title: Is your healthcare information system physician friendly?
abstract: An organization's healthcare information system (HIS) can be used as a tool to improve relationships with its physicians by facilitating physician work processes and research. An effective HIS should provide census reports tailored to individual physician needs, allow physicians access to information via dedicated personal computers (PCs) or terminals, and should have features, such as screen design and graphical interfaces that are easy to understand and use. In addition, the HIS should provide comprehensive reports, have online ordering capability, and respond quickly to the needs of busy physicians. A good HIS also supports physician-related activities occurring outside the hospital. For example, physician office managers should be able to access billing information, such as patient demographics and procedure codes, contained in the HIS. And, physicians should be able to retrieve archived information from their offices or homes. Critical to physicians' successful use of an organization's HIS is administration's attitude and support. An organization that places a priority on physician issues and needs can make even a basic HIS an effective tool for its physicians, while a sophisticated HIS that does not address physician needs will not maximize return on the investment.
authors.affiliation: Meridian Health System, NJ, USA.
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Quinn
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Weber
authors.forename: V G
authors.initials: VG
authors.lastname: Ciotti
mesh_terms: D003196:Computer Graphics; D003626:Data Display; D003659:Decision Making, Organizational; D006751:Hospital Information Systems / Q000592:standards* / Q000639:trends; D018578:Hospital-Physician Relations; D006801:Humans; D008329:Managed Care Programs / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000639:trends; D016347:Medical Records Systems, Computerized; D010819:Physician's Role; D011216:Practice Management, Medical; D014481:United States; D014584:User-Computer Interface