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Information Governance Becomes an HIM Priority

By Stephanie Donovan, MBA, RHIA

Information governance (IG) is defined as “the specification of decision rights and an accountability framework to ensure appropriate behavior in the valuation, creation, storage, use, archiving, and deletion of information. It includes the processes, roles and policies, standards, and metrics that ensure the effective and efficient use of information in enabling an organization to achieve its goals,” according to Gartner. As health care organizations become more complex and information sharing proliferates, IG is a priority more than ever before. IG programs are driven by several factors, some of which include mitigating privacy and security breaches and supporting systems changes resulting from ICD-10. AHIMA is leading the industry in IG, having recently published a white paper, prepared by Cohasset Associates in conjunction with AHIMA, describing the findings from the first major survey of IG practices at health care organizations. This IG Benchmarking White Paper is free to download and accessible at http://research.zarca.com/survey.aspx?k=SsURPPsUPQsPsPsP&lang=0&data=.

The white paper highlights four key findings and recommendations. The first finding reveals, “Overall, IG programs are less prevalent and less mature in health care organizations than is warranted, given the importance of information.“ One solution to remedy this challenge is to “educate stakeholders on the importance of establishing an overarching IG program to expand the benefits of interdisciplinary collaboration.” The paper states, “most organizations have not yet established a comprehensive strategy for information governance.” To remedy this problem, Cohasset Associates recommends “engaging executives in establishing priorities for the IG implementation strategy.” The third takeaway concludes that the “information governance framework and its foundational components call for strengthening and expansion.” The paper suggests the solution may be “regularly training all employees on IG components with a strong emphasis on the benefits of IG to the organization.” Lastly, Cohasset Associates recommends “establishing interdepartmental teams to develop and apply reasonable, workable IG practices to newer technologies and information types” to improve information lifecycle management practices related to core functions.

What role do HIM professionals have in implementing or strengthening an IG plan? In the conclusion of AHIMA’s six-part Web series on IG 101, HIM professionals are advised to begin the process by conducting an assessment of the IG environment “to identify current needs and ‘pain points’ so that appropriate prioritizations can be made within the strategic plan.” To conduct a proper assessment, the Web series suggests HIM professionals perform the following:

Demand Analysis: Identify successes, issues, and barriers to meeting the organizational needs for information and, ultimately, business intelligence; could involve user/customer survey tools to ascertain the demand for IG.
Data Assessment: Where is the data, who are its stewards, what data do you get back, and how is it validated and used (consumer comparison websites, registries)?
Trust Assessment: Do stakeholders trust the data? Where are the perceived information trust issues?
Governance Infrastructure Assessment: Are there information standards, policies and procedures, audits, or controls in place to ensure an effective IG program? Assess what information management policies are in place and which are absent.
Inventory Management Assessment: How well does the organization track its information assets?
Information Management Resource Assessment: This should include an objective (and perhaps independent) leadership assessment with regard to enterprise information management (EIM). How well is the organization resourced for successful EIM? Does staff have proper resources, training, and tools to deploy an effective EIM program?

To learn more about IG and for access to IG case studies, visit www.ahima.org/topics/infogovernance?tabid=overview.

— Stephanie Donovan, MBA, RHIA, is an assistant professor and faculty chair of health programs at Peirce College in Philadelphia.