Health Care Information Needs

In actuality, information needs of health care professionals and health care organizations grow fast for contemporary technologies provide health care professionals with larger opportunities to receive and process information, which may be very helpful in their work. In this regard, they have to develop effective information systems and implement contemporary telecommunication systems, which can help them to use information technologies effectively and process information essential for their work fast. In fact, health care professionals still have some information needs, which have to be met for their efficient work.

At this point, it is possible to dwell upon some specific information needs, which health care professionals in Presbyterian hospital are currently facing. In fact, one of the most important needs of health care professionals is the information on the history of patients’ health. In such a way, health care professionals need to obtain detailed information on the history of patient’s illness, especially if the patient suffers from a chronic disease. Obviously, information on the history of patient health is essential for the effective treatment and, in this regard, Presbyterian hospital is similar to other hospitals.

At the same time, health care professionals working in Presbyterian hospital need information on cultural background of patients. At this point, it is worth mentioning the fact that this information is very important because patients with different cultural background may have different needs and expectations in regard to their examination and treatment. As a result, some approaches to examination and treatment of patients may be offensive, if the cultural background of patients is different from that of health care professionals. Therefore, health care professionals need to have information on the cultural background of their patients to avoid offenses.

Furthermore, health care professionals need to maintain effective communication between health care professionals within a health care organization. What is meant here is the fact that health care professionals working in Presbyterian hospital as well as other hospitals have to communicate with each other to increase the effectiveness of their work and to deliver essential health care services fast and at the top quality.

In such a context, health care professionals need to have key data inputs, such as electronic health records are access to essential information for diagnosing and treatment of patients. In such a way, electronic records may be very helpful for the effective work of health care professionals. At the same time, the hospital needs to have database, where the information is stored. At the same time, health care professionals should use outputs to obtain information concerning health history of patients. In this regard, health care professionals can use PCs, netbooks, notebooks, iPads, and other mobile devices capable to provide health care with data necessary for the information to be accurate and useful. These devices will allow health care professionals to obtain essential information fast and provide patients with essential health care services.

Thus, health care professionals working in Presbyterian hospital have information needs, which are, to a significant extent, similar to information of health care professionals working in other hospitals, but also they have specific information needs, such as information on the cultural background of their patients.

REFERENCES
Lucas, H. and Baroudi, J. (2002). “The role of Information Technology in Organization Design.” Journal of Management Information Systems, vol. 10(4), 45-52.
Hart, J.L. (2004). “Organizational Communication in an Age of Globalization: Issues, Reflections. Practices”. Business Communication Quarterly, Vol. 67.