In many implementations, a HIS is a comprehensive, integrated information system designed to manage all the aspects of a hospital's operation, such as medical, administrative, financial, and legal issues and the corresponding processing of services.
These systems enhance the ability of health care professionals to coordinate care by providing a patient's health information and visit history at the place and time that it is needed.
Patient's laboratory test information also includes visual results such as X-ray, which may be reachable by professionals.
Hospital information systems are often composed of one or several software components with specialty-specific extensions, as well as of a large variety of sub-systems in medical specialties from a multi-vendor market.
[citation needed] Potential benefits of hospital information systems include: