What is Information Management in General Practice?

Information Management describes the means by which an organisation efficiently plans, collects, organises, uses, controls, disseminates and disposes of its information, and through which it ensures that the value of that information is identified and exploited to the fullest extent.  Information technology is a means through which health information can be efficiently and effectively managed and utilised.

In General Practice this focuses on the better management of information that can assist in promoting improved clinical, patient and practice outcomes.

How can IM in GP help?

Information Management in General Practice can provide additional functionality that may be avaliable and not being used, such as:

Electronic data avaliability and exchange e.g. online pathology/radiology ordering and reporting; use of electronic forms (referrals, workers compensation, etc)

Patient information databases e.g. patient registers including patient age, sex and disease; recall and reminder systems

Electronic diagnosis and treatment support e.g. drug-drug interaction alerts; patient medication and clinical histories

Practice administration and management e.g. electronic staff rosters/pays, billing and claiming; stock ordering on-line; for GST Business Activity Statements

Contribution to research activity e.g. adverse drug reporting; electronic contributions to approved clinical research activities

For example, the Chronic Disease Management New Budget PIP Initiatives

Diabetes Initiative

1. Practice Incentive Payment (PIP) = $1000 per Full Time Equivalent (FTE) GP for Diabetes Register and Recall System. 
2. Service Incentive Payment (SIP) = $40 per diabetic patient for annual program of care.
3. Outcome payment = $20 per diabetic patient for target levels of care.                                                                                                        

Information Management can assist by utilising:

• Electronic patient registers, including patient age, sex and disease, along with recall and reminder systems. 
• On-line pathology ordering, reporting and integration into electronic clinical record, i.e. to manage HbA1c monitoring (included in Outcomes Component of PIP - $20 per SWPE)

Asthma Initiative

1. PIP = $250 per FTE for sign-on to Asthma "3+ Visit Plan".
2. SIP = $100 per asthma patient for completing Asthma "3+ Visit Plan".

Information Management can assist by utilisting:

• Electronic patient registers, including patient age, sex and disease, along with recall and reminder systems.
• Electronic Health Care Plans ($100 for each Asthma "3+ Visit Plan").