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Frequently
Asked Questions (FAQs) Health
informatics What
is public health informatics? Why
is health information technology and health informatics important
for public health? What
are some public health informatics careers? What
is the difference between Bioinformatics and Computational Biology? What are various types of technology in public Health? One of the primary motivators for adopting many public health IT applications is the belief that they improve the quality of patient/consumer care. Yet, further research is needed to better document and understand the link between IT and quality, especially in the public heath care setting. When reading think the interoperability challenges among varying technologies from various vendors. Interoperability: refers to electronic communication among organizations so that the data in one IT system can be incorporated into another. Discussions of interoperability focus on development of standards for content and messaging, among other areas, and development of adequate security and privacy safeguards. Electronic health record (EHR): EHRs were originally envisioned as an electronic file cabinet for patient data from various sources (eventually integrating text, voice, images, handwritten notes, etc.). Now they are generally viewed as part of an automated order-entry and patient-tracking system providing real-time access to patient data, as well as a continuous longitudinal record of their care. Computerized provider order entry (CPOE): CPOE in its basic form is typically a medication ordering and fulfillment system. More advanced CPOE will also include lab orders, radiology studies, procedures, discharges, transfers, and referrals. Clinical decision support system (CDSS): CDSS provides physicians and nurses with real-time diagnostic and treatment recommendations. The term covers a variety of technologies ranging from simple alerts and prescription drug interaction warnings to full clinical pathways and protocols. CDSS may be used as part of CPOE and EHR. Picture archiving and communications system (PACS): This technology captures and integrates diagnostic and radiological images from various devices (e.g., x-ray, MRI, computed tomography scan), stores them, and disseminates them to a medical record, a clinical data repository, or other points of care electronically capture information encoded on a product. Initially, it will be used for medication (for example, matching drugs to patients by using bar codes on both the medications and patients arm bracelets), but other applications may be pursued, such as medical devices, lab, and radiology. Radio frequency identification (RFID): This technology tracks patients throughout the hospital, and links lab and medication tracking through a wireless communications system. It is neither mature nor widely available, but may be an alternative to bar coding. Automated dispensing machines (ADMs): This technology distributes medication doses. Electronic materials management (EMM): Health care organizations use EMM to track and manage inventory of medical supplies, pharmaceuticals, and other materials. This technology is similar to enterprise resource planning systems used outside of health care. How will individual privacy be protected if public records are placed on a local, state, or national computerized network? Individual
health information and overall privacy is protected under The
Health Insurance Portability & Accountability Act (Public
Law 104-191) of 1996, which began taking effect in the fall of
2002 and that calls for the protection of confidentiality and
security of health data through setting and enforcing standards.
Additionally, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) CFR 21 Part
11 regulations apply to any electronic records. Each local organization
is responsible for protecting Health information (e.g., patient/individual
privacy). Because each organization has a different technical
infrastructure, proper security for the storing, transmitting,
receiving, electronic health records is the individual organization
responsibility. However, various government agencies and organizations
(e.g., FDA, NCVHS, American Health Information Management Association
(AHIMA), AMIA, CHIM, CHIME, and HIMSS) have created recommendations
to assist organization maintain proper and effective security
provisions to protect an individual health information. Some of
these recommendations may fall in the domain of audit, computer
network control, access control, data authentication, etc. Example
recommendations are as follows: How do I find out about what is happening in my state and my organization in the area of informatics? Many state colleges/universities have information about informatics that pertains to their particular state. Particular informatics activity differ between organizations. One place to start is the department in the organization that is responsible for computer related services such as patient medical records, clinical information management, etc.
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