Conceptualising the Future of Health Informatics: A Discussion
Year: 2013
Type: article
Abstract: This manuscript is a discussion paper highlighting the information dimension of health informatics. Health informat ics is now a d iscipline in its own right with many academic institutions establishing health informat ics research centres/units and offering qualifications in health informat ics. The vast and rapid advancements in in formation and communicat ions technology (ICT) have considerably improved data storage and access to data. The advancements have also led to a culture that considers technological products as solutions. The downside of this culture is that the focus on solutions has shifted attention away fro m the main co mponent of informat ics: informat ion. The current health informat ics movements (such as e-records and e-health) are focussed on the management of clin ical data overlooking data fro m primary healthcare and non-patient or non-clinical data source. Part of the problem is that information systems do not always communicate with each other. This paper raises the question what constitutes informat ion? and argues that attention must be refocused onto access to health informat ion over and above access to clinical data, and proposes a conceptual model to improve access to health information.
Authors: Said Shahtahmasebi, Renee Millar
Language: English
Subfield: Health Information Management
Field: Health Professions
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W2095935089