Introduction
As a newly emerged concept and a product of the twenty-first century, health information governance (HIG) is expanding at a rapid rate. The necessity of information governance in the healthcare industry is evident, given the significance of health information and the current need to manage it. This scoping review aims to identify the dimensions and components of HIG to discover how these factors impact the enhancement of healthcare systems and services.
Defining Health Information Governance
Health information governance can be defined as an enterprise-wide accountability framework that promotes appropriate behavior when handling information-related matters in the healthcare industry. It encompasses the processes, rules, standards, and criteria that guarantee an organization’s effective and efficient use of information to achieve its goals. HIG also covers the entire information life cycle, including how information is created, stored, used, archived, and discarded. Additionally, this concept determines who should have access to specific information, when, and how.
Importance of HIG in Healthcare
The healthcare industry is rapidly evolving, and many new demands are emerging, among which there is a fundamental need for accurate and applicable information. The value and importance of information in health organizations stem from their dual missions and goals. Health data and patient information are regarded as valuable sources for researchers to enhance healthcare provision in terms of efficiency, safety, and quality.
Effective management and control of data and information in health organizations are regarded as core fundamental requirements. Timely and effective management of crucial information constitutes a pillar of support for any healthcare organization. In this regard, most organizations have devoted time and resources to the development of information governance systems to provide specific solutions at any time or location.
Existing HIG Frameworks and Models
Several countries, such as England, Canada, Australia, and the United States, have developed and implemented HIG models. The Information Governance Principles for Healthcare (IGPHC) and the associated maturity model, developed in 2014 by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA), are among the most recent and comprehensive efforts in this field. IGPHC is a framework that includes eight fundamental principles for HIG.
Apart from the models presented and used by the pioneering countries, no other comprehensive resources were found for studying and obtaining ideas for using or developing novel models of HIG. Indeed, despite the booming growth of the healthcare industry, concerns have been raised about the lack of information governance programs.
Scoping Review Methodology
This scoping review was conducted based on the five steps outlined by Arksey and O’Malley: (1) formulating the research question, (2) searching for relevant literature, (3) selection of eligible studies, (4) data extraction, and (5) analyzing and describing the results. The search strategy involved keywords related to “information governance” and “health” in various electronic databases, including PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, ProQuest, and Google Scholar.
After the literature search and selection process, 37 articles were identified for in-depth analysis and information extraction. The selected articles included 18 review, 9 qualitative, and 10 mixed-method studies. The content analysis was conducted using MAXQDA 2020 software, and the findings were organized into six main themes or components.
HIG Components and Dimensions
The six main components identified from the review are:
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HIG Goals: Providing high-quality healthcare, ensuring data security and privacy, meeting legal obligations, fostering trust, and achieving organizational objectives.
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Advantages and Applications of HIG: Cost containment and economic growth, healthcare quality and availability, healthcare management and policymaking, trust building, and knowledge management.
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HIG Principles: Transparency, accountability, integrity, protection, compliance, availability, retention, disposal, consent, participation, continuous quality improvement, independence and justice, and effectiveness and efficiency.
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HIG Components or Elements: Laws and standards, policies and guidelines, information management, data governance, IT governance, information security governance, risk management, human resource management, quality management, project and change management, and auditing.
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HIG Roles and Responsibilities: Defined at the organizational senior, middle, and operational levels, including executive directors, information governance program managers, core teams, information asset managers, data managers, and operational-level staff.
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HIG Processes: Assessing strategic options, formulating policies, developing plans, and tracking progress, including asset assessment, risk assessment, capability assessment, criterion assessment, policy development and implementation, internal and external validation, monitoring and change management, stakeholder support, results assessment, and reporting.
Insights and Implications
Based on the findings of this scoping review, HIG should be regarded as a necessity in the health systems of various countries, particularly in developing and underdeveloped countries, to improve and achieve their goals. Moreover, in light of the undesirable effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the development and implementation of HIG models at organizational, national, and international levels are among the pressing concerns.
The comprehensive framework presented in this review can serve as a valuable resource for researchers and policymakers interested in developing or improving HIG models. By understanding the various dimensions and components of HIG, stakeholders can make informed decisions and prioritize solutions to enhance the performance and effectiveness of healthcare systems.
Conclusion
The rapid growth and significance of health information governance highlight the urgent need for comprehensive models and frameworks to manage and optimize the use of healthcare data and information. This scoping review has provided a detailed exploration of the existing HIG frameworks, their underlying theories, and the dimensions and components that characterize effective HIG programs. The insights gained from this review can guide healthcare organizations and policymakers in strengthening their information governance practices, ultimately leading to improved healthcare outcomes and increased trust in the healthcare system.
