2. Health Informatics Definition: The study, development, and implementation of computer science, information science, and healthcare. Improves: communication, understanding and management of medical information. Objective: to gather all information about the patients to be stored and retrieved in an easier manner, making it less expensive to deal with. Used: in nursing, dentistry, pharmacy, clinical care, public health, and biomedical research.
3. THE HISTORY BEHIND IT 1949: first seen by Gustav Wager in Germany. 1960’s: training programs in France and throughout Europe until it reached the United States ten years later. 1980’s: the practitioners used several computers on the same patient database. 1995: networked computers and databases began to facilitate free-flowing health care information. Currently: a necessary tool to have in just about every health care facility.
4. AROUND THE GLOBE Australia, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, and the United Kingdom: they have spent their focus on developing an Electronic Medical Record. South Africa and the United States: many struggles related to developing a unique patient identifier. All: using smart card technology by their patients to receive their medical information.
5. OBAMA’S HEALTH CARE PLAN Invest in electronic health information technology systems $10 billion a year for the next five years to move the U.S. health care system Ensure the protection of patients’ privacy.
7. Telemedicine and mHealth Creating, storing, sending medical data instantly Improves care, health of patients mHealth – Mobile Health Information Technology Uses cell phones, portable devices
8. Personal Health Records User-based log of medical history Online Browser-based or mobile Viewable by doctors More insight, less hassle
9. Medical Cards Wallet-sized cards can serve as medical ID Medical info and records stored digitally Less paperwork, quicker process Community Health Networkhas used such cards since 2008
10. Medical Cards cont. Battery-powered LCD Screen cards also available EMI 911 rCard Charts, text, full-colorphotos, easily accessible USB connection to upload medical info
11. Medical Cards - Risks Card could be lost Damage from wear and tear, water Info could be compromised, stolen False Advertising
12. VeriChip Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) microchip implanted between shoulder/elbow Scanned using reader, shows datasuch as medical records Fast, useful for emergencies
13. VeriChip - Concerns Violation of Civil Liberties Tracking by government, corporations? Anyone with reader could view personal info Data is unencrypted Could cause cancer
15. Data Integration & Analytics Information sharing Compare Assess Monitor Visualize early warning trends Disease Side-effects Bioterrorism
16. Positives Eradicates illegible handwriting Faster and easier information sharing Personalized health information portals Improved quality of care Fewer hospital visits
