Medical informatics business process reengineering methodology and tools

The redesign of business processes enables major improvements to be achieved in performance, cost, quality, and technical support services. Medical informatics will play a vital role in taking a systematic approach of using information technology to provide health care industry solutions. Several health care management consulting surveys estimate that on a national basis annual cost reductions of more than $36 billion are possible through the effective use of information technology. The main objectives of Business Process Reengineering (BPR) are as follows: develop new business processes that support and improve the delivery of services; Continually evaluate the enterprises' structure and operations to achieve more responsive systems; use new information technology methods, processes, and tools to reach desired organizational goals and optimize organizational functions, capabilities, and operations; develop long-range plans to support the business goals of the organization.