Health Informatics & Information Technology

Health informatics is the study, design and application of innovations in information technology toward improving health care research, planning, delivery and services. The implementation of health informatics solutions will lead to new information technology systems throughout the health care industry.

Identification

• Health care informatics will create a globally accessible information technology system, making medical records available to any authorized medical practitioner, regardless of the practitioner or patient's location. Data collected and stored in this system will facilitate medical research, establishing a foundation for future innovations and improved patient care.

Benefits

• New health care innovations are a long-term benefit associated with health informatics. It will produce valuable new health care tools, systems and services to aid health care professionals in their daily patient care activities.

Considerations

• The new Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act also fed this new health informatics infrastructure. The HITECH Act was recently launched by the Obama Administration to encourage a nationwide electronic exchange of information among health care providers.