RESPOND TO INITIAL POST -(600 words).
Discuss how health informatics evolved from being a concept to becoming a discipline or specialty. Emphasize the importance of the formation of professional organizations and educational programs in advancing health informatics as a field. As you begin to conduct research, explore (and cite in your discussion) an early journal article or excerpt from a seminal book on the topic of health informatics. If applicable, how has informatics evolved since then?
RESPOND TO CLASSMATE #1-(450 words)
Nelson and Staggers (2018, p. 2) state that “¦health informatics is defined as an interdisciplinary professional specialty and scientific discipline that integrates the health sciences, computer science, and information science, as well as a number of other analytic sciences, with the goal of managing and communicating data, information, knowledge, and wisdom in the provision of healthcare for individuals, families, groups, and communities.” Braunstein (2014) suggest that health information technology consists of a set of instruments used to assist or accelerate electronic documentation and healthcare delivery management. Health informatics is a field that is now well-established; it is recognized as a discipline and a profession.
“2003 the IOM identified five core competencies that should be achieved by all healthcare professionals:
Delivering patient-centered care
Working as part of interdisciplinary team
Practicing evidence-based medicine
Focusing on quality improvement
Using informatics” (Nelson & Staggers, 2018, p. 2).
As you can see, utilizing informatics is included in the five essential proficiencies that healthcare professionals should encompass; therefore, it is imperative in the nursing profession.
Stodart (2017) suggests that Michelle Honey is a long-term supporter and promoter of information technology within the nursing profession. Honey states that nurses should not be concerned or apprehensive that information technology will come between them and their patients; technology is an instrument and does not substitute the interaction between the patient and the nurse (Stodart, 2017). With what Stodart discusses above, nurses need to understand that health informatics will assist them in taking better care of their patients by using all the tools and resources available to them. A nurse-patient relationship can and should continue be established; however, the nurses will now have instruments in order to provide improved patient care with increased patient outcomes.
Prerequisite including informatics are now being obligatory by other professional groups, including the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) (Nelson & Staffers, 2018). Professional organizations and educational programs play a huge role in the advancement of health informatics as a field of study. Health informatics can be used to advance health care delivery and clinical outcomes.
“Translating data into clinical decision support tools would be one basic example” (Fridsma, 2016, p. 372). An illustration of this is utilizing health informatics on a person who may have uncontrolled diabetic; information can be evaluated from the electronic health record and related to an algorithm. This information can then be used to provide recommendations for improving the patient health outcomes (Fridsma, 2016). If this information is known early (a patient may have uncontrolled diabetes) then intervention can occur early as well; this can result in a better patient outcome. Therefore, it is seen that health informatics is crucial in the health care profession as it allows us to provide superior care. Colossians 3:23-24 tell us, “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.”
Fridsma (2016) suggests that health informatics has occurred as a focused region of study for approximately 30 years. Health informatics initially began as persons connecting in order to gather, examine, and utilize data. Originally, health informatics was perceived to improve health care delivery. Health informatics has progressed into a profession instead of just a field of study with the implementation of the electronic health record (EHR) as well as additional developments. Fridsma (2016) suggests that with the application of health informatics, persons began to see it as a way to relate what is learned in approaches that are more realistic and adjacent to the bedside.
RESPOND TO CLASSMATE #2-(450 words)
The challenge of managing a growing volume of health information has led to the increasing reliance on health informatics. Health informatics incorporates processes, procedures, theories, and concepts from computer and informatics sciences, Health sciences, Social science. Informatics has improved the field by “helping people to revisualize and redesign their information management and knowledge management skills and learn new ways of using clinical data to manage clinical practice and patient care” (McLane & Turley, 2011, p.30).
Health informatics as defined by the U. S. National Library of Medicine is the “interdisciplinary study of the design, development, adoption and application of IT-based innovations in healthcare services delivery, management and planning” (Physician Informatics Community, 2014, p.1). Health informatics is further defined as “ an interdisciplinary professional specialty and scientific discipline that integrates the health sciences, computer science, and information science, as well as a number of other analytic sciences, with the goal of managing and communicating data, information, knowledge, and wisdom in the provision of healthcare for individuals, families, groups, and communities.” (Nelson and Staggers (2018, p. 2-3).
The field of health informatics, as we know it now, emerged when computer technology became sophisticated enough to manage large amounts of data. Previously other attempts were made to delve into informatics but not until the 1960’s that health informatics began to standardize as a field of study. The term “informatics” was introduced in the 1960s in France – a French version of the word, of course: Informatique. And, of course, it makes sense to use the informatics, since the whole field of health care and medical informatics is based on data and information (Physician Informatics Community, 2014). New journals about informatics began to be published in the 1960’s. The first peer-reviewed informatics journal, Computers in Biomedical Research, began publishing in 1967. The first journal article using the term nursing informatics was indexed in MEDLINE and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) in 1986.
The first professional informatics organization was started in 1949 — even before computers gained widespread acceptance . Gustav Wagner founded a professional organization in Germany, and from there it spread .“Our vision is for a healthcare system that draws on the best evidence to provide the care most appropriate to each patient, emphasizes prevention and health promotion, delivers the most value, adds to learning throughout the delivery of care, and leads to improvements in the nation’s health.” ( IOM, 2010).
This shows he importance of informatics in healthcare and how relevant it is to safe and effective patient care. Professional organizations helped to advance health informatics by creating opportunities in education and networking to professionals who were interested in the field. Various health informatics groups were established at the local, national, and international levels. The American Medical Association (AMA), American Medical Informatics Association (AMIA), and the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) are all examples of organizations that educate and use health informatics to their members. The Health Information Management and Systems Society (HIMSS).
The HIMSS was created in 1961 and holds its headquarters in Chicago, Illinois. “HIMSS is a cause-based, global enterprise producing health IT thought leadership, education, events, market research and media services around the world” (“About HIMSS,” n.d., p. 1). The HIMSS collaborates with a multitude of other informatics groups (AMIA (American Medical Informatics Association), IHE (Integrating the Healthcare Enterprise), Connecting for Health, etc.) to help expand the efforts in integrating healthcare informatics into the workforce.
This organization shows up-to-date informatics updates and includes a blog of the latest news in the healthcare technology industry. It contains a Resource Library, a Bookstore, and an Events page to see what’s going on around the world. It also has a tab that contains ways to Get Involved with connections to local chapters in the community, committees, and ways to become a member and reap the rewards of belonging to such a credible organization.
The main objective of this organization is to bring together individuals across the health care and technology fields, around the world, in an effort for, “better health through information technology” (“About HIMSS,” n.d., p. 1). HIMSS has a great impact on health care informatics in the way that it is accessible and ready to share, collaborate, and exceed expectations of those involved in the business.
With advancement in technology and changes in the laws, health informatics will continue to grow and paly a major role in the healthcare delivery system. With all these advances though, we need to remember that God is always the creator. 1 Corinthians 10:31 ESV So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.