[Hospital information systems interoperability in Iran]

Interoperability is needed when the Hospital Information System [HIS] data should be combined and shared with different systems. This study was aimed to determine the semantic and technical interoperability of hospital information systems of Iran's health care centers and propose guidelines to create and develop interoperability of these centers. This descriptive study was conducted on companies, which were qualified to receive performance appraisal certificate of HIS softwares from statistics and information technology office of health ministry. Standard questionnaire and checklist were used to collect information in the first and second steps. List of companies, which provided and produced HIS in Iran, was obtained, and then a self-administered questionnaire was sent for them. Then, a health care center was selected from each company randomly, and its current HIS interoperability was evaluated. Data were analyzed using SPSS 16. Based on the results, all companies were used Microsoft windows and SQL server database in their HIS with consideration to technical interoperability. Also, the most frequent corporate programming language was Visual C Sharp [46.7%] and Visual Basic [40%], respectively. From semantic interoperability aspect, the most frequent terminology systems were ICD-10 [86.7%], ICD-9CM [66.7%], and CPT [66.7%], respectively. For standard messaging, 60%, 46.7% and 33.3% used XML, DICOM, and HL7 in order. Health system interoperability is divided into two semantic and technical parts. At the present, there is not any standard for electronic health record [EHR] to provide full interoperability. HIS templates should be provided in order to make a national standard for EHR. Therefore, it is necessary to have standard template for semantic and technical interoperability in EHR national exchanges

[ survey on information flow in research centers affiliated with Tehran university of medical sciences]

Introduction: Information Flow is one of the most critical aspects of information management in organizations. This study aimed to review three aspects of information flow: 'acquisition', 'production and storage', and 'dissemination' of information in the research centers affiliated with Tehran University of Medical Sciences as well as their relationships with parent, parallel, and competing organizations

Methods: In this descriptive-analytical cross-sectional survey, data were collected by means of valid and reliable questionnaires. Kruskal Wallis Test was used for data analysis through SPSS

Results: Findings showed that there was a significant difference among centers in terms of emphasis on different kinds of 'information acquisition sources' [?[2]= 365.40, df= 10, p=0.000], 'methods of information acquisition' [?[2]= 32.40, df= 10, p=0.000], 'types and formats of storage of information' [?[2]= 27.22, df= 10, p=0.001] and 'carriers of production and storage of information' [?[2]= 28.18, df= 10, p=0.001]. But In regard to emphasis on 'audiences', 'methods and formats', and 'carriers' of dissemination of information, there were no significant differences among research centers [?[2]= 6.20, df= 10, p=0.695], [?[2]= 6.40, df= 10, p=0.795] and [?[2]= 16.95, df= 10, p=0.070, respectively]

Conclusion: The current associations going on in the research centers of Tehran University of Medical Sciences are mainly pertinent to two types of organizations: the parent organization [the University] and the aligned organizations. Altogether, relationships between the aligned and the competing organizations have not been defined yet. It can generally be said that the information flow is incomplete in the research centers under study

[Evaluation of pharmaceutical warehouse information systems in teaching hospitals in Tehran]

Introduction: Pharmaceutical Warehouse Information Systems is the software that provides drug preparation and maintenance operations from the order stage to delivery stage. To evaluate this system, different aspects of the system should be taken into consideration. In this study, the features and functionality of the system from the managers' and users' perspectives were examined

Methods: This applied study was descriptive - comparative in nature. Nine teaching hospitals in Tehran were selected by random sampling. Data collection was carried out by a questionnaire and a check list. The validity of the instruments of the study was determined by five experts of the system, and the reliability was measured by test-retest technique

Results: The results showed that the managers and users agreed with significant features of Pharmaceutical Warehouse Information Systems. The technical features of the system were observed by evaluation showing that Razi hospital and the Cancer Institute used more powerful operating system and databases. In regards to system capabilities, the software used in Bouali and Amiraalam showed maximum capabilities [scored 84], while Najmieh appeared to have minimum capabilities [scored 70]

Conclusion: Results indicated that users were not interested in using new technologies in these systems. The technical specifications of the systems appeared to be relatively desirable and all the systems had public reporting and analysis capabilities; however, some of these systems failed to meet management by exception capabilities, supervision and maintenance issues

Developing data elements for research information system in health; a starting point for systems integration

This study defines necessary data elements required for the research information system in the domain of health, and its level of accountability to national health research indicators from the experts' perspective is being explored. This qualitative study was conducted based on comparative approach using the focus group method. Data were collected through 6 semi-structured group discussions held at the Undersecretary for Research and Technology, Ministry of Health and Medical Education, Tehran, Iran. For this study, 48 researchers were selected for the group discussions. All interviews and group discussions were recorded and transcribed. The Data analysis was performed simultaneously using Strauss and Corbin method. Based on content analysis, the necessary data elements identified for the National Health Research Information System designed for all databases were the following: organizations, researchers, journals, articles, research projects and dissertations. Also, extracted from the focus group discussion were three main themes regarding data elements of these databases for the National Health Research Information System: 1] essential elements for each database 2] the system's data elements accountability to the national indicators in the domain of health research and 3] recommendations in the direction of optimizing the data. The results obtained from this study can serve as a valuable source in designing research information system in the domain of health within the country and in the region as well

Designing a model for security requirements of electronic health records in Iran

Flourishing capacity of information technologies for collecting, storage and transmission unheard of amount of information creates a great deal of concerns for patients. Patients are worried over the access of numerous people to their electronic health records. To determine the security requirements of electronic health records for Iran. This descriptive study was carried out in 2007. Security requirements of electronic health records gathered from comparative study performed in Australia, Canada and England countries followed by designing the initial model. The final model was prepared through gathering the information by questionnaire and the use of Delphi Technique. The values under 50 percent were eliminated from the model and those equal or higher than 75 percent added to the model. The proposed model for Iran includes the requirements for organizing information, information classification, human resources, communication and operation management, and access control security. A comprehensive model of electronic health records security requirements was designed for Iran. The approval of this model by authorities for protecting the electronic health information security is recommended

comparative study on the job description of medical record professional in selected countries and submit a model

Organization, given that is a dynamic, flexible social phenomenon, which constantly changes. Therefore, categorizing plan of jobs would not be a stable phenomenon. Therefore, because the content of job alters with technical advances, it had better to examine specially at the time of an annual assessment, the job description. In addition, the chief of medical records unit should, as possible as, predicate future changes. The present paper is a practical descriptive-analogical research, so that the researcher comprised available job descriptions structures of [Health Information Management Associations] by checklist fully. Then, the draft was designed based on that analogy, put on the table to be criticized by medical records experts, finally, the last proposal designee would be offered. Job descriptions written by American Health Information Management enjoy the structure consists of job title, direct supervisor, main goal, responsibilities and competency. While Australian Health Information Association presents job descriptions comprising job code and class, unit name and supervisors as well as competency, and necessity conditions, and even times of work and rest. This association maintains to record performance indexes at the form of job description. Job description form, in Canadian Health Information Management Association is presented as assessment form of staffs, stating responsibility schedules and separated from job specification form. During double-stage screening of final draft, the researcher came to result that the job description form must include five dimensions as job title, its goal, its responsibilities, performance indexes, and job specification. The authorities believe that these features has the importance of 88%, 82%, 88%, 87%, 91%, respectively

[ comparative investigation of the access levels and confidentiality of medical document in Iran and selected countries]

Undoubtedly, the medical record is one of the most important documents containing the most sensitive information on the public health and treatment. As a matter of fact, protecting the confidentiality of the recorded information and the documents there in should be given top priority. Thus, given the importance of the confidentiality of medical document, and their impact on the better performance of hospitals, this study investigates the access levels and confidentiality of medical documents in Iran and selected countries and makes and effort to identify the existing gap. This study is a descriptive- comparative one which use a cross- sectional style. The research sample includes Canada, Australia, USA, and England. It is because these countries have made considerable progress in the confidentiality of medical documents. The study data were gathered via interned and communication with professionals and relevant organizations in the countries. In the case of Iran, the data were collected, using library studies. It is concluded that there is no integrated organization for the management of medical documents and the development of its standards. 1] The status of medical documents, confidentiality and access levels of medical documents in Iran are far from world standards. 2] the lack of consistency between the performance of medical documents in Iran hospitals and standard activities in developed countries has resulted in the gap between existing activities and stated purposes. 3] The countries under study have made great progress in confidentiality of medical record. It is evident that due to extended application of medical records for several intention including medical consultations, authentication in legal cases, third parties and health researches, addressing privacy principles is essential. Meanwhile utilization of records content for above mentioned objective also is important and it must be taking correct action while interference patient private and public right. With studied countries will be useful to develop and correct national health care rules for effective management of vital medical information