Posted: June 16th, 2015
A Health Information System (HIS) is defined as the collection, analysis and the use of health data for the purpose of making decisions within the health sector (The University of Queensland, 2015). It is an essential tool for planning, designing and setting priorities through research, monitoring and evaluation. It needs to be timely, reliable, accurate and transparent throughout the process for purposes of developing policies that will be used in the healthcare department. The analysis below will therefore discuss the various aspects involved in the healthcare system of Australia (The University of Queensland, 2015). This paper reports on the actions of the Australian HIS using HIS rapid assessment tool (see attachment 1). By using documented references available through the websites the occurrence and effectiveness of 33 criteria structured under 6 modules are confirmed and proof is presented about their adequacy, functional status and sustainability.
Population-based
Institution-based
Data storage, management and transmission
Information products
Demand, Analysis, Policy and Advocacy
Planning, Priority Setting and Resource Allocation, Implementation and Action
The health information system in Australia has been seen to be an essential factor that helps in the decision making processes concerning the aspects of healthcare, and therefore is widely used through all areas of the health services. The standard tools have been developed to help in designing the quality, timeliness, completeness, accuracy and dissemination of the information that needs verification. The tool has been seen to comprise of six hubs which are divided into smaller criteria to allow thorough assessment of the system; therefore gaps are identified in the process and the necessary improvements carried out. The system in Australia is therefore encouraging since many of the criteria are met, but improvements have to be carried out on the aspects such as the financial management and payroll maintenance among the other issues that will be centered on improving the healthcare sector. The government is recommended to adopt mechanisms that will improve their efficiency and enable easier accessibility of the information for effective healthcare services.
References
Australian Bureau of Statistics,. (2006). DATA AND COMPUTERS. Retrieved from http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/[email protected]/0/6083B0D8AE258A86CA2571FE007D69E9?opendocument
Australian Bureau of Statistics,. (2012). Census of Population and Housing. Retrieved
from http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/[email protected]/Lookup/2007.0main+features32016
Australian Health Ministers’ Conference,. (2008). National E-Health Strategy. Retrieved from http://www.ahmac.gov.au/cms_documents/National%20E-Health%20Strategy.pdf
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare,. (2008). A set of performance indicators across the health and aged care system. Retrieved from http://www.aihw.gov.au/WorkArea/DownloadAsset.aspx?id=6442471955
Australian Institute Of Health and Welfare,. (2010). National health data dictionary. Retrieved from http://www.aihw.gov.au/publication-detail/?id=6442468385
Australian Institute Of Health and Welfare,. (2013). National Health Information Standards and Statistics Committee (NHISSC). Retrieved from http://www.aihw.gov.au/nhissc/
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare,. (2015). Health indicators. Retrieved from http://www.aihw.gov.au/health-indicators/
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare,. (2014). Australia’s health system (AIHW). Retrieved from au/australias-health/2014/health-system/”>http://www.aihw.gov.au/australias-health/2014/health-system/
Better Health Channel,. (2011). Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion. Retrieved from http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Ottawa_Charter_for_Health_Promotion?open
Familysearch,. (2015). Australia Civil Registration. Retrieved from https://familysearch.org/learn/wiki/en/Australia_Civil_Registration-_Vital_Records
Queensland Health,. (2015). Health records and personal information. Retrieved from http://www.health.qld.gov.au/system-governance/records-privacy/health-personal/default.asp
The Australian Stroke Coalition,. (2012). Australian Safety and Quality Goals for Health Care. Retrieved from http://www.safetyandquality.gov.au/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/National-Goals-consultation-Submission-75-Australian-Stroke-Coalition-17-Feb-2012.pdf
The Department of Health,. (2013). Health system capacity and quality. Retrieved from http://www.health.gov.au/internet/budget/publishing.nsf/Content/2013-2014_Health_PBS_sup2/$File/2013-14_DoHA_PBS_2.10_Outcome_10.pdf
The Department of Health,. (2015). Australian national notifiable diseases and case definitions. Retrieved from http://www.health.gov.au/casedefinitions
The University of Queensland,. (2009). Improving the quality and use of health information systems: essential strategic issues. Retrieved from http://www.uq.edu.au/hishub/docs/WP05/HISHUB-WP5-Full-12-WEB12Oct12.pdf
The University of Queensland,. (2009). Summary: Issues and challenges for health information systems in the Pacific. Retrieved from http://www.uq.edu.au/hishub/docs/WP07/WP07_Summary_WEB_15%2004%2013.pdf
The University of Queensland,. (2011). Understanding the role of technology in health information systems. Retrieved from http://www.uq.edu.au/hishub/docs/WP_17.pdf
The University of Queensland,. (2015). Defining HIS – HMN Framework – Health Information Systems Knowledge Hub – The University of Queensland, Australia. Retrieved from http://www.uq.edu.au/hishub/definition-of-health-information-systems
Western Australia Department of Health,. (n.d.). Information Storage and Disposal Policy. Retrieved from http://www.health.wa.gov.au/CircularsNew/attachments/719.pdf
Who,. (2008). Framework and Standards for Country health information systems. Retrieved from http://www.who.int/healthmetrics/documents/hmn_framework200803.pdf
Who,. (2013). Strengthening civil registration and vital statistics for births, deaths and causes of death. Retrieved from http://www.uq.edu.au/hishub/docs/Resource%20Kit/CRVS_ResourceKIt_active_content.pdf
ATTACHMENT A – HIS RAPID ASSESSMENT TOOL
Number | Criteria for Success | Present* | Functioning* | Adequate* | Sustainable* | Comments/Evidence |
HIS RESOURCES | ||||||
Coordination, Planning and Policies | ||||||
1 | Is there a national cross scrotal
HIS committee? |
Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
http://www.aihw.gov.au/WorkArea/DownloadA
|
2 | Is there a written national HIS
policy? |
Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | http://www.uq.edu.au/hishub/docs/WP05/HISHUB- WP5-Full-12-WEB12Oct12.pdf
|
Number | Criteria for Success | Present* | Functioning* | Adequate* | Sustainable* | Comments/Evidence |
3 |
Is there HIS related legislation to measure Vital Statistics? |
Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
4 |
Is there HIS related legislation to measure Service Delivery? |
Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | http://www.aihw.gov.au/australias-health/2014/health-system/
|
5 |
Is there HIS related legislation to measure Notifiable Disease Reporting? |
Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | http://www.health.gov.au/casedefinitions
|
Financial and Human Resources | ||||||
6 | Are there human resources uniquely identified as HIS? | Yes | Yes | No | No |
http://www.uq.edu.au/hishub/docs/WP07/WP07_Summary_WEB_15%2004%2013.pdf |
7 | Are there clear lines of
responsibility for HIS? |
Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | http://www.health.gov.au/internet/nhhrc/publishing
.nsf/content/16f7a93d8f578db4ca2574d7001830e9/ $file/options%20for%20reform%20of%20commonw ealth%20state%20governance%20responsibilities%2 |
Number | Criteria for Success | Present* | Functioning* | Adequate* | Sustainable* | Comments/Evidence |
8 | Is there an allocated budget line
within the MOH for HIS activities? |
Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | http://www.health.gov.au/internet/budget/publishin g.nsf/Content/2013-
2014_Health_PBS_sup2/$File/2013- 14_DoHA_PBS_2.10_Outcome_10.pdf
|
Infrastructure | ||||||
9 | Is there sufficient hardware available for HIS use? | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | http://www.uq.edu.au/hishub/docs/WP_17.pdf |
10 | Is there sufficient software
available for HIS use? |
Yes | Yes | No | Yes | |
11 | Is there sufficient networking
infrastructure to support HIS use?
|
Yes | Yes | No | Yes | http://www.uq.edu.au/hishub/docs/WP_17.pdf |
INDICATORS | ||||||
12 | Are there national core indicators to measure health determinants? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | http://www.aihw.gov.au/health-indicators/
http://www.aihw.gov.au/WorkArea/DownloadAsset.aspx?id=6442471955 |
Number | Criteria for Success | Present* | Functioning* | Adequate* | Sustainable* | Comments/Evidence |
13 | Are there national core indicators to measure health system inputs and outputs? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
http://www.aihw.gov.au/WorkArea/DownloadAsset.aspx?id=6442471955 |
14 |
Are there national core indicators to measure health outcomes and status? |
Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
http://www.aihw.gov.au/WorkArea/DownloadAsset.aspx?id=6442471955 |
15
|
Is there a national strategy for
collection of health indicators?
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
http://www.aihw.gov.au/WorkArea/DownloadAsset.aspx?id=6442471955
|
DATA SOURCES | ||||||
Population Based | ||||||
16 | Is there a complete population census undertaken at least every | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/[email protected]/Lo |
Number | Criteria for Success | Present* | Functioning* | Adequate* | Sustainable* | Comments/Evidence |
10 years? | okup/2007.0main+features32016
|
|||||
17 | Is there a Civil Registration
process in place for all births and deaths? |
Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | https://familysearch.org/learn/wiki/en/Australia_Civil_Registration-_Vital_Records
|
18 | Are periodic surveys undertaken
to capture information for key health issues? |
Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | https://familysearch.org/learn/wiki/en/Australia_Civil_Registration-_Vital_Records
|
Institution Based | ||||||
19 | Are individual health records maintained for recording the ongoing treatment of patients? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
http://www.health.qld.gov.au/system-governance/records-privacy/health-personal/default.asp
|
20 | Are there appropriate health
service records collected? |
Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | http://www.mater.org.au/home/privacy |
Number | Criteria for Success | Present* | Functioning* | Adequate* | Sustainable* | Comments/Evidence |
21 | Are there appropriate resource records collected, including finance and human resources? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | http://www.naa.gov.au/records- management/publications/ |
DATA MANAGEMENT | ||||||
Data Storage, Management and Transmission | ||||||
22 | Are there written procedures for data storage, including security and destruction? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | http://www.health.wa.gov.au/CircularsNew/att achments/719.pdf |
23 | Is there a centralised database or
data warehouse that combines all health data collections? |
No | No | No | No | http://www.safetyandquality.gov.au/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/National-Goals-consultation-Submission-75-Australian-Stroke-Coalition-17-Feb-2012.pdf |
24 | Are there defined, locally
appropriate mechanisms in place for data transmission? |
Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | http://www.health.wa.gov.au/CircularsNew/attachm ents/719.pdf |
INFORMATION PRODUCTS | ||||||
25 | Are staff appropriately skilled to transform data into information at national level? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | http://www.health.wa.gov.au/CircularsNew/attachm ents/719.pdf |
Number | Criteria for Success | Present* | Functioning* | Adequate* | Sustainable* | Comments/Evidence |
26 |
Are staff appropriately skilled to transform data into information at divisional/provincial/local level? |
Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | http://www.ahmac.gov.au/cms_documents/National |
27 | Are there tools and procedures
available to assess the quality of data? |
Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | http://www.wpro.who.int/publications/docs/Impro |
28 | Is there a set of national health
data standards and definitions that are used across all health data collections? |
Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | http://www.aihw.gov.au/publication- |
DISSEMINATION AND USE | ||||||
Demand, Analysis, Policy and Advocacy | ||||||
29 | Are managers and clinicians using information for policy and advocacy? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Ottawa_Charter_for_Health_Promotion?open |
Planning, Priority Setting and Resource Allocation, Implementation and Action | ||||||
30 | Is an annual health report submitted to Parliament each | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | http://australia.gov.au/topics/government-and- parliament |
Number | Criteria for Success | Present* | Functioning* | Adequate* | Sustainable* | Comments/Evidence |
year? | ||||||
31 | Are health managers using
information for planning, priority setting or resource allocation and action? |
Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
32 | Are clinicians using information
for planning, priority setting or resource allocation and action? |
Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | https://www.saxinstitute.org.au/wp-content/uploads/01_Priority-setting-methods-to-inform-prioritisation.pdf |
33 | Is data readily available to
internal and external users, e.g. on the internet or intranet? |
Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/[email protected]/0/6083B0D8AE258A86CA2571FE007D69E9?opendocument |
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