External Benchmarking

Our one hundred bed hospital is in need of updating from paper charting to computerized health records. In doing this, we will meet our goal of compliance with meaningful use legislation. We assembled a team of members to assist with this task and together we have narrowed the search to two health care systems. Those two systems are EPIC and Meditech and we will now discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each, with a final recommendation for our new healthcare system.

Examination of the types of database systems that are available and how health care facilities utilize these different types of databases is the topic of this report. Giving more detail on the different types of architecture of databases and data structure will follow.

Once the benchmark has been identified, then the company needs to implement the methods and practices and tailor to their own specific

Operational electronic health record systems (EHR) can provide the information necessary on demand, short of troublesome trial and error of probing around physical files. From the first steps of designing the system, the enquiries that will follow are predicted and accommodated. Similar to an office filing system, the appropriateness of a detailed patient record system is often adjudicated by how much time and effort are necessary to locate and recover data. Thus, an intimate cog of the design of an electronic health record system is its efficient process for access, retrieval, and reporting.

Another solution to making a good profit for a healthcare practice is to perform services that provide a good reimbursement rate. For a new for-profit health care organization CCHC advised that the facility seek out the average Medicare, Medicaid, and private reimbursement schedules. When reviewing these schedules a provider can determine where the profit of services lies. From here the provider can perform additional research by conversing with its peers to see what kind of profit ratio they are running in their facility, as well as what particular services provide the best reimbursement rates. This would be a good start for the new practice. As services are being provided, and payments are being sent the provider should take a hard look at the reimbursements being given for services rendered. If it appears that a particular service is bringing in little or no reimbursement, the practice may need to decide whether or not to continue the service.

obligations in documents and alerts. Ease-of-use and functionality of workflow processes in the EHR system are key considerations for selecting the system vendor. Consequently, the needs assessment, readiness assessment, and the workflow analysis are fundamental steps to decide if an EHR system is convenient to be implemented in your healthcare facility, however the workflow analysis will guide you in choosing and purchasing the best system that fits your institution. Mapping the workflow for various tasks enables recognizing the features and functionalities that should be in the EHR system. These features are important to be presented for the vendor as scenarios, and it is recommended to ask the vendor to show you how a patient record is initiated and managed based on your previous presented scenarios. This allows you to compare between vendors and clarify the usage of the software for various workflows in your institution. Only scenario-based demonstrations elaborate if the system’s smooth usability matches your institution workflow or not. Finally, it is critical to test-drive the system by yourself

The benchmarking data is used when you want to compare your fitness tests. This data is gathered from a number of studies that allows you to see a normal range of results and allows you to make a judgement against a data that you have collected. Data will be generally put into a number of categories, including age and gender, which means that you will be able to compare your results with similar groups. Benchmarking data can also be used to compare your results with elite sports performers. By using benchmarking data you will be able to develop a fitness plan including target setting.

It has only been within the last five years that health information management (HIM) has experienced exponential changes, due to the healthcare reform. The electronic health record (EHR) is connected to health information exchanges and other systems of interoperability. The timely completion of charts, coding and release of information (ROI) has become much more efficient with the electronic record. Traditional HIM functions will just be transformed and will always be an integral part of successful patient care. Professionals must be flexible and willing to adapt and even generate change. As Health Information Technology continues to evolve, so will the roles

The ARRA includes the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act, which pursues to improve American Healthcare and patient care through an extraordinary investment in Healthcare IT (HIT). The requirements of the HITECH Act are precisely designed to work jointly to provide the necessary assistance and technical operation to providers, enable grammatical relation and organization within and among states, establish connectivity in case of emergencies, and see to it the workforce is properly trained and equipped to be meaningful users of certified Electronic Health Records (EHRs). These computer software products are designed collaboratively to intensify the footing for every American to profit from an electronic health record (EHR) as part of a modernized, interrelated, and vastly improved grouping of care delivery.

Health information management involves the practice of maintaining and taking care of health records in hospitals, health insurance companies and other health institutions, by the use of electronic means (McWay 176). Storage of medical information is carried out by health information management and HIT professionals using information systems that suit the needs of these institutions. This paper answers four major questions concerning health information systems.

After decades of paper based medical records, a new type of record keeping has surfaced - the Electronic Health Record (EHR). EHR is an electronic or digital format concept of an individual’s past and present medical history. It is the principle storage place for data and information about the health care services provided to an individual patient. It is maintained by a provider over time and capable of being shared across different healthcare settings by network-connected information systems. Such records may include key administrative and clinical data relevant to that persons care under a particular provider. Examples of such records may include: demographics, physician notes, problems or injuries, medications and allergies, vital

In today 's competitive marketplace, all firms are seeking ways to improve their overall performance. One such method of improvement, recently adopted by many firms, is benchmarking. Benchmarking is a technique used to evaluate internal business processes. "In this analysis, managers determine the firm 's critical processes and outputs, baseline those processes, then compare the performance of each process against a standard outside the industry" (Bounds, Yorks, Adams, & Ranney 1994). To effectively improve a business process to world-class quality, managers must find a firm that is recognized as a global leader, not just the industry

Benchmarking encompasses evaluation of other company’s business processes and embracing them to improve performance, search for innovative ideas, and gain a competitive advantage. Benchmarking establishes a rational method for setting performance goals, and gaining market leadership and a broader, more accurate organizational management perspective. The process is according on what they best are doing; it take the emotion out of arguments about the need to change. Also, the process contributes vastly to the proper and efficient functioning of organizational and business information needs. Therefore,

Benchmarking can greatly enhance performance. With Global’s plan of globalization and providing innovative services, benchmarking is vital in forecasting industry trends, discovering emerging technologies, stimulating strategic planning, and enhancing goal setting. Because it requires the study of industry leaders, benchmarking can provide numerous indicators on where Global might be headed, which ultimately may pave the way for them to take a leadership position. The benchmarking process can also help Global uncover technologies that are changing rapidly, newly developed, or state-of-the-art. The type of information gathered during a benchmarking effort can assist Global in clarifying and shaping its vision of the future (UniversityElver, 2005). Knowing the best practices in their business can dramatically improve Global’s ability to know what goals are realistic and attainable.

One region where external Benchmarking can convey a positive commitment to enhanced execution is by looking at how you deal with a specific procedure against how that process is overseen in different organizations, especially those that are esteemed to exceed expectations in that specific zone.