Information Technology and Health Informatics
Information Technology and Health Informatics
Information technology is the terminology used to describe all forms of technological applications in designing the encoding of information (or data), managing, to using the information according to the needs of an organization. In contrast, health informatics streamline technological application of information pertaining to the health care setting. Specifically, health informatics is defined as “the knowledge, skills and tools which enable information to be collected, managed, used and shared to support the delivery of healthcare and promote health” .
Give examples from your work experiences of clinical information systems, administrative information systems and decision support systems in healthcare delivery.
Clinical information systems are technology-based data systems designed primarily to serve the needs of clinicians in their role and responsibilities of addressing patient care. As for administrative information systems, the design of the computer-based system is to input, manage, and use data pertaining to the administration of human resources (compensation, benefits, and personnel information). Finally, decision support systems in health care delivery are deemed to cater to the needs of decision-making processes of health care organizations; especially those pertaining to patient care (kinds of interventions required according to illnesses, laboratory and diagnostic examinations required, as well as series of patient assessments needed according to manifested health conditions).
Describe EHRs that you have encountered
The Electronic Health Records (EHRs) that have been encountered include the documenting of crucial information regarding the delivery of patient care. As observed, it included encoding of all information from the time the patient is admitted to the health care institution, seen and administered by physicians, interventions and medications prescribed and provided, until discharge with prescribed take home medications, for reference and continued evaluation). Future consultations and admissions of patients are facilitated through viewing historical records from the EHR.
Reference
NHS. (2014). Health Informatics Defined. Retrieved from connectingforhealth.nhs.uk: http://www.connectingforhealth.nhs.uk/systemsandservices/icd/informspec/careerplan/phi/about/hid
