A Health Information System (HIS) is a data management system designed for healthcare. This includes systems that capture, store, administer, and distribute a patient’s electronic medical record, a hospital’s operational management, or a system that supports healthcare policy decisions.

This also includes systems that handle data related to the activities of physicians and health agencies. These may be seen as part of a larger initiative to enhance patient outcomes, provide more information for research purposes, and influence policy and decision-making. Security is a major concern of health information systems because they often access, process, or retain vast amounts of confidential data.