Financial structure information systems in healthcare delivery

Financial Structure Information System

The delivery of care across all levels of healthcare delivery system is largely influenced by information and information exchange. The information exchange takes place between the various stakeholders in the health care delivery process i.e. The health care facility, the patient, the caregiving team, and political-economic environment. The significance of information in health care delivery process and system has contributed to the development of health care information systems. Health care information systems can be described as systems that captures, manages, stores, and conveys information that is related to people's health and activities of a health care organization of facility. These systems play a crucial role in the management of information exchange towards decision-making on health care activities and processes. Health care information systems have different structures including financial structure, which has positive and negative impacts and is applicable to different work areas in the health sector.

Description of Financial Structure Information Systems

Financial structure information systems in the health care field can be described as computer systems for managing the business perspective of a health care organization or facility. Given the priority of these organizations or facilities saving lives rather than profit-making, they need running costs for daily operations in order to meet this objective. Financial information systems provide a mechanism for handling running costs since healthcare business activities are seemingly complex. The introduction of financial information systems in healthcare is geared towards lessening the complexity of health care business activities and easing the process. Financial information systems achieve this goal because of their various features including payroll, general ledger, claims management, patient accounting, and fixed asset management. According to Pina et. al. (2015), financial information systems provide mechanisms for financial arrangements and organizational practices that are geared towards handling the financial aspects of the health care organization or facilities (p.672).

Applicability of the Structure in Management of Nursing Department

The management of nursing department entails the use of nursing information systems to handle clinical data related to the specific health care environment. In the past few years, management of nursing department has involved the integration of various tools and processes such as financial information systems and evidence-based practices. The integration of financial information systems in the management of nursing department is influenced by the need for nurse practitioners to assume increased responsibility in disease management practices. Financial information systems are applicable in this process since it enables nurse managers to enhance daily operations of the health care organization or facility as well as enhance their procedures and role in the care process. Therefore, financial information systems provide a platform through which nurse managers support clinical workflow by addressing financial issues in the care process (Thede, 2012).

In essence, this selection is characterized by several benefits in the management of a nursing department. Some of these benefits include improved clinical workflow, enhanced delivery of patient care, and improved patient outcomes. However, the negative aspects of this selection include increased complexity in handling financial issues and increased need for more information exchange among the various players in the care process.

In conclusion, financial information systems are computerized or automated systems that handle the business aspect of a health care facility or organization. These systems play a crucial role in management of clinical processes and practices, especially for nurse managers. When using these systems, nurse managers are faced with the need to ensure that the organization's focus on saving lives is not affected by profit making initiatives. Actually, nurse managers need to ensure a balance between saving lives and profit making through financial information systems. However, these systems have several advantages including enhanced clinical workflow processes, better patient outcomes, and improved health care delivery.