By Dr. Jasmine T. Agnew, MHIIM, RHIA, CPHIMS and Prosci Change Practitioner

As healthcare roles and responsibilities change, let us not forget where we came from and how it shapes where we are going. A clear understanding of the foundational knowledge of the health information profession, and the synergies this knowledge provides across the healthcare ecosystem, will prepare us for transformation and transition. By anchoring our work in foundational health information knowledge, we position ourselves to adapt, innovate, and deliver better patient care as the field evolves.

I was reading a journal article entitled, “The Evolution of Health Information Technology for Enhanced Patient-Centric Care in the United States: Data-Driven Descriptive Study” (Barker et al., 2024). In this article, the authors discussed the evolution of health information used for clinical care exchange, e-prescribing, public health reporting, and access to protected health information.

As I read through the journal, I remembered the ways we used to manage these tasks before technology became such a large part of everyday workflow. The foundational training received in academic programs or on-the-job training powered the exchange of information to ensure quality care.

Through innovative ways of integrating technology into every aspect of care, from food services to housekeeping to clinical services, one thing remains constant: patient data is still the cornerstone of everything we do. Not only is patient data the catalyst for clinical and administrative services, it is the skillset of those who manage that data that keeps the organization moving toward progress.

Since 2009, EHR use has increased tenfold among hospitals and fivefold among physicians, and as of 2023, 70% of hospitals are interoperable; nearly all pharmacies and 92% of prescribers have e-prescribing capabilities, representing an 85-percentage-point increase since 2008 (Barker et al., 2024). The common factor among these improvements all trace back to patient information, which is the foundation of health information management.

As we witness the evolution of care from paper charts to hybrid records to full-scale digital solutions, we see the value of foundational health information knowledge applied across the healthcare ecosystem. This foundation helps us prepare for the future. Understanding the role of every information field on every form and how that data powers processes in the healthcare organization is key to taking what we know now and moving into what’s next. As our roles evolve from administrative to analytical, there are still enduring truths about the role of data and the stewards of that patient information.

As healthcare roles and responsibilities change, let us not forget where we came from and how it shapes where we are going. A clear understanding of the foundational knowledge of the health information profession and the synergies this knowledge provides across the healthcare ecosystem will prepare us for transformation and transition. By anchoring our work in foundational health information knowledge, we position ourselves to adapt, innovate, and deliver better patient care as the field evolves.

Reference
Barker, W., Chang, W., Everson, J., Gabriel, M., Patel, V., Richwine, C., & Strawley, C. (2024). The evolution of health information technology for enhanced patient-centric care in the United States: Data-driven descriptive study. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 26, Article e59791. https://doi.org/10.2196/59791

About the Author: Dr. Jasmine T. Agnew, MHIIM, RHIA, CPHIMS and Prosci Change Practitioner
Dr. Jasmine T. Agnew is the Founder & Executive Director of Agnew, Davis, & Siddell LLC and founder of ADS Academy, which provides CPD-aligned courses and workforce development for health information professionals. As a former health IT practitioner, executive leader, and current educator, she creates training, podcasts, and resources that help professionals translate foundational health information skills into data-driven practice. For more information, visit agnewdavissiddell.com. Find her most recent book, “Minding Your Business: Strategies to Make Things Work,” on Amazon.


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