Health Information Systems' Financial Structure

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).

Reason for Selection The selection of financial structure in the various information system structures is influenced by the significance of these systems in the daily operations of a health care organization or facility. Moreover, this decision is influenced by the fact that financial systems have considerable impacts on health care systems and patient care both positively and adversely. The positive impact of financial information system structure is its contribution toward implementation of total quality management in a health care organization or facility.

This structure contributes to enhanced health care delivery and patient outcomes by promoting integration of health care systems. Generally, health care systems have traditionally involved the use of centralized systems and structure, which have significantly changed the role of physicians. This structure has made physicians to act as consultants who are paid on a fee-for-service basis while administrators manage hospital resources shared by departments (Glickman et. al., 2007, p.344). These structures have generated several obstacles in relation to enhancing patient outcomes and improving health care delivery processes.

Financial structure in information systems deal with these challenges by ensuring that physicians do not shift their focus from patient care while enabling qualified professionals to handle the financial aspects of health care delivery processes. This contributes to enhanced effectiveness that in turn improves health care delivery and patient outcomes through effective management of finances and daily operations. 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.