Preface
Health informatics is a multi-disciplinary, multi-dimensional field that seeks to facilitate the effective collection, management and use of information in the health care environment. By its very nature, health informatics is challenging and complex. Yet it is this complexity that makes it such an intriguing, exciting and rewarding field in which to be involved. This book introduces the field of health informatics.
The text adopts a socio-technical perspective, which explores technical aspects of health informatics while focusing on the interplay between the health care environment and the systems used to manage information in that environment. A socio-technical perspective enables analysis of the complex health care environment with its many different service systems and professional groups, each with their own ideas and views about health matters, including health informatics. One of the challenges for the health informatics professional is to identify and seek to accommodate these different views. The socio-technical focus of the book facilitates this by encouraging the reader to ask questions such as:
Adopting a socio-technical perspective encourages the reader to consider the potential impact of health informatics systems on the health care environment. While the aim is more effective management of information, it is widely acknowledged that health informatics has the capacity to do more than simply slot into the existing environment. It has the potential to be a catalyst for dramatic change, cutting across traditional structures, roles, processes and relationships, and influencing the way health systems are organised and delivered. This textbook explores the potential for key players to use health informatics to reshape the health care environment by tackling questions such as:
The book has been influenced by the concerns and focus of health informatics itself. While exploring practical applications, it also investigates the scope and distinguishing features of the discipline. Thus, it acknowledges that the health informatics community consists of a diverse mix of academics and practitioners who, while sharing the goal of enhancing health care, may identify different issues, priorities and approaches for achieving these. This text encourages students to identify and critique these different perspectives.
A fundamental premise of the book is that the promise of health informatics will be realised more readily if we understand the different perspectives of the key players and their ability to shape both the discipline and its practical applications. Therefore, as the theory and application of health informatics are explored, the underlying questions are:
Who is this book for?
Since this book seeks to present a range of stakeholder perspectives, it can be used by different health professional and consumer groups as an introduction to the field. Intending health informatics professionals can use the book to develop their skills and knowledge. At the same time, since health informatics is a multi-disciplinary field, the intending health informatics professional will want to seek out additional specialist resources on specific topics.
Think of the text as a beach, with a particular feature being the exploration of health informatics from a socio-cultural perspective. Practising health professionals and consumers may wish to paddle around in the shallower waters, occasionally venturing out into deeper water to explore areas of specific interest. The intending health informatics professional will want to wade out into the deeper water, spend a lot of time swimming around a wide area, perhaps doing a little snorkelling to explore the features in greater detail. He or she will eventually move on to other beaches with different features.
Organisation of the book
The book is organised into three parts:
Part 1: Foundations of Health Informatics
The first part of the book introduces and explores health informatics from a socio-cultural perspective. Our understanding of health informatics as a discipline and a profession will be enhanced by understanding the social context within which it is located. Chapter 1 explores the dynamics between health informatics and the socio-cultural environment of health. Chapter 2 focuses on the emerging discipline of health informatics, exploring the parameters of the discipline and its subsets. Chapter 3 discusses key concepts and theories used to develop the knowledge base and inform the practice of health informatics.
Part 2: Health Informatics Tools, Techniques and Applications
The second part focuses on the tools and techniques of health informatics. Chapter 4 reviews current hardware, software and communications technologies, identifying issues around the use of these in the health care environment. Chapters 5 and 6 discuss key concepts and principles of data collection and information management and apply these to the health environment. Chapters 7, 8 and 9 explore e-health, electronic health records, and decision support systems, which are currently the focus of much activity. A number of yet-to-be-resolved issues are identified and the reader is encouraged to evaluate the vision and the realities of these various applications critically.
Part 3: Health Informatics in Action
The last part is a discussion of health informatics in action. It consists of one chapter, which explores the use of health informatics in the rural and remote health care environment.
The text adopts a socio-technical perspective, which explores technical aspects of health informatics while focusing on the interplay between the health care environment and the systems used to manage information in that environment. A socio-technical perspective enables analysis of the complex health care environment with its many different service systems and professional groups, each with their own ideas and views about health matters, including health informatics. One of the challenges for the health informatics professional is to identify and seek to accommodate these different views. The socio-technical focus of the book facilitates this by encouraging the reader to ask questions such as:
- Who are the key players?
- How will the introduction of this system affect key players?
- How will key players view the introduction of this system?
- How do we balance the interests of key players?
Adopting a socio-technical perspective encourages the reader to consider the potential impact of health informatics systems on the health care environment. While the aim is more effective management of information, it is widely acknowledged that health informatics has the capacity to do more than simply slot into the existing environment. It has the potential to be a catalyst for dramatic change, cutting across traditional structures, roles, processes and relationships, and influencing the way health systems are organised and delivered. This textbook explores the potential for key players to use health informatics to reshape the health care environment by tackling questions such as:
- What is the potential impact of health informatics on the structure and delivery of health care?
- How does the introduction of health informatics systems and technologies impact on the traditional authority, roles and relationships of health care professionals and consumers?
- Who will be the main beneficiaries of this system?
- How will this system enable consumers to receive better health care and at what cost will this be achieved?
The book has been influenced by the concerns and focus of health informatics itself. While exploring practical applications, it also investigates the scope and distinguishing features of the discipline. Thus, it acknowledges that the health informatics community consists of a diverse mix of academics and practitioners who, while sharing the goal of enhancing health care, may identify different issues, priorities and approaches for achieving these. This text encourages students to identify and critique these different perspectives.
A fundamental premise of the book is that the promise of health informatics will be realised more readily if we understand the different perspectives of the key players and their ability to shape both the discipline and its practical applications. Therefore, as the theory and application of health informatics are explored, the underlying questions are:
- What are the questions and issues addressed?
- Which key player perspective does this represent?
- What alternative perspectives can be identified?
- Do these alternatives point to different questions and issues?
- How do we balance these different views?
Who is this book for?
Since this book seeks to present a range of stakeholder perspectives, it can be used by different health professional and consumer groups as an introduction to the field. Intending health informatics professionals can use the book to develop their skills and knowledge. At the same time, since health informatics is a multi-disciplinary field, the intending health informatics professional will want to seek out additional specialist resources on specific topics.
Think of the text as a beach, with a particular feature being the exploration of health informatics from a socio-cultural perspective. Practising health professionals and consumers may wish to paddle around in the shallower waters, occasionally venturing out into deeper water to explore areas of specific interest. The intending health informatics professional will want to wade out into the deeper water, spend a lot of time swimming around a wide area, perhaps doing a little snorkelling to explore the features in greater detail. He or she will eventually move on to other beaches with different features.
Organisation of the book
The book is organised into three parts:
- Foundations of health informatics
- Health informatics tools, techniques and applications
- Health informatics in action.
Part 1: Foundations of Health Informatics
The first part of the book introduces and explores health informatics from a socio-cultural perspective. Our understanding of health informatics as a discipline and a profession will be enhanced by understanding the social context within which it is located. Chapter 1 explores the dynamics between health informatics and the socio-cultural environment of health. Chapter 2 focuses on the emerging discipline of health informatics, exploring the parameters of the discipline and its subsets. Chapter 3 discusses key concepts and theories used to develop the knowledge base and inform the practice of health informatics.
Part 2: Health Informatics Tools, Techniques and Applications
The second part focuses on the tools and techniques of health informatics. Chapter 4 reviews current hardware, software and communications technologies, identifying issues around the use of these in the health care environment. Chapters 5 and 6 discuss key concepts and principles of data collection and information management and apply these to the health environment. Chapters 7, 8 and 9 explore e-health, electronic health records, and decision support systems, which are currently the focus of much activity. A number of yet-to-be-resolved issues are identified and the reader is encouraged to evaluate the vision and the realities of these various applications critically.
Part 3: Health Informatics in Action
The last part is a discussion of health informatics in action. It consists of one chapter, which explores the use of health informatics in the rural and remote health care environment.