Computers in Healthcare

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Medical informatics has many definitions. The common emphasis in all definitions is on the use of technology to organize information in health care. That information includes patient records, diagnostic, expert or decision support systems, and therapies. Medical informatics is an interdisciplinary science “underlying the acquisition, maintenance, retrieval, and application of biomedical knowledge and information to improve patient care, medical information, and health science research.” The tool used to perform these tasks is the computer. Why is it necessary for a future healthcare professional to be familiar with computer? There are several reasons of using computer in healthcare. A few are bioinformatics, which uses computers to solve biological problems; dental informatics, which combines computer technology with dentistry to create a basis for research, education, and the solution of real-world problems in dentistry; and nursing informatics, which uses computers to support nurses. Public health informatics uses computer technology to support public health practice, research, and learning. Currently one important focus of medical informatics is the integration of hospital information systems (HIS), so that radiological images, for example, are available in real time in the operating room. Once the system in one institution is integrated, another important focus of medical informatics is creating regional and then national (and even international) interoperability (the connection of people and diverse computer systems). The application of computer technology continues to contribute to the achievement of these goals. What are the three difference between an EMR, EHR, and a PHR? There are specific differences between the EMR and EHR. The EMR belongs to one health care institution—a doctor’s office or hospital; it must be

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