The Big Picture
Behind every patient chart is a team helping keep health information organized and protected. For Marta Lopez, HIM manager at CommonSpirit Holy Cross Hospitals, that work connects healthcare, business and technology—and protecting patient information is one of the most rewarding parts of her job.
What’s Happening
During a morning visit to Holy Cross Hospital–Mountain Point, Lopez offers a look at the work of the medical records team. She also manages medical records at Holy Cross Hospital–Jordan, Holy Cross Hospital–West Valley and Holy Cross Hospital–Salt Lake.
The team picks up patient charts each day, scans records into the electronic medical record and performs chart analysis. Team members also notify physicians when their records are incomplete. During the visit, staff member Monica is working on scanning charts into the electronic system.
Why It Matters
Medical records work extends beyond moving documents from paper to a screen. Reviewing charts and notifying physicians about incomplete records helps teams identify information that still needs attention. Protecting that information is another central responsibility—and a source of pride for Lopez.
As a health information professional, she values working at the intersection of healthcare, business and technology, where managing records goes hand in hand with safeguarding patient information.
The Bottom Line
Lopez and her team provide a behind-the-scenes look at an essential hospital function: collecting, digitizing and reviewing patient records while helping protect the information they contain. It’s daily work that puts health information professionals at the center of healthcare operations.