1. Lesson 1- Introduction to Health Information Technology

2. Lesson 1- Introduction to Health Information Technology
Objectives:
Describe Health Information Technology (HIT)
Recall the benefits of HIT
Identify who is affected by HIT

3. What is HIT?
HIT is the application of technology in the healthcare industry for the purpose of storing, retrieving, and sharing healthcare information.
Have students discuss what they believe HIT is before revealing the answer. Ask about the use of computers and/or smart devices at their doctor’s offices.

4. Benefits of HIT Here are a few of the benefits of HIT:
Client records are placed into the hands of the people who need them
Unnecessary tests and procedures can be avoided
Reduces paperwork
Have students reveal what they believe the benefits of HIT could be.
Add any additional benefits you may know.

5. Purpose of HIT Here are some of the functions of HIT:
Ensure protection and privacy of healthcare information
Improve patient care by reducing medical errors
Reduce healthcare costs resulting from administrative inefficiency, medical errors, and duplicative care
Improve coordination of care among healthcare providers
Points to discuss –
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) was signed into law in 2009 by President Obama
This Act was created to stimulate the U.S. economy
As a part of that act, an investment was made in health

6. Who’s affected by HIT?
There are 5 main groups that are affected by H-I-T, which are all important to successful client care:
Healthcare Facility –
Facilities such as Emergency Departments, hospitals, and outpatient surgery centers that provide client care.
Governmental Agencies –
Regulate each of the previously mentioned entities to ensure they adhere to healthcare laws.
Healthcare Provider –
Physicians
Nurses
Technicians
Pharmacy –
Provides prescribed medications to clients. Keeps a record of a client’s prescriptions.
Insurance Carrier –
Pays for a portion of client’s medical costs.

7. How does HIT apply?
Which group(s) are affected by HIT in the following scenario:
United Health needs the electronic billing information from the hospital so they can determine how much to pay towards a client’s medical costs of a client’s medical costs will be covered.
Healthcare Facility –
Facilities such as Emergency Departments, hospitals, and outpatient surgery centers that provide client care.
Governmental Agencies –
Regulate each of the previously mentioned entities to ensure they adhere to healthcare laws.
Correct Answer:
Insurance Carrier
Healthcare Facility
Teacher can choose whether or not to include secondary answer.
Healthcare Provider –
Physicians
Nurses
Technicians
Pharmacy –
Provides prescribed medications to clients. Keeps a record of a client’s prescriptions.
Insurance Carrier –
Pays for a portion of client’s medical costs.

8. How does HIT apply?
Which group(s) are affected by HIT in the following scenario:
A primary care physician needs to access the results to a client’s laboratory tests electronically.
Healthcare Facility –
Facilities such as Emergency Departments, hospitals, and outpatient surgery centers that provide client care.
Governmental Agencies –
Regulate each of the previously mentioned entities to ensure they adhere to healthcare laws.
Correct answer:
Healthcare Provider Healthcare Facility
Healthcare Provider –
Physicians
Nurses
Technicians
Pharmacy –
Provides prescribed medications to clients. Keeps a record of a client’s prescriptions.
Insurance Carrier –
Pays for a portion of client’s medical costs.

9. How does HIT apply?
Which group(s) are affected by HIT in the following scenario:
A new script for a client has just been received electronically. The prescribed medication could cause a negative interaction with a medication the client is already using. The prescribing physician needs to be notified.
Healthcare Facility –
Facilities such as Emergency Departments, hospitals, and outpatient surgery centers that provide client care.
Governmental Agencies –
Regulate each of the previously mentioned entities to ensure they adhere to healthcare laws.
Correct answer:
Pharmacy
Healthcare Provider –
Physicians
Nurses
Technicians
Pharmacy –
Provides prescribed medications to clients. Keeps a record of a client’s prescriptions.
Insurance Carrier –
Pays for a portion of client’s medical costs.

10. How does HIT apply?
Which group(s) are affected by HIT in the following scenario:
A hospital had a major breach in security and some client files were unlawfully accessed electronically.
Healthcare Facility –
Facilities such as Emergency Departments, hospitals, and outpatient surgery centers that provide client care.
Governmental Agencies –
Regulate each of the previously mentioned entities to ensure they adhere to healthcare laws.
Correct answer:
Governmental Agencies
Healthcare Facility
Healthcare Provider –
Physicians
Nurses
Technicians
Pharmacy –
Provides prescribed medications to clients. Keeps a record of a client’s prescriptions.
Insurance Carrier –
Pays for a portion of client’s medical costs.

11. A client has been in a dangerous car accident.
How does HIT apply?
Which group(s) are affected by HIT in the following scenario:
A client has been in a dangerous car accident.
Healthcare Facility –
Facilities such as Emergency Departments, hospitals, and outpatient surgery centers that provide client care.
Governmental Agencies –
Regulate each of the previously mentioned entities to ensure they adhere to healthcare laws.
Correct answer:
Healthcare Facility
Healthcare Provider –
Physicians
Nurses
Technicians
Pharmacy –
Provides prescribed medications to clients. Keeps a record of a client’s prescriptions.
Insurance Carrier –
Pays for a portion of client’s medical costs.

12. Lesson 1- Introduction to Health Information Technology
Summary:
Describe Health Information Technology (HIT)
Recall the benefits of HIT
Identify who is affected by HIT
Have students share what they learned.