This saves time and money, and it makes the operation more efficient, so investing in billing and insurance software is a good investment for just about any hospital. Internally, the it department manages the software and the server, but the actual administration of the software takes place in the billing department, where personnel input and analyze data, submit medical bills to patients and insurance companies, and update codes and medical information.

Data and Supply Management

Data and supply management is also a key area of hospital operations. Data management is administered directly by the it department, and they need a system that is effective and easy to maintain. They must ensure that data is readily available for patient care, but they must ensure that data is protected. Privacy concerns, for both personnel and patients are of vital necessity in the health care field. A patient's privacy must be maintained at all cost, so that means that they must develop secure servers that are free from tampering and hacking. They also have to develop internal security measures to ensure that only qualified personnel have access to patient records, which means developing security measure that only allow certain personnel access to records. There has to be linkage between patient records and billing, for example, but that access must be limited, and only certain personnel, (such as managers) should have access to both areas. This is extremely important in terms of patient privacy and it is one of the most important aspects of the hospital it department.

Power issues also plague it departments, so they must ensure they have backup power in the event of power outages. Another writer notes, "In instances where it usage comes to the point of care, more than one-half of patient rooms are not supported by any uninterruptible power source. Additionally, just 28% of operating rooms have emergency power receptacles serviced through an uninterruptible power supply" (Miliard, 2010). This is an issue that many it departments...

Many hospital it departments will expand in the future, as well. Writer Miliard continues, "In the next 24 months, 60% indicated they plan to add more server and storage capacity in their hospital data centers, while more than half are planning to update or expand it infrastructure within an existing hospital" (Miliard, 2010).
Data management is a key aspect of it operations, but monitoring of stock levels, including re-ordering products and cost control and loss prevention are extremely important in hospitals, as well. Another writer notes, "Studies have shown that the level of waste (obsolescence, expiry, damaged, special need duplicated) is generally around 20% of all items on hand -- with a further 25-30% of on hand stock in excess of requirements and therefore at greater risk of becoming obsolete, expiring or being damaged" (Editors, 2007). Hospitals use an incredible number of supplies on a daily basis, and automating ordering can help save time and money. In addition, maintaining electronic inventory of all the items in the hospital can be much more cost-friendly, and it saves time, because personnel no longer have to inventory items by hand.

The it department controls the software and the servers for inventory and purchasing software, but administrators in purchasing and inventory utilize the software for their daily purchasing needs.