Ch 02. Data Flow in HIT Flashcards
Health information exchange (HIE)
Health information exchange (HIE) is the sharing of patient information among multiple providers.
These providers do not need to work in the same hospital to have access to patient information.
Currently, this is typically done for hospitals in close geographic locations, but the goal is to make HIE nationwide.
Information System (IS)
Information System (IS) is a computerized system used to facilitate the functions of an organization.
An ‘IS’ is a group of components that collect, process, store, and communicate information.
An example of an IS in a hospital is the ‘Electronic Medical Record (EMR) IS’. The purpose of the ‘EMR IS’ is to collect patient medical records, store these records, process queries to access the records, and communicate the records to another system upon request.
Clinical Information Systems (CIS)
Clinical Information Systems (CIS) are the information systems that are directly related to the care of patients.
Examples of Clinical Information Systems (CIS)
- Radiology
- Lab
- Surgery
- Pharmacy
- Order Entry
Hospital Information System (HIS)’
‘Hospital Information System (HIS)’ is the primary ‘Information System’ that centralizes patient data while a patient is admitted.
‘Hospital Information System’ is sometimes called a ‘HealthCare Information System’.
The 6 Primary Functions of ‘Hospital Information System’
The 6 Primary Functions of ‘Hospital Information System’ are:
- Manage patient registration.
- Maintain centralized patient information.
- Provide software for order entry.
- Manage charges and billing.
- Manage scheduling for patient arrivals and procedures.
- Maintain the master patient index (MPI)
3 Components of Patient Registration
The 3 Components of Patient Registration are
- Admission
- Discharge
- Transfer
Order Entry
Order Entry is a component of an ‘Hospital Information System HIS’ where healthcare providers enter orders for patient care.
Orders can be for procedures, imaging, or maybe tests. Order entry is sometimes written as OE but still read as “order entry.”
Medical Record Number (MRN)
Medical Record Number (MRN) is the number assigned to a patient during his first visit, to reference the care of that patient for all subsequent visits at one particular hospital.
An MRN is unique to a patient within a hospital’s network.
Account Number
Account Number is the number assigned to a patient to reference the care of that patient for the current visit.
The account number is sometimes referred to as an encounter number, accession number, or registration number in different information systems.
Master Patient Index (MPI)
Master Patient Index (MPI) is the database of all MRNs and account numbers.
This centralized database is responsible for preventing duplication of MRNs and Account Numbers.
Interface
Interface is the connection between two information systems for the purpose of exchanging data.
Message
Message is the information sent from one system to another.
Messages contain the data about a patient and his visit to the hospital.
Health Level 7 (HL7)
Health Level 7 (HL7) is the standard protocol of formatting a message for healthcare interfacing.
HL7 is ANSI certified. HL7 operates at the ‘7th Layer or the Application Layer’ of the ‘OSI Communication Model’.
3 Important types of HL7 messages
The 3 Important types of HL7 messages, that create the most pathways in the interfaces are,
- ADT
- ORM
- ORU
ADT Message
The ‘ADT Message’ is an HL7 message, sent when a patient’s registration status changes, in the hospital.
The ADT acts like an alert to the information systems, that a patient is heading its way and to expect possible further transmissions of messages.
“A”dmit for when a patient enters the hospital, “d”ischarge when the patient leaves the hospital, and “t”ransfer when the patient moves to a different unit or to a different hospital.
All information systems need to receive this message, if they have any interaction with the patient’s data.
ORM or Order Message
The ‘ORM or Order Message’, is an HL7 message, sent when a healthcare provider requests a service, procedure, or treatment for a patient.
Any ‘Information System’ involved to fulfill this order needs to receive this message.
ORU Message
The ‘ORU Message’ is an HL7 message, returned in response to the ORM message and contains the results from the request.
For example, if an ‘ORM message’ has requested a test or image, the corresponding ‘ORU transmits the results from a test or image.
‘ACK’ Message
The ‘ACK’ message is an HL7 message, that generally acknowledges the ‘Return or Conforming’ messages.
‘Point-to-point connection’ type of ‘Message Transmission Path’
A ‘Point-to-point connection’ is a one-to-one type of ‘Message Transmission Path’ interface between two information systems, that require the ‘Information System’ at each end of the connection, to guarantee the delivery and interpretation of the data.
In ‘Point-to-point connection’, the originating system is responsible for sending the message to the right destination and for ensuring the data is in an expected format.
Interface Engine
Interface Engine is an application that serves as a communications hub and offers services to the messages as they travel through a network.
These services include but are not limited to, forwarding, filtering, translation, and queue management.
Automated Dispensing Cabinet (ADC)
Automated Dispensing Cabinet (ADC) is an electronic cabinet with drawers containing medications, that are placed throughout the hospital, for convenient access by healthcare providers to quickly administer medicines.
