IT in HealthcareIT in Healthcare

IT Careers in HealthcareIT Careers in HealthcareEmerging opportunities for IT professionalsEmerging opportunities for IT professionals

Prof. Vance WilsonProf. Vance WilsonArizona State University Arizona State University

IT Careers in HealthcareIT Careers in Healthcare

What’s New in Healthcare?What’s New in Healthcare?

Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) mandates1996 (HIPAA) mandates Standardization of health information systemsStandardization of health information systems Increased focus on privacy and security of dataIncreased focus on privacy and security of data

Mergers, acquisitions, and search for cost reductions are Mergers, acquisitions, and search for cost reductions are driving massive IT integration in healthcaredriving massive IT integration in healthcare

Reduced insurance coverage (e.g., higher co-pay) gives Reduced insurance coverage (e.g., higher co-pay) gives patients more incentive to comparison shoppatients more incentive to comparison shop

E-health gives patients more information, creating a E-health gives patients more information, creating a population of informed consumers who want online population of informed consumers who want online access to their doctors, pharmacists, and insurersaccess to their doctors, pharmacists, and insurers

IT Careers in HealthcareIT Careers in Healthcare

Why Should We Care?Why Should We Care?

Healthcare is a Healthcare is a HUGEHUGE industry, accounting for at industry, accounting for at least 16% of U.S. GDP in least 16% of U.S. GDP in 2009 and projected to 2009 and projected to grow at 7.3% per year grow at 7.3% per year through 2013through 2013

IT investments are IT investments are growing growing FASTERFASTER than than overall healthcare, with overall healthcare, with some sectors growing some sectors growing over 15% per year over 15% per year

2005 2011

$16.4 billion

$35billion

BCC Research

Healthcare ITInvestmentProjection

IT Careers in HealthcareIT Careers in Healthcare

Areas of Healthcare ITAreas of Healthcare IT

Transaction Systems

Clinical Systems

Patient-ConnectedSystems

IT Careers in HealthcareIT Careers in Healthcare

Areas of Healthcare ITAreas of Healthcare IT

Transaction Systems

• Admissions / Releases

• Insurance Claims

• Patient Billing

• Payment Processing

• Inventory Management

• Workflow

• Administrative Reports

• Electronic Medical-Health-Patient Records (EMR, EHR, EPR)

IT Careers in HealthcareIT Careers in Healthcare

Transaction SystemsTransaction Systems

““A person can walk into an electronics store and use a credit A person can walk into an electronics store and use a credit card to buy a $1,200 television within a matter of minutes. card to buy a $1,200 television within a matter of minutes.

That same person can walk into a doctor's office for a $50 That same person can walk into a doctor's office for a $50 medical test, but neither the doctor nor the patient knows medical test, but neither the doctor nor the patient knows whether insurance will cover it. whether insurance will cover it.

At the end of the month, the doctor's office files a claim. At the end of the month, the doctor's office files a claim. Then, several weeks later, the insurance company Then, several weeks later, the insurance company acknowledges receipt of the claim. After two months, the acknowledges receipt of the claim. After two months, the office is reimbursed. And finally, after a total of three months, office is reimbursed. And finally, after a total of three months, the patient receives a bill for the balance, but can't recall why the patient receives a bill for the balance, but can't recall why he had gone to the doctor to begin with.” he had gone to the doctor to begin with.” — — http://www.healthcare-informatics.com/issues/2000/06_00/dejesus.htmhttp://www.healthcare-informatics.com/issues/2000/06_00/dejesus.htm

IT Careers in HealthcareIT Careers in Healthcare

Transaction SystemsTransaction Systems

"Healthcare business transactions account "Healthcare business transactions account for about a $250 billion share of a $1.2 for about a $250 billion share of a $1.2 trillion industry that desperately needs an trillion industry that desperately needs an

information technology solution"information technology solution" — — MedUnite CEOMedUnite CEO

http://www.healthleaders.com/magazine/factfile46721.html

“By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, and to provide leadership for the development and nationwide implementation of an interoperable health information technology infrastructure to improve the quality and efficiency of health care, it is hereby ordered . . .” — President George Bush, 2004— President George Bush, 2004

IT Careers in HealthcareIT Careers in Healthcare

Areas of Healthcare ITAreas of Healthcare IT

Transaction Systems

Clinical Systems

• Diagnosis

• Treatment

• Monitoring

• Prescription

• Billing

• Documentation

IT Careers in HealthcareIT Careers in Healthcare

Clinical SystemsClinical Systems

IT Careers in HealthcareIT Careers in Healthcare

Areas of Healthcare ITAreas of Healthcare IT

Transaction Systems

Clinical Systems

Patient-ConnectedSystems

TelemedicineTelemedicine

• DiagnosisDiagnosis

• TreatmentTreatment

• MonitoringMonitoring

E-HealthE-Health

• ContentContent

• ConnectivityConnectivity

• CommunityCommunity

• Clinical CareClinical Care

Web TransactionsWeb Transactions

• InsuranceInsurance

• RecordsRecords

• BillingBilling

IT Careers in HealthcareIT Careers in Healthcare

Patient-Connected SystemsPatient-Connected Systems

The Connected Healthcare Community

Patient

Life Insurer

Healthcare Provider

Credit Card Company

State Health Commission Clearinghouse

Vendor Network

Health Plan

Social Services

Employee Health Program

Retail Pharmacy

Note how important networking is in

automating each of these links

IT Careers in HealthcareIT Careers in Healthcare

Patient-Connected SystemsPatient-Connected Systems

Clinical CareCommunity

Connectivity

Content

IT Careers in HealthcareIT Careers in Healthcare

Opportunities for IT ProfessionalsOpportunities for IT Professionals IT professionals are essential for effective organizational IT professionals are essential for effective organizational

computing, so organizational changes in healthcare point computing, so organizational changes in healthcare point to new job opportunities, such as:to new job opportunities, such as: Migrate Healthcare Transactions to the InternetMigrate Healthcare Transactions to the Internet Build and test new systems to link healthcare sectors, Build and test new systems to link healthcare sectors,

e.g., clinics, labs, pharmacies, and insurancee.g., clinics, labs, pharmacies, and insurance Manage databases to store new forms of clinical data, Manage databases to store new forms of clinical data,

e.g., digital images and electronic recordse.g., digital images and electronic records Develop web systems to connect monitoring devicesDevelop web systems to connect monitoring devices Administer communication between patients and Administer communication between patients and

healthcare providershealthcare providers Provide programming support for e-health projectsProvide programming support for e-health projects

IT Careers in HealthcareIT Careers in Healthcare

Where to Find Out More…Where to Find Out More…

OrganizationsOrganizations American Medical Informatics Association (AMIA)American Medical Informatics Association (AMIA) Healthcare Information and Management Systems SoHealthcare Information and Management Systems So

ciety (HIMSS)ciety (HIMSS)

Job BoardsJob Boards biohealthmatics.com biohealthmatics.com meditjobs.commeditjobs.com General-purpose sites, searching for health IT General-purpose sites, searching for health IT

keywordskeywords Monster.comMonster.com Careerbuilder.comCareerbuilder.com