What are the benefits of using HIT to improve care coordination?

1 Streamline communication

One of the benefits of using HIT to improve care coordination is that it can streamline communication among health care providers, patients, and other stakeholders. For example, HIT can enable secure and timely exchange of patient information, such as medical history, test results, diagnoses, treatment plans, and referrals. This can reduce errors, duplication, and delays, and improve the quality and efficiency of care. HIT can also facilitate communication between patients and providers, such as through online portals, telehealth, and mobile apps. These tools can allow patients to access their own records, schedule appointments, request prescriptions, receive reminders, and provide feedback. This can enhance patient engagement, satisfaction, and self-management.

2 Support decision making

Another benefit of using HIT to improve care coordination is that it can support decision making for both providers and patients. For example, HIT can provide clinical decision support (CDS) systems, which are software applications that analyze health data and provide guidance, alerts, or recommendations to providers based on evidence-based practices and standards. CDS systems can help providers avoid errors, adhere to guidelines, and optimize outcomes. HIT can also provide patient decision aids (PDAs), which are tools that help patients understand their options, preferences, and values, and participate in shared decision making with their providers. PDAs can help patients make informed choices, express their goals, and align their care with their needs.

3 Monitor performance

A third benefit of using HIT to improve care coordination is that it can monitor performance and outcomes of care. For example, HIT can enable the collection and analysis of data on quality indicators, such as patient safety, satisfaction, experience, and outcomes. These data can be used to evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of care coordination processes and interventions, and identify areas for improvement. HIT can also enable the use of feedback loops, which are mechanisms that allow providers to receive and act on information about their performance and the impact of their actions. Feedback loops can help providers learn from their successes and failures, and adjust their practices accordingly.

4 Foster collaboration

A fourth benefit of using HIT to improve care coordination is that it can foster collaboration among health care providers, patients, and other stakeholders. For example, HIT can enable the creation and maintenance of care teams, which are groups of providers who work together to coordinate care for a specific patient or population. Care teams can use HIT to communicate, share information, plan care, and track progress. HIT can also enable the involvement of patients and their families or caregivers in care coordination, by providing them with tools to access, contribute, and share information, and to communicate with their care team. This can increase trust, respect, and partnership among all parties.

5 Promote innovation

A fifth benefit of using HIT to improve care coordination is that it can promote innovation and learning in health care. For example, HIT can enable the use of big data and artificial intelligence (AI) to generate new insights and solutions for complex health problems. Big data refers to the large and diverse sets of health data that are collected and stored by HIT systems. AI refers to the use of computer algorithms and programs to perform tasks that normally require human intelligence, such as learning, reasoning, and problem-solving. By combining big data and AI, HIT can help discover new patterns, trends, and associations, and create new models, tools, and interventions for care coordination. HIT can also enable the dissemination and adoption of best practices and evidence-based interventions for care coordination, by providing platforms and networks for sharing knowledge and experience among health care providers, patients, and researchers.