HIM System Interfacing and Interoperability

Complete a Vila Health interactive simulation in which you will research existing hospital HIM systems and determine the degree of interoperability among those systems. Then, write an executive summary, 4–6 pages in length, of your findings and recommendations for whether to invest in transitioning the existing systems to a new system.

Note: The assessments in this course build upon the work you have completed in the previous assessments. Therefore, complete the assessments in the order in which they are presented.

Health care informatics is very complex. Today’s administrator needs to be aware of the regulations, professionals, and management concepts needed to ensure successful and compliant information management. However, it is also important for health care managers to understand the infrastructure of HIM systems, which includes the hardware, software, and other important components.

This assessment provides an opportunity for you to examine the key characteristics of different HIM systems and identify the components, infrastructure, and investment needs for particular hospital HIM systems.

By successfully completing this assessment, you will demonstrate your proficiency in the following course competencies and assessment criteria:

· Competency 4: Evaluate health care applications and technology infrastructure.

1. Analyze the key characteristics of different HIM systems, including applications, department-specific functions, and capabilities.

1. Analyze the HIM system components, infrastructure, and investment needs of a hospital.

1. Make system integration recommendations based on HIM best practices.

. Competency 5: Articulate the characteristics and services of different types of health care organizations and their unique use of health care technology.

2. Identify the pros and cons of maintaining existing HIM systems, interfacing existing HIM systems, or replacing all systems with a single, new HIM system.

. Competency 6: Communicate effectively with diverse audiences, in an appropriate form and style, consistent with applicable organizational, professional, and scholarly standards.

3. Write clearly and concisely, using correct grammar, mechanics, and APA formatting.

https://courserooma.capella.edu/images/ci/icons/generic_updown.gifResources

Templates

Use this template for your executive summary.

. APA Style Paper Template [DOCX].

Required Resources

The following resources are required to complete the assessment.

. Vila Health: Information Systems Interfacing and Interoperability | Transcript.

5. This multimedia simulation will enable you to research the information systems at one of Vila Health’s hospitals and determine the degree of interoperability between those systems.

Suggested Resources

The resources provided here are optional. You may use other resources of your choice to prepare for this assessment; however, you will need to ensure that they are appropriate, credible, and valid. The MHA-FP5062 Health Care Delivery: New Environments in Health Informatics Library Guide can help direct your research, and the Supplemental Resources and Research Resources, both linked from the left navigation menu in your courseroom, provide additional resources to help support you.

EHR Interfacing and Interoperability

The following articles address various aspects of information exchange and HIM system interoperability which may be helpful to you as you determine whether the hospital’s systems are sufficiently interfaced and interoperable, or whether upgrades are needed to those systems.

. Boerner, D. (2015). What APIs bring to EMR/EHR interoperability. Health Management Technology, 36(10), 22.

6. Briefly discusses the potential benefits of API (Application Program Interfaces) with respect to information exchange.

. Terry, K. (2017). Still waiting: Why EHR interoperability remains an elusive goal. Medical Economics, 94(11), 14–15, 17, 36–38.

7. Discusses the current state of system interoperability in the U.S.

. Walker, D., Mora, A., Demosthenidy, M. M., Menachemi, N., & Diana, M. L. (2016). Meaningful use of EHRs among hospitals ineligible for incentives lags behind that of other hospitals, 2009–13. Health Affairs (Project Hope), 35(3), 495–501.

8. Explores the consequences of the widening gap in the adoption of EHRs between providers who are eligible for HITECH incentives and those who are not.

. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2016). Stage 3 program requirements for providers attesting to their state’s Medicaid EHR incentive program. Retrieved from https://www.cms.gov/Regulations-and-Guidance/Legislation/EHRIncentivePrograms/Stage3Medicaid_Require.html

9. Review the Stage 3 guidelines for meaningful use to better understand the incentive programs for interoperability.

Writing Resources

You are encouraged to explore the following writing resources. You can use them to improve your writing skills and as source materials for seeking answers to specific questions.

. APA Module.

. Academic Honesty & APA Style and Formatting.

. APA Style Paper Tutorial [DOCX].

Library Resources

. Journal and Book Locator.

. Journal and Book Locator Library Guide.

. Interlibrary Loan.