In this assessment, you will once again assume the role of a mid-level administrator within the Vila Health system. You have been asked to explore options in regard to informatics at Vila Health and determine whether the main Vila Health hospital should invest in interfacing all of their current systems with the possibility of transitioning the new health system acquisitions to this new interfaced system.

A key aspect of HIM systems is to ensure that all the different components are able to “talk” to each other. Health care is a system of different specializations and fields. For example, think about a busy hospital system. Consider all the different departments, from the admissions department to the billing department to hospital-wing nursing stations, all with their own unique functions. However, to help the organization as a whole, each department needs to be well connected. For health informatics, this means interfacing and connecting each department’s IT infrastructure.

Complete the Vila Health: Systems and Stakeholders interactive simulation, linked in the Resources. Research the information systems at one of Vila Health’s hospitals, and determine whether the hospital’s systems are sufficiently interfaced and interoperable, or whether upgrades are needed to those systems.

Requirements

Write an executive summary outlining the pros and cons of investing in interfacing the current HIM systems and presenting your system interface and transition recommendations.

Note: Remember that you can submit all—or a portion of—your draft executive summary to Smarthinking for feedback, before you submit the final version for this assessment. If you plan on using this free service, be mindful of the turnaround time of 24–48 hours for receiving feedback.

Document Format and Length

Format your executive summary using APA style.

Use the APA Style Paper Template, linked in the Required Resources. An APA Style Paper Tutorial is also provided (linked in the Suggested Resources) to help you in writing and formatting your executive summary. Be sure to include:

A title page and references page. An abstract is not required.

A running head on all pages.

Appropriate section headings.

Your executive summary should be 4 pages in length, not including the title page and references page.

Supporting Evidence

Use credible scholarly or professional evidence to support your conclusions.

Format all citations using APA style. Remember that an APA citation includes both the in-text citation (the author’s last name and the year of publication) and the full reference for the source.

Writing Your Executive Summary

Note: The requirements outlined below correspond to the grading criteria in the scoring guide. Be sure that your executive summary addresses each point, at a minimum. You may also want to read the HIM System Interfacing and Interoperability Scoring Guide to better understand how each criterion will be assessed.

Analyze the key characteristics of the different HIM systems, including applications, department-specific functions, and capabilities.

Consider the information needed to determine whether hospital systems are sufficiently interfaced and interoperable, or whether upgrades are needed.

Identify the HIM system components, infrastructure, and investment needs at each hospital.

Consider the information needed to determine whether hospital systems are sufficiently interfaced and interoperable, or whether upgrades are needed.

Identify the pros and cons of maintaining the existing systems, interfacing the existing HIM systems, or replacing all systems with a single, new HIM system.

What evidence supports your assertions and conclusions?

Make system interface recommendations based on HIM best practices.

What evidence supports your recommendations?

Best practices should be supported by current literature.

Write clearly and concisely, using correct grammar, mechanics, and APA formatting.

Express your main points and conclusions coherently.

Proofread your writing to minimize errors that could distract readers and make it more difficult for them to focus on the substance of your summary.