Hospital Information System Assessment For Business-Technology Compatibility
Evaluating HIS on 5 points for technology assisted business features.
Hospital Information System (HIS) is no doubt the most sought after solution to efficiently automate hospital processes and improve operational excellence. But every business is about getting more business.
In this post we assess HIS for its business-technology compatibility and why it is as effective in a business-focused evaluation as it is in an operational excellence evaluation.
1. Decreased Operational Expenses Owing To Lesser Errors
Automated processes on HIS do not face the fatigue or stress of a human and thus improve efficiency. Once configures and implemented, HIS will be practically on autopilot generating reports on metrics that matter to you. With HIS implemented,every procedure performed on the patient has a digital footprint and this comes in very handy in case of any kind of conflicts resulting in legal entanglements. Any kind of momentary loss due to lack of tractability of what exactly happened can be avoided completely.
2. Speed Means Higher Turnover
As most of the processes in HIS implemented hospitals are automated and since software and servers are hardly ever known to slow down, speed is one constant feature of HIS. The communication between various interlinked departments, the reporting of various tests, emergency as well as non-emergency communications etc. are speeded up because of HIS and the over all operational efficiency goes up many notches. Increased speed in operations also means higher number of tests in laboratories and diagnostic sections, speedy recovery of patients resulting in lowered average stay in the hospital and higher bed turnover rate. And all these means increased revenues.
3. Money Saved Is Money Earned
HIS cuts out a lot of manual work that are performed in hospitals especially the ones where documentation and record keeping is required. The level of human intervention is really low with a well implemented HIS. It helps in cutting down manpower costs because a lot of work gets automated and does not require manual intervention to store or analyze the information. HIS also helps save on storage and related costs. A well implemented HIS makes a hospital practically paper free. Cost effectiveness of hospital process automation means much of the operational expenses can now be utilized for better business investments.
4. Improved Operational Effectiveness = Better on Popularity Index
Improved access to patient data and improved work efficiency means better and faster clinical decisions. In this age of evidence based medicine, the faster the clinician gets the diagnostic reports and the quicker her orders are implemented, the faster is the patient’s recovery and the better it is on the patient care index. With automation, all departments in the hospitals are inter-connected and faster access to information further improves the quality of patient care. Being better on patient care index also means a better reputation as a care provider and more patients choosing your hospital, which effectively means higher revenues.
5. Higher Popularity Means Higher Number of Tie Ups
Walk-in patients are a good source of revenue for hospitals but tie-ups are a steadier source. Tie-ups mean that patients will be referred to the hospital as per the pre-decided terms and conditions and they continue till the agreement is in place. Higher popularity as a healthcare provider means that there will be more number of TPAs, insurance companies and other sources of referrers lining up to tie-up with the hospital.
HIS is not just about automation, it helps plug revenue leakages, improve patient care and maximize revenues.
And for each of the five points above, using a hospital insurance claims management solution along with an HIS can offer a major boost to the improvements that can be achieved.