What is Health Informatics?

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Posted on 2010-03-30 in Careers

Health Informatics - What is it?

BSc in Health Informatics - University of Limerick

Health Informatics - What is it?

In no area of life is information more critical than in health. 'Health care today is characterized by more to know, more to manage, more to watch, more to do, and more people involved in doing it' (Institute of Medicine, 2001).

Errors in health systems are often reported in the media. Many of these are initiated by misinformation, miscommunication, misfiling, mishandling, misplacing, mislabelling, while some others are simply due to inadequate or inappropriate resource allocation.

'There are estimated to be over 1.2 million doctorpatient interactions in major hospitals in Ireland each year. Statistics from other countries indicate that 10% of patients' experiences of healthcare systems can result in adverse events, with possibly one per cent having fatal consequences' (irishhealth.com, April 2009).

There appears 'to be no precise figures for Ireland at present outlining the true incidence of adverse events directly related to treatment. Medication errors increased from 5,436 to 6,785 while treatment incidents increased from 3,808 to 5,373' and the 'number of reported records/documentation errors increased from 2,650 to 5,070 last year' (irishhealth.com, April 2009).

'Our current methods of organizing and delivering care are unable to meet the expectations of patients and their families because the science and technologies involved in health care - the knowledge, skills, care interventions, devices and drugs - have advanced more rapidly than our ability to deliver them safely, effectively, and efficiently' (Institute of Medicine, 2001).

There is now widespread international consensus and a growing body of evidence that information and communications technology (ICT) has the real potential to enable the delivery of a high-quality health care system where 'the right patient, receives the right treatment, at the right time, for the right reason, in the right location, with the right outcome in real time, at the right price' (http://endingthedocumentgame.gov/report.html).

Within the processes of health care such as diagnosis, prognosis, patient management, treatment and discharge, computer systems and information systems may be used by health care professionals (from allergists to oncologists to surgeons), patients and their families to inform their decision-making. Likewise systems of this nature are being used by managers and planners who focus on how to improve the delivery of this care within and across health care organisations.

Digital and mobile technologies are revolutionising health care delivery, providing health care professionals with access to your integrated health care information at the point of need. But health informatics involves more than just the technology - more than just using ICT to provide key stakeholders and allied health care professionals (such as health insurance providers, medical device and drug manufacturing companies) with access to accurate, timely and secure information.

Health informatics also encompasses:

*analysing current activities and processes within health care delivery systems
*taking a scientific approach to information which includes how we represent data, information and knowledge within systems, how we communicate this knowledge within the practice of health care and how we manage and measure the outcomes
*liaising with health care professionals to identify their requirements and expressing these requirements in a form that facilities the delivery of solutions that match strategic health care needs
*designing, developing, testing and deploying information systems and computer systems to primarily support electronic health record management, patient monitoring, medical imaging, health care decision-making, medical diagnostics, telemedicine and telehealth care, performance improvement, billing and scheduling
*applying best practices in project management in health care settings
*evaluating the opportunities and limitations of ICT and of its impact in improving the efficiency and costeffectiveness of health care
*utilising business intelligence tools where the focus is on finding and extracting useful patterns of information to gain a deeper understanding of health care issues and needs e.g. how different types of patients respond best to different treatments.

All the while being cognisant of the fact that health informatics is not solely a technical discipline but focuses on the relationship between the technology and its use in real-world settings i.e. solutions are designed in context, taking into account the social, ethical, cultural, legal and regulatory factors and the organisational settings in which ICT will be used in health care sectors.

...but where can I find employment?

The health informatics specialist will:

· formulate, plan and implement health care information technology strategy
· engage with a range of stakeholders including health care professionals and information technology professionals to identify the need for communication, information and knowledge systems in a variety of health care settings
· express these requirements in a form that facilities the delivery of solutions that match strategic health care needs
· develop, deploy and manage health information systems and computer systems
· undertake the acquisition, analysis and management of health care data, information and knowledge using ICT
· conduct training demonstrations, workshops and research

Since health informatics covers a broad spectrum of applications in the areas of patient care, health education, research and administration there are many opportunities for graduates to work in different settings within:

· Health informatics and medical software companies e.g. Cerner, dabl, Exodus Software, GE Healthcare, Helix Health, iAppLogic, Intelligent Health Systems, iSoft, Lincor Solutions, Quantum Health, Spacelabs Healthcare
· ICT-based companies that develop health care software applications as part of their activities e.g. Cisco, Google, HP, IBM, Intel, Microsoft, Oracle, Philips, SAP
· Hospitals and other health care organisations
· Pharmaceutical companies and medical device companies
· Government and non-governmental agencies
· Public health organisations
· Consultancy companies
· Education and research

Typical employment roles include:

· Health Care IT Project Manager
· Health Systems Developer
· Health/Clinical Information Manager
· Health/Clinical Information Analyst
· Clinical Information Systems Specialist
· Health Information Security Manager
· Human Factors Specialist
· Health Care Webmaster
· Health Care IT Strategist
· Health Systems Trainer
· Quality Improvement Coordinator
· Systems Administrator
· Academic/Researcher

… and where can I find a course?

If you are interested in making a difference to the lives of patients/clients and the health care professionals who treat them, enjoy working with others, like problem solving, critical thinking and using computers you may wish to consider applying for the BSc in Health Informatics (Course code: LM023).

Further information on these programmes can be obtained by contacting:

Annette McElligott
Tel: 061-202724
Email: annette.mcelligott@ul.ie
or by visiting http://www.csis.ul.ie/course/LM023/