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