Business Info. Systems- MultiCare

Business information systems are becoming a more and more important part of today's society in every area and field. However, one field that has been hesitant to delve into the depths of technology has been the medical field. While the medical field is about its patients and about health, it is also a business and is still in need of deriving profit and efficiency. A hospital’s customer service is more important than any other businesses’ customer service. If a hospital fails to listen to their patients and keep a close eye on allergies and negative drug reactions, their customers could end up dying on their watch. So, while reading articles and researching business information systems, I came across an article in The News Tribune about new advancements in the medical field using information systems. This information system that hospitals are beginning to use centralizes around barcodes, something that is in use in nearly every store around the country. While other hospitals are beginning to implement this system, the article focuses on a company called MultiCare and their investment of $140 million into implementing this new technology. When a doctor, nurse, or any one of the medical professionals enters the room to check on a patient, a quick and simple scan of a barcode on the patient's wrist allows that medical professional to be entirely up to date on that patient's medical records in the blink of an eye. These records include anything that has been entered into the system by any of their care providers. Before a patient is given a drug or prescription, a simple scan of the drug into the computer allows an instant double check on up-to-date records on dosage, doctors orders, and health records.
While this system will save the medical business time and money, it is also beneficial in preventing detrimental errors. Since the year 2000 the voluntary reports of medication errors came in around 95,000. The concern of many is that, as a voluntary report, the actual occurrence of medication errors is thought to be much higher. This new computer system is predicted to minimize those numbers and prevent a lot of malpractice lawsuits, which will save money for hospitals and doctors, but also, in situations like this it is not always the dollars that matter, but providing patient safety is a priceless decision. Another great step of this information system allows the opportunity for patients to review their own records from home using software they're already familiar with such as Microsoft or Google. With the medical field and their patients, all having access to the same information and having the safeguards in place, it is not only brilliant business plan but a greatly needed increase in care and safety. However, further discussing the business side, this software is also able to handle patients accounts as well as billing. With any business, incorporating multiple facets of a business into one all-encompassing computer system that increases efficiency and safety as well as maintaining the most up-to-date records and billing, is always a brilliant business strategy.

Kearsley, Kelly. “Better Medicine with Barcodes.” The News Tribune. February 7, 2010
http://www.thenewstribune.com/business/story/1060474.html