Overview
Providing patient care is a complex endeavor that is highly dependent on the communication of information. This communication is to and with the community, patients and their families, and other health professionals. Failures in communication are one of the most common root causes of patient safety incidents.
To provide, coordinate, and integrate services, health care organizations rely on information about the science of care, individual patients, care provided, results of care, and their own performance. Like human, material, and financial resources, information is a resource that must be managed effectively by the organization’s leaders. Every organization seeks to obtain, to manage, and to use information to improve patient outcomes as well as individual and overall organization performance.
Over time, organizations become more effective in
• identifying information needs;
• designing an information management system;
• defining and capturing data and information;
• analyzing data and transforming it into information;
• transmitting and reporting data and information; and
• integrating and using information.
Although computerization and other technologies improve efficiency, the principles of good information management apply to all methods, whether paper based or electronic. These standards are designed to be equally compatible with noncomputerized systems and future technologies.