Information Technology Impact on Health Care

Council for Affordable Quality Healthcare (CAQH)

A nonprofit organization established to simplify healthcare administration and improve the efficiency of the healthcare system. It works with health plans, providers, and other healthcare organizations to reduce administrative burdens, standardize information exchange, and improve the accuracy and efficiency of healthcare transactions.

CAQH Initiatives

CAQH develops standardized operating rules and electronic processes to simplify administrative transactions between healthcare providers and insurance companies. Its initiatives include standardizing eligibility verification, claims submission, claims status inquiries, and other administrative processes.

Committee on Operating Rules for Information Exchange (CORE)

An initiative of CAQH that develops standardized operating rules for electronic healthcare administrative transactions. CORE helps healthcare providers and health plans exchange information consistently and efficiently.

Patient Portals

Secure online websites that allow patients to access their personal health information and communicate with healthcare providers. Patient portals may allow patients to view laboratory results, request prescription refills, schedule appointments, review medical records, communicate with physicians, and obtain information about their healthcare.

Consumer-Mediated Exchange

A health information exchange method in which patients control the sharing of their health information with healthcare providers and other authorized individuals.

Health Information Exchange (HIE)

The electronic sharing of healthcare information among healthcare organizations, providers, and other authorized individuals. HIE allows patient information to be accessed across different healthcare settings, improving coordination of care and reducing duplicate testing.

Directed Exchange

A method of health information exchange in which healthcare providers securely send patient information directly to another known provider.

Query-Based Exchange

A health information exchange method that allows healthcare providers to search for and retrieve patient information from other healthcare organizations when treating a patient.

Electronic Health Record (EHR)

A digital version of a patient's medical history that is designed to be shared across different healthcare organizations. EHRs contain comprehensive patient information, including diagnoses, medications, laboratory results, allergies, medical histories, and treatment plans.

Electronic Medical Record (EMR)

A digital version of a patient's medical chart used primarily within one healthcare organization or medical practice. Unlike an EHR, an EMR is generally not designed for extensive information exchange across different healthcare organizations.

EHR vs. EMR

An EMR is primarily an electronic medical record used within a single practice or organization, whereas an EHR is a more comprehensive record designed to be shared among multiple healthcare providers and organizations.

Health Information Technology (HIT)

The use of electronic systems and technologies to store, retrieve, share, and manage healthcare information. Examples include electronic health records, electronic prescribing, computerized physician order entry, and health information exchanges.

Health Information Systems (HIS)

Computer-based systems used by healthcare organizations to collect, store, manage, and communicate clinical and administrative information. They support patient care, billing, scheduling, reporting, and organizational decision-making.

Meaningful Use

A federal initiative established to encourage healthcare providers to adopt and use certified electronic health record technology effectively. Meaningful use focused on improving healthcare quality, patient safety, care coordination, patient engagement, and the exchange of health information.

Incentives to Use EHRs

The federal government introduced financial incentives through the HITECH Act and Medicare and Medicaid programs to encourage healthcare providers to adopt certified EHR technology. These incentives were intended to increase EHR adoption, improve healthcare quality, reduce medical errors, enhance patient safety, and encourage electronic information exchange.

HITECH Act (Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act)

Legislation enacted in 2009 as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. It provided financial incentives for healthcare providers to adopt and demonstrate meaningful use of certified electronic health records. It also strengthened privacy and security requirements for electronic health information.

How EHR Use Is Measured

Under the meaningful use framework, providers demonstrated effective EHR use by meeting specified objectives and measures. These included computerized physician order entry, electronic prescribing, maintaining patient information, exchanging health information, reporting clinical quality measures, and providing patients with access to their health information.

Computerized Physician Order Entry (CPOE)

An electronic system that allows healthcare providers to enter medical orders directly into a computer rather than writing them on paper. Orders may include medications, laboratory tests, and diagnostic imaging. CPOE can reduce transcription errors, improve communication, and increase patient safety.

Electronic Prescribing (E-prescribing)

The electronic transmission of prescriptions from healthcare providers to pharmacies. It reduces errors associated with handwritten prescriptions, improves medication safety, and allows providers to review medication histories and potential drug interactions.

Electronic Clinical Decision Support Systems (CDSSs)

Computer-based systems that provide healthcare professionals with clinical knowledge and patient-specific information to assist in making medical decisions. Examples include alerts about drug interactions, reminders for preventive screenings, and warnings about potentially dangerous medication doses.

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)

A technology that uses radio frequency signals to transmit data from uniquely identified chips or tags to receivers. In healthcare, RFID is used to track medications, medical equipment, supplies, and sometimes patients.

RFID in Healthcare

RFID technology can be used to track drug inventory, monitor medical equipment, and manage hospital supplies. Medication manufacturers may place RFID chips in medication labels to improve supply chain management and help track products throughout distribution.

Enterprise Data Warehouses (EDWs)

Large databases that integrate information from multiple sources within an organization. Healthcare EDWs collect and organize clinical, financial, administrative, and operational information to support research, reporting, quality improvement, and organizational decision-making.

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Integrated Data Repository (CMS IDR)

A large data repository developed by CMS to integrate information from Medicare Parts A through D, including patient, physician, claims, and prescription drug information. It allows CMS to analyze healthcare data, monitor claims, and identify potential fraud and abuse.

Drug–Drug Interactions

Occur when one medication affects the activity or effectiveness of another medication taken by a patient. These interactions may increase side effects, decrease therapeutic effectiveness, or produce harmful reactions.

Telemedicine

The delivery of healthcare services through telecommunications technology, allowing patients and healthcare providers to interact without being physically present in the same location. Examples include virtual physician appointments and remote consultations.

Telehealth

A broader term that includes telemedicine as well as the use of telecommunications technology for healthcare education, health monitoring, administrative services, and other health-related activities.