The Director of Health Information Management has been asked by the Board of Trustees to justify support for the use of handheld devices by the medical staff for point-of-service input. Which one of the following reasons would NOT be included in the Director's response?

• A. Improvement of data accuracy and timeliness
• B. Enhanced access to patient data at the point of care
• C. Cost savings from reduced desktop infrastructure
• D. Elimination of the need for expensive desktop computers

Answer: (D)

The main idea being tested is how handheld devices for point-of-care data input change the value proposition for health information management. They improve data accuracy and timeliness because clinicians enter information directly at the bedside, reducing transcription errors and delays. They also provide enhanced access to patient data at the point of care, which supports faster, more informed decision-making and better care coordination.

You’d expect the justification to note potential cost implications, such as savings from reducing some desktop infrastructure and the associated maintenance, rather than claiming a complete replacement of all desktop computers. That final claim isn’t realistic because many tasks still require desktops—for things like complex data analysis, printing, large-screen reviews, or systems that don’t run well on mobile devices. So the reason that would not fit the justification is the idea that handhelds would eliminate the need for expensive desktop computers entirely.