Computers in Health Care Objective 1 Unit C: Technology in Medicine Computers in Health Care Objective 1
How are computers used in healthcare? McPac Medical Informatics Clinical and special purpose systems Prosthetics and Pharmacy Administrative applications 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 care professionals 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)
Education Required: Bachelor’s Degree 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 Mobile Medical Records
Special Purpose Systems Example: Coding Systems created to standardize medical diagnosis and terminology. They are used for medical insurance claims, research and other special reporting requirements.
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 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