1. ICT and medicine
IT & C Department
AP - Secretariat

2. Topics The uses of ICT in medicine
in patient records, medical equipments, internet devices…etc
Advantages and disadvantages of using ICT in medicine
Computers and the disabled
Examples of computer systems used by the disabled

3. The uses of ICT in medicine
Research
Communications
Patient Records
Medical Equipments
Expert Systems
Web Based Diagnosis

4. Medical Databases (ERP)
Patients records now stored electronically
Data can be accessed by more than one medical professional at the same time
No need to transport files (speed of data access)
Security
Latest information can be accessed from patients bedside (example: results from blood tests)

5. Intranets and Extranets
Consultant GP
Supplier
Nurse
Surgeon

6. Patient data is stored on lots of separate databases
The user uses one database software application to access the information and is likely to be unaware that the data is not stored in one place
Laptop of the Ward
Intensive Care
Plastics
Surgery
Pharmacy
A+E
Radiology
Patient data is stored on lots of separate databases

7. Patient Records Patient Records
Medical records used to be stored on paper but now it is transferred to a computer data base
It keeps a track of patients’ medical history e.g. the prescribed drugs and what illness the patient has suffered from
Data bases of patients have been used to track trends in illnesses such as heart disease
Data bases of organ donors and patients needing transplant
Advantages
Access will be quicker
Takes up less space
Writing will be easy to read
Transfer of records will be quicker between GPs and Hospitals
Disadvantages
Inputting enormous amount of data from paper-based records can take much time
Patients record may be lost or hacked
Some doctors may find it difficult to enter electronic records

8. Medical Equipments Medical Equipments Scanners
Are used to process their data into a readable format
Microprocessors
Are used to control a variety of medical devices such as pacemakers
Computer guided lasers
Are used in operations. For example the removal of brain tumors
Advantages
New type of Surgeries possible
Reduce waiting time in the hospital
Surgeons can perform operations remotely.
Disadvantages
Computers can have defects and can break down
Doctors have to retrain to use the new equipments.

9. Research
ICT has changed the way in which medical research is conducted
Modelling the effects of new drugs
ICT is used to conduct clinical trials
Collaboration between international teams e.g. Apollo Health Care, TTK etc
Advantages
Management of Clinical trials online
Better Quality of life for the disabled
Collaboration between health care professionals
Disadvantages
Can never replace clinical trials

10. Web-based diagnosis (Internet services)
You can find a wide variety of medical information such as :
Symptom diagnosis, for people who wish to identify their problem without consulting a GP (General practitioner)
Access to medical research/journals
Information about side effects
Information about available treatments
Advantages
24/7 Access to information
Support for patients from other sufferers
Access to research for professionals
Disadvantages
Can lead to incorrect diagnosis
Incorrect prescribed drugs

11. Communications Expert systems
Teleconferencing has been used to share expertise
Surgeons in one country can help those in the other
Wireless transmission provides a link between hospitals and doctors
Telecommunications
Remote diagnosis can be used to diagnose and treat patients remotely
Patients can monitor their own conditions at home without need for a visit in a hospital
Expert systems
Also called knowledge-based systems
They are computer programs that attempt to replicate the performance of a human expert on some specialized reasoning tasks
Store and manipulate knowledge so that they can help the user to solve a problem or make a decision
Expert systems are being used for disease diagnosis

12. Expert Systems Also called knowledge-based systems
They are computer programs that attempt to replicate the performance of a human expert on some specialized reasoning tasks
Store and manipulate knowledge so that they can help the user to solve a problem or make a decision
Expert systems are being used for disease diagnosis

13. Computers and the disabled
Computer systems :
Improve the ability to communicate
Provide opportunities for independence and employment
Examples:
Scanners to convert printed text to verbal out put for visually impaired
Voice recognition equipment to convert speech to printed output for hearing impaired
Special pointing devices to allow interaction with computer for physically impaired
Vision systems with sensors built into special glasses
Computerized devices implanted to improve mobility for physically impaired