Canadian Health Information Management Association Practice Exam

What is considered a critical outcome of effective health information management?

1. Increased healthcare costs.

2. Improved patient safety and quality of care.

3. Decreased data accuracy.

4. Higher rates of patient errors.

The correct answer is: Improved patient safety and quality of care.

Improved patient safety and quality of care is seen as a critical outcome of effective health information management because it directly aligns with the primary goal of the healthcare system: to provide safe, effective, and high-quality care to patients. Effective health information management ensures that patient data is accurate, up-to-date, and readily accessible to healthcare providers. This facilitates better decision-making, reduces the risk of errors, and enhances communication among care teams. When health information is properly managed, clinicians can make more informed treatment decisions, leading to better diagnostic accuracy and improved patient outcomes. Additionally, tracking data over time allows for the identification of trends and issues in patient care, which can help in implementing quality improvement initiatives. The ultimate benefit is a higher standard of care, fewer adverse events, and greater overall patient safety. The other options do not align with the goals of effective health information management: increased healthcare costs, decreased data accuracy, and higher rates of patient errors all indicate poor management of health information, which would negatively impact patient care and safety.