History of Health Informatics.docx - 1 Significant Events...

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Significant Events That Shaped Informatics History
Health informatics can be defines as “The application of computer and information
science in all basic and applied biomedical sciences to facilitate the acquisition, processing,
interpretation, optimal use, and communication of health related data. The focus is the patient
and the process of care, and the goal is to enhance the quality and efficiency of care provided”
(Hebda & Czar, 2009). The field of health care informatics is still relatively new, but has seen
rapid growth in recent years. A large portion of the advancement in technology that has made
health care informatics possible has occurred in the past 50 years. Significant increases in the
amount of clinical data collected have rendered paper methods of record-keeping inefficient, and
difficult to utilize for clinical decision methods. This paper will briefly address the effect of five
items important in the history of health care informatics.
Technological Advances in Health Care
The development of health care informatics could not have occurred without the
advancement of computer technology, particularly digital computers, and information processing
methodology (Haux, 2010). Advancements in technology has allowed for advanced equipment
such as diagnostic imaging devices, robotic assisted surgery, and virtual intensive care
information systems. Advancements in health information management have made the use of
computerized decision support systems, streamlined electronic billing, bar coded medication
administration, and electronic medical records possible. There is a cascade effect in the
development of health care technology, where one discovery fuels the next (Deyo, 2002).
Advances in health informatics has improved communication of information between providers,
researchers, and regulatory agencies, allowing for advances in practice, technology, and data

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management. This allows for information sharing, global consulting, and also provides valuable
research information to health care research and epidemiology organizations (Deyo, 2002).