{"id":5269,"date":"2020-07-17T18:49:33","date_gmt":"2020-07-17T18:49:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.imegcorp.com\/?p=5269"},"modified":"2020-09-30T21:14:06","modified_gmt":"2020-09-30T21:14:06","slug":"health-information-technology-or-hit-what-is-it-really-and-why-does-it-impact-design","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/imegcorp.com\/insights\/blog\/health-information-technology-or-hit-what-is-it-really-and-why-does-it-impact-design\/","title":{"rendered":"Health Information Technology, or HIT: What is it, really, and why does it impact design?"},"content":{"rendered":"
By Corey\u00a0Gaarde<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n With literally thousands of definitions of\u00a0<\/span>h<\/span>ealth\u00a0<\/span>i<\/span>nformation\u00a0<\/span>t<\/span>echnology (HIT) surfacing from a simple Google search, it\u2019s\u00a0<\/span>not always easy to understand what HIT is, exactly, and how it<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>affect<\/span>s<\/span>\u00a0the design of a healthcare facility.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n In the design world, HIT is sometimes referred to as\u00a0<\/span>electronic health record<\/span>s<\/span>\u00a0(EHR)<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>such as Epic<\/span>\u00a0or Cerner; network; telecom; PCs, printers, and fax machines<\/span>;<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>low volta<\/span>ge<\/span>\u00a0systems;<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>and<\/span>\u00a0medical equipment.<\/span>\u00a0T<\/span>he\u00a0<\/span>best explanation of\u00a0<\/span>HIT<\/span>, however,<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>is one that\u00a0<\/span>encompasses\u00a0<\/span>all<\/span>\u00a0these\u00a0<\/span>IT aspects\u00a0<\/span>and more.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Still, each\u00a0<\/span>healthcare system and design team may have their own definition<\/span>\u00a0for HIT<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0so<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>when determining the vision and setting expectations for a facility\u00a0<\/span>it\u2019s important for\u00a0<\/span>designers, owners, and end users to be on the same page<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>To ensure this happens, following are several key considerations to keep in mind<\/span>:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Finally, never let t<\/span>he\u00a0<\/span>t<\/span>echnology\u00a0<\/span>itself<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>be\u00a0<\/span>a challenge to\u00a0<\/span>your facility\u2019s\u00a0<\/span>HIT<\/span>\u00a0design \u2013 it should be viewed as an enabler of a more advanced and capable system<\/span>, one that\u00a0<\/span>provides for<\/span>\u00a0an organization\u2019s current needs\u00a0<\/span>with<\/span>\u00a0b<\/span>uilt-in adaptability for the\u00a0<\/span>future<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n When design teams and owners are willing to challenge the norm and find creative solutions, they can ensure the success of HIT design\u00a0<\/span>regardless of how it may be defined.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n