Geisinger and Information Technologies:

Advancing Information Access for everyone.

Geisinger has a vast array of health care providing facilities throughout the northern region of Pennsylvania. I have several siblings, and other relations that interact with them as a basis of employment, but mostly rely on their systems for their healthcare needs. Geisinger does provide all needs as well from a tooth pulled out to a baby pulled out, they do it all.



With so much capability they have many records that need to be tracked for every kind of reason. Though as a practical standpoint, one always wants to keep their bills and transactions in order. Going much further than  that though, records are kept to further benefit the patient and doctor in advancing care. Many records are kept just to keep track of the productivity of doctors and nurses. For instance, within their system of information management called Teradata, records are easily accessible to provide a level of care above competitors, to grant Geisinger that competitive advantage.

All types of data are kept in relational databases, such that a very small number of people have access to the full scope of information left. The data are used to figure out the average time you spend waiting in an office visit, how much time you actually get to talk to a doctor, and helps in analysis of waist within the hospital.

A place online to review what you talked to your doctor about, and get more information.

Also available to patients is an online record of your visits and what happened at those visits. Though an online website you can see a lot of useful information to help you understand your diagnosis and information reviewed by your doctor on a weekly basis. Through this system too you can update information with at home networked devices, like a scale to keep you and your doctor up to date on your weight, and other life saving monitoring devices. It's a great way to of advancing your understanding of medication, conditions, and treatments by giving you links to their descriptions provided and reviewed by your doctor. This insures credibility in the link, and adds value to the care provided at Geisinger.

Geisinger also was one of the first to implement a EHR (electronic health record) standard. Currently shared with a network of 5 other care providers withing Pennsylvania and into neighboring states to make sure you don't get charged twice, and provide better care regardless of where you go to get care.

The information systems field has healthcare to look toward as it's current greatest opportunity because of mandates set in place by the Obama healthcare bill many companies are already taking advantage of the gap in the market in reliable data warehousing and information management services. Because currently Geisinger is networked in a small region relative to the size of the country, then eventually the world, it leaves a lot of growth and employment opportunity for information system professionals. Getting in now, is getting in on the ground floor for a vast explosion of these skills in the market.