1. Information Governance in the Healthcare Industry 1
Information Governance in the Healthcare Industry
Amber Guy
USC Upstate, HIMS 302
August 30, 2015

2. Information Governance in the Healthcare Industry 2
Information Governance in the Healthcare Industry
“Big Data- the ability to collect, process, and interpret massive amounts of information-
is one of today’s most important technological drivers (Rooney, 2012).” Data Management is an
ever-growing concern in the healthcare industry now more than ever before due to the
advancement of technology and the speed of which large amounts of data can reach various
entities around the world in just mere seconds. The need to handle large amounts of data
proficiently, effectively, and professionally, has also increased and are of the utmost importance
to both patients and professionals alike within the healthcare industry. Along with the
advancement of technology, it has become easy to access and steal a person’s personal
information at the touch of a button which consequently has escalated the need for security
protocols to be put into practice to prevent such acts from happening.
Not all healthcare institutions are prepared to handle this overflow of data. Possibly due
to using outdated IT systems and programs to receive data, or by not knowing enough about
analytics to harness the data and use it effectively. During a survey, conducted in 2012, of thirty
C-level executives, 47% of the healthcare executives surveyed stated that “their organizations
cannot interpret and translate the information (data) into actionable insight” (Lewis, 2012).
Actionable insight can be described as a piece of data, or information, used to assist a group or
individual make an informed decision. Actionable insight integrates amounts of data together to
create a concise affirmation. The survey also proclaimed that 40% of those healthcare executives
stated “their current systems aren’t designed to meet the specific needs of the industry” (Lewis,
2012). Based on the survey, with the vastness of data and the speed it is being sent to various

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entities, it seems as though the healthcare industry is being bombarded with an immenseness of
information that it cannot keep up with, therefore sinking in the area of data management.
The American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) declares that they
have the answer to the challenges facing the healthcare industry in the area of data management,
with the creation of their information governance initiative. In the short video produced by
AHIMA for their initiative, the organization professes that the healthcare industry is constantly
trying to stay afloat in the ever-increasing flow of information, and its demand for greater
accuracy, integrity, reliability, availability and security. The video proclaims that AHIMA is
working to promote and implement information governance in the healthcare industry and
beyond, to harness the flood of information and start growth toward the future. AHIMA defines
information governance as an organization- wide framework for managing information
throughout its life-cycle and supporting the organization’s strategy, operations, regulatory, legal
risk and environmental risks. Their website declares that information governance helps manage
and control information by supporting the organization’s activities and ensuring compliance with
its duties. AHIMA states that there is a difference between governance and management;
“governance sets organizational goals, direction, and limitations, whereas management oversees
the day-to-day operations of the organization”. Being that the initiative can be used by any
healthcare organization, AHIMA has created eight principles or standards for an organization to
adhere to for their own information governance program. These eight principles are known as the
“Information Governance Principles for Healthcare (IGPHC)” and are as follows: the principle of
accountability, transparency, integrity, protection, compliance, availability, retention and
disposition.

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While information governance is a great concept, the challenge is getting healthcare
institutions to actually implement the principles and standards laid before them. Institutions are
aware and realize that data control is an issue and of great concern, but many have not yet
established any sort of design or program to control, govern, or harness the information they are
receiving. This in turn leaves data out in the open, which can be extremely harmful and
dangerous. Data that is not controlled can have dire consequences for all parties involved.
Implementing the IGPHC principles should be a priority and a non-negotiable aspect in every
healthcare organization.
Another concern is the cost factor in implementing an information governance program.
An institution will have to update or start using an entirely new system, or software, to make sure
that they can control and handle the data that is coming into their establishment. In doing so, the
organization may have to look into their budget to see if this is applicable; with smaller facilities,
they may not having the capability of doing so, in turn creating a major concern. There will also
be an increased cost for security protocols and systems to be put into place, to help regulate the
data and keep all information safe from unauthorized entities both inside and outside of the
institution. The management and up keep of these systems may come at a higher price as well,
depending on the size of the establishment.
With the increase in data there is also a need for an increase in storage space. Healthcare
facilities will have to know what information needs to be stored and what information can be
discarded. Since information is being stored electronically now more than ever, having programs
powerful enough to hold such large amounts of data is crucial to an institution’s success. I
commend AHIMA for taking the first step in implementing a strategy to handle the overflow of
data and its’ management within the healthcare industry. They provided the first stepping stone

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towards the future and now it is up to every healthcare organization to step up in the area of data
control to create a better future for patients, for healthcare workers, and for the healthcare
industry at large.

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References
Lewis,N.(2012, July24). PoorDataManagementCostsHealthcareProviders. Retrievedfrom
InformationWeek.com:http://www.informationweek.com/healthcare/clinical-information-
systems/poor-data-management-costs-healthcare-providers/d/d-id/1105481?
Rooney,B.(2012, Janurary 19). Health CareIs NextFrontier forBig Data. Retrieved fromThe Wall Street
Journal : http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052970204468004577169073508073892
www.ahima.org