Lesson 01.02
Healthcare Information Systems
EDITORIALLY REVIEWEDA healthcare information system is one specific application that performs a job for a hospital, clinic, laboratory, pharmacy, or other healthcare organization.
Healthcare IT is the whole technology world. A healthcare information system is one working system inside that world.
Connected hospital systems
An integration hub exchanges agreed information with clinical and administrative systems. Follow this lesson's diagram for the actual processing boundaries and sequence.
View original illustration ↗Illustrative scene from the HL7 image library. See the lesson for the technical explanation.Common hospital systems
| System | Main job | Simple example |
|---|---|---|
| EHR | Keeps the clinical patient chart | Dr. Messi reviews Ronaldo's allergies |
| LIS | Manages laboratory orders and results | The lab reports Ronaldo's blood result |
| RIS and PACS | Manage imaging workflow and images | Radiology stores Ronaldo's ankle X-ray |
| Pharmacy system | Checks and dispenses medication | The pharmacist receives a pain-medication order |
| Billing system | Tracks charges and claims | The visit and X-ray charges are recorded |
Real-World Example: One patient, many systems
Ronaldo may look like one patient to the hospital, but his visit touches many applications. Each application has a different job and needs the correct part of his information.
- EHR creates visit
- LIS receives lab order
- PACS stores image
- Pharmacy receives medication order
- Billing records charges
Key Concept
A system is defined by the job it performs. An interface developer connects these systems so the right information reaches the right place at the right time.
Interview Takeaway
Be ready to name several healthcare systems, explain each system's purpose, and describe what information it sends or receives.
Practice this topic
What is a healthcare information system?
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Healthcare Information Systems
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