Post on 29-Dec-2015
Health Informatics:A Global Perspective
Tara Douglas-Williams, MSLSAtlanta Medical Center
Georgia Health Sciences Library Association
March 7, 2008
Topics to Discuss
• Introduction to Health Informatics
• Global/Public Health
• Medical Informatics & Health
Science Librarianship
• Challenges & Opportunities
Informatics
Informatics includes the science of information, the
practice of information processing, and the engineering of
information systems. - Wikipedia
Nursing
Public
Bio
Pharmacy
Dental
Clinical
Health
Consumer
Health Informatics (Medical Informatics)
The intersection of information science,
computer science and health care.
HEALTH
ComputerScience Information
Science
Math
Medical Informatics
• Has been defined as the art and science
of organizing knowledge of human health
and disease and making it accessible and
useful for problem solving
• The internet is truly the defining
information structure of the global village.Bull Med Libr Assoc 84(1);1996:11-16
The Informatics of health care reform
Health Informatics
Tools include:
• clinical guidelines
• medical terminologies
• information systems
• communication systems
Global Organizations
• World Health Organization (WHO)
www.who.int/en
• US Healthy People 2010
www.health.gov/healthypeople
• CDC Global Health website www.cdc.gov/ogh
Public Health
• Health promotion and disease prevention is an aspect of public health practice that can be dramatically transformed by informatics
• Career opportunities, innovative collaborations, consumer health application development, networking opportunities with national and global organizations
Rita Kukafka – Health Promotion Practice
Public Health Informatics
• Public Health is concerned with improving the health of entire populations
• Informing, educating, and empowering people about health issues
• Research for new insights and innovative solutions to health problems
• Diagnosing and investigating health problems and hazards in the community
Building better connections: the National Library of Medicine and public health
Betsy L. Humphreys, MLS, AHIP J Med Libr Assoc 95(3) July 2007 pgs 293-300
Medical Informatics & Health Science Librarianship
• delivery of relevant information to
clients in clinics, laboratories and
other health related work
environments
• creating knowledge-based products
and resources
Medical Informatics & Health Sciences Librarianship
Informaticians and Librarians are
both analyzing how to best integrate
filtered knowledge into decision
support systems for clinicians and
researchers
New Definition of Health Sciences Informatics
Health sciences informatics
addresses how health-related
information is structured, acquired,
and utilized.
Preparing for New Challenges• Changes in health care delivery and
information technology
• Biomedical informatics applications
have the potential to bridge the gap
between the pool of scientific
knowledge and individuals’ health
care-related information needs
Preparing for New Challenges• Librarians are uniquely equipped to
understand and provide linkages
between information resources and
those who seek assistance
• There is an increasing convergence
between informatics and
librarianship
Preparing for New Challenges
The goal is to engage students and
practitioners in the process of
becoming self-directed learners
Preparing for New Challenges• Delivering health care globally
• Addressing societal problems
• Health Literacy
• Digital Divide
Opportunities
• Point-of-Care (EBM) & Ethnically relevant
resources
• Research (Clinical Trials)
• Health Information Programs
• Information Rx
• Patient Education Materials
• Web 2.0 Technologies
Opportunities
• Patient care systems
• Telemedicine
• Image Management Systems
• Computer aided surgery
• EMRs
Conclusion
• Building Trust
• Effective Partnerships
• Take Personal Responsibility
• Global Perspective of Health
Information and the dissemination