Health informatics combines the fields of medicine, information science and information technology to formulate various systems for generating, validating, securing and integrating health-related data. The purpose is to deliver effective to health care to patients. It involves bringing together various resources, techniques and systems to maximize the use of the wealth of medical knowledge, technological advances and drug breakthroughs that are available. It is used in a wide variety of health-related fields, including dentistry, pharmacy, nursing, medical research clinical care and public health.

Significance

Health informatics is sometimes called medical informatics. It encompasses the use of dedicated software, hardware devices and sophisticated computer networks with the capacity to gather, evaluate and transmit medical information. The items that are necessary for constructing such a system includes information technology, clinical directives, medical jargon and data storage. Medical informatics can be applied in various health settings, including rehabilitation centers, hospital care, general practice and primary care facilities.

Function

There are basically three areas in the health informatics field where the use of information systems may be used to create more operating efficiencies and effectiveness: clinical, administrative and medical information. For example, there is a tremendous emphasis on implementation of uniformed system for electronic medical records. Not only will it help cut health care cost, but also improve the overall quality of care to clients. In addition, it also has an impact on scheduling, billing, clinical research and the sharing of medical information.

Applications

There are many reasons for the continued growth and development of the health informatics profession. It has multiple application possibilities in delivering better and less expensive health care. Doctors can take advantage of a constantly expanding knowledge base that enables them to make better use of the latest information when making medical decisions.

This ability is further improved with the assistance of technology such as clinical decision support systems (CDSS), or electronic prescribing system, which abolishes the need for physicians to write prescriptions. It can also facilitate data mining, which provides information regarding thing like the effective of certain prescribe drugs. It may also help eliminate many prescription mistakes and lower the cost of treatments.

Objectives

One of the major push in the field of health informatics is to create a standard global process to health care. This would be accomplished by bringing together providers, researchers and patients to reap the benefits of health informatics. They will take advantage of cutting-edge methods, principles and rules to alter the way health care is currently delivered. Another purpose is to encourage the use of the best practices in the medical field.

Considerations

One of the main challenges in the health informatics field is the task of getting most health care providers to implement the various aspects of information technology into their day-to-day practices. Widespread implementation of health informatics could create a seamless and more complete health care system. It also provides assistance to providers in the area of problem solving, decision making, customer service and job performance. Health informatics also plays a prominent role in health law. The automation of personal medical data has legal implications related to operations and privacy.