming as it would be anticipated bearing its necessity (Hripcsak et al., 2014). Most institutions do not have sufficient resources to install the systems which cost expensively. Additionally, these systems require additional hardware such as computers to link various departments. The facilities also need to set time and other resources for the training of staff that will be used to operate the systems. Many physicians are already used to the physical methods of taking notes and writing prescriptions. For this reason, the use of health information technology (HIT) is often viewed as something that delays the workflow (Hripcsak et al., 2014). There is, therefore, resistance amongst the healthcare personnel against HIT. This is a significant gap towards full-fledged information management.
Another gap in healthcare management is policies that restrict information sharing. HIPAA regulations enact very stringent principles against sharing of medical records. This is very useful towards protecting patients from manipulation. However, this can be a problem when a patient’s records are needed by another doctor in potentially fatal circumstances but cannot be released. These gaps can be sealed by the formulation of policies that are geared towards the information management within healthcare systems training colleges.

References
Hripcsak, G., Bloomrosen, M., FlatelyBrennan, P., Chute, C., Cimino, J., & Detmer, D. et al. (2014). Health data use, stewardship, and governance: ongoing gaps and challenges: a report from AMIA’s 2012 Health Policy Meeting. Journal Of The American Medical Informatics Association, 21(2), 204-211. doi: 10.1136/amiajnl-2013-002117
Information governance basics. (2018). Retrieved from http://www.ahima.org/topics/infogovernance/igbasics?tabid=overview
Knight, K., & Stainbrook, C. (2014). A Call to Adopt Information Governance Practices[Ebook]. AHIMA.