Computers in Health CareObjective 1

Technology in Medicine

How are computers used in healthcare?

McPac1. Medical Informatics 2. Clinical and special purpose systems3. Prosthetics and Pharmacy4. Administrative applications5. Computer-assisted surgery

1. Medical Informatics

Medical Informatics focuses on the acquisition, storage, and use of information in health and biomedicine.

• Medical Informatics allows health careprofessionals and patients to benefit from

what others have done and learned. • It compiles data that can determine trends or

patterns of disease processes, diagnostic studies and treatments.

• It helps health care workers determine patient care outcomes.

• Medical Informatics streamlines and improves communication between health care disciplines.

• Because of Medical Informatics, medical record keeping on computer allows for easier and quicker access to patient histories.

Jobs in Medical Informatics

Jobs in medical informatics are definitely for

people who enjoy using computers.

Examples of Jobs:

Administrative Medical Informatics Specialist (AKA Registered Health Information Administrator / RHIA)

Health Information Technicians (AKA Registered Health Information Technicians / RHIT)

Administrative Medical Informatics Specialist

(AKA Registered Health Information Administrator / RHIA )

RHIAs work in hospitals, physician offices and outpatient

clinics, long-term care and mental health facilities,

insurance companies, state and government

agencies, home care providers, educational institutions,

health care software companies and other private industry.

Education Required: Bachelor’s Degree

Salary Range: $30,000.00 - $100,000.00

Health Information Technicians(AKA Registered Health Information Technicians / RHIT)

The RHT works under the supervision of the RHIA

Education Required: Associate Degrees

Salary Range: $21,000.00 - $55,000.00

2. Clinical and Special Purpose Systems

Examples of

technology in the

clinical setting:

Computerized Charting

Technology in the Clinical Setting

Computerized

Medication

Administration

System

Technology in the Clinical Setting

Electronic Patient Monitor

Technology in the Clinical Setting

MobileMedicalRecords

Special Purpose Systems

Example:

Coding Systems created to standardizemedical diagnosis and terminology. Theyare used for medical insurance claims,research and other special reportingrequirements.

3. Prosthetics and Pharmacy Computerized

Prosthetic Devices

allows the amputee

greater mobility than

ever before.

Prosthetics and Pharmacy

Computers in the pharmacy

assures prescription

accuracy and safety for the

patient.

4. Administrative Applications

Examples:

• Scheduling appointments in a doctors office

• Computerized billing used by an insurance

clerk or accounting department

5. Computer-Assisted Surgery

Computer-Assisted Surgery

also known as Robotic

Surgery is becoming

more popular as

technology improves.

Computer-Assisted Surgery

Is proving to be beneficial in several ways:

• The robotic hand is steadier and more precise than a human hand

• Reducing the amount of time a patient must stay under general anesthesia

• Smaller incisions required • Decreasing the amount of time a patient

stays in the hospital

References

Oregan Health and Science University Department of Medical Informatics and

Clinical Epidemiology

http://www.ohsu.edu/ohsuedu/academic/som/dmice/about/whatis.cfm

American Medical Informatics Association

http://www2.amia.org/history/what.html