The strategic value of information for a community/public health care organization is linked to its ability to understand and modify its processes, to manage costs, and to compete on grounds of both cost and quality. Managed care is creating flat revenue streams that force efficiency. In an era of cost-oriented decisions, no health care organization can afford to be a cost outlier or to have a poor outcome record. Payers of health care services, including local governments, are becoming more sophisticated purchasers of services. Therefore, an organization’s ability to make independent, sound judgments about effectiveness, efficiency, value and quality are, in part, dependent upon having a well designed information system that transforms data into information to support the various functions of the organization. However, little is known about how community health organizations have embraced and used information systems. This study describes survey data of the current state of affairs, provides a synopsis of lessons learned from early adopters of information systems, and suggests directions for future use of information technology by community/public health organizations.
Learning Objectives: 1. State the strategic value of information for community/public health organizations. 2. Describe the results of a study of the adoption and use of information systems. 3. Delineate recommendations for future use of information techonology by community/public health organizations
Keywords: Information Technology, Organizational Change
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.