Healthcare Information Systems, Application Platforms, Performance, And Management

Types of Healthcare Information Systems, Application Platforms, Performance and Management

Healthcare information systems are linked to the organizational strategy and business strategy, in order for a healthcare ecosystem to manage all the information workflow, different information systems need to be synchronized.

There are a couple of different areas that the healthcare workflow is broken down to, clinical, financial, administrative, and data management systems, which work together in an IT application called enterprise system (ES). An enterprise system allows the information to flow between the areas through enterprise resource planning (ERP), customer relationship management (CRM), supply chain management (SCM) and product life cycle

This system is linked to customers or suppliers, some are web-based making it easier for communication between the parties involved, which results in reduced costs and optimizes opportunities.

An example of a vendor that provides healthcare focused ES is Optum. Optum is the leading health information system company based in Eden Prairie, MN with a 2016 revenue of $6,196,000,000, followed by Cerner Corp ($4,425,267,000), Cognizant Technology Solutions ($3,667,500,000) McKesson Technology Solutions ($3,100,000,000) and Dell ($2,900,000,000) to name a few (Healthcare Informatics 2016).

Optum has a variety of programs available, Optum360, Optum360 Coding, OptumCare, OptumLabs and OptumRx. Optum 360 specializes in the revenue cycle starting with patient access services, the first point of contact when walking into a healthcare facility. At the starting point quality patient information is collected, patient eligibility is processed within seconds with up to date payer data which results in improved point of service (POS) collections, reduces claim denials, improves efficiency and patient satisfaction. Claims and reimbursement are another area that Optum360 enhances; MedicareRT Claim System helps keeping up with Medicare reimbursement regulations, this system submits claims online and has a process with status information and codes received from Medicare to help staff quickly adjust

ED charging application is specifically made for the emergency department (ED) being that it has an outpatient charging strategy it has its own attributes that help consistent evaluation and management. The ED application standardizes charging, it allows clinicians to focus on the clinical elements without having to memorize service rules, it will track performance, perform audits, and will preserve IT information while integrating with existing healthcare softwares.

Optum360 Coding is a resource website with different choices of training material depending on the buyers need, it has options to purchase literature about their programs and features, such as ICD-10, CPT (current procedural terminology), HCPCS (healthcare common procedure coding systems), DRGs (diagnosis related group), specialty preference, billing and reimbursement, pricing and cost.

OptumCare is another segment of the industry that Optum focuses on, providing value health care to individuals and family with certain health plans and groups of local doctors, WellMed and UnitedHealth Group for