SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING IN 250 - 300 WORDS : Learning Outcomes: On successful completion of this topic, students will be able to promote the effective management, use and communication of health information in healthcare management, and systems to maintain information.

Health information management (HIM)

• Health information management (HIM) is information management applied to health and health care. It is the practice of acquiring, analysing and protecting digital and traditional medical information vital to providing quality patient care.
• With the widespread computerization of health records, traditional (paper based) records are being replaced with electronic health records (EHRs).
• The tools of health informatics and health information technology are continually improving to bring greater efficiency to information management in the health care sector.
• Both hospital information systems and Human Resource for Health Information System (HRHIS) are common implementations of HIM.

Health information management (HIM) Health information management professionals plan information systems, develop health policy, and identify current and future information needs. In addition, they may apply the science of informatics to the collection, storage, analysis, use, and transmission of information to meet legal, professional, ethical and administrative recordskeeping requirements of health care delivery. They work with clinical, epidemiological, demographic, financial, reference, and coded healthcare data. Health information administrators have been described to "play a critical role in the delivery of healthcare in the United States through their focus on the collection, maintenance and use of quality data to support the informationintensive and informationreliant healthcare system.

Source: World Health Organization. (2010). Classifying health workers. Geneva: WHO.

Health information System ( HIS) in Fiji Health information in Fiji comprises population growth, births, marriages, mortality and morbidity, disease outbreaks, social determinants of health (such as nutrition, environment, and oral heath), access, coverage and quality of services, financing, human resources for health, and other health data. HIS VISION AND POLICY OBJECTIVES Vision A reliable HIS providing timely and high quality information to policy makers, planners, programme managers, service providers and the general public Mission To provide an evidencebased high quality HIS to ensure that the health status of all citizens of Fiji is improved, that the coverage and quality of health services increased, health services are effective and efficient, management and policy decisions are rational, quality information is available and accessible, and that information is efficiently collected, stored, and managed and correctly analysed, interpreted and used. Health information System Policy Objectives 1. To strengthen the HIS through improved quality and management of information 2. To instil responsibility for data quality at local, divisional and national levels 3. To ensure data quality through use and application of tools and procedures for data collection and data management that are consistent with international practice 4. To promote, train, and supervise wide use of health information and evidencebased decision making at all levels through data stewardship (e.g., data sharing, access, and use agreements; data ownership clarified) 5. To foster interoperability of the various components of health information 6. To facilitate individual and institutional capacity building with standard operating procedures and resource mobilization for health information and HIS management 7. To ensure client data protection and confidentiality is strictly maintained 8. To improve health information reporting and feedback mechanisms in Fiji Importance of Health related Data To make an evidence based decision healthcare providers, managers and policy maker need to understand the population health status, burden of disease, type of healthcare services required to each level, and the progress of the activities/programs at each level of healthcare system. Unless this complete, accurate and adequate health information reaches to the users in a timely fashion, the goal of achieving "health for all" will be impossible. Common Health Service and Health Information Issues There are many health related issue arises due to the lack of health information support and prompt reporting. These issues need to be addressed before the implementation of Health Information Technology. Common Health Service and Health Information Issues Common Health Service Issue Corresponding HIS Issue Problems in providing critical supply continuously. Lack of accurate and timely stock inventory report. Inadequate detection and control of communicable diseases. Failure to receive reports of notifiable communicable diseases from Govt. services. Inadequate planning and scheduling of critical activities and services at facility and district level. Certain facility types or service levels not regularly submitting routine operation plans and monitoring reports. Inadequate attention is given to finding and serving high risk and underserved populations Patient and clinic records fail to identify highrisk patients, families and communities Common Health Service and Health Information Issues Common Health Service Issue Corresponding HIS Issue Inadequate health protection and service provided to poor populations Lack of uptodate population data which identifies less advantaged population groups Inadequate action by health staff at facility and district level to monitor and correct deficiencies in service coverage and quality. Staff at facility and district level do not maintain records and present data in a manner which enable monitoring of coverage and quality High staff turnover Lack of clear job descriptions and career development opportunities Sinha, R. (2010). Impact of health information technology in public health. Sri Lanka Journal of Bio-Medical Informatics, 1(4). Benefits of Health Management Information System As per World Health Organization (WHO) investment in health management information systems (HMIS) now could reap multiple benefits, including: helping decision makers to detect and control emerging and endemic health problems, monitor progress towards health goals, and promote equity; empowering individuals and communities with timely and understandable healthrelated information, and drive improvements in quality of services; strengthening the evidence base for effective health policies, permitting evaluation of scaleup efforts, and enabling innovation through research; Improving governance, mobilizing new resources, and ensuring accountability in the way they are used. Reference 1. Basit Chaudhary et.al. Systematic Review: Impact of Health Information Technology on Quality, Efficiency, and Costs of Medical Care. [online][Cited 2010 August 16] Available from URL. http://www.annals.org/content/144/10/742.full 2. Health Information Policy Document (2011) - Ministry of Health Fiji. 3. Sinha, R. (2010). Impact of health information technology in public health. Sri Lanka Journal of BioMedical Informatics, 1(4). 4. World Health Organization. (2010). Classifying health workers. Geneva: WHO.