Health Care IT: Defined

Healthcare IT

Health care IT means the combination of computer science, information science and health care into one. Information Technology in the health care sector does not include only computers but also medical terminologies, clinical guidelines and systems used in communication. There are several sub fields health care IT like clinical informatics, consumer health informatics, nursing informatics, health informatics and all other fields related to medical science- whether humans or animals. Information Technology is used in making medical records and other information systems which are used for research and billing purposes. Decisions related to healthcare can also be used with the help of IT, which are called clinical decision support system.

 

Use of IT in the health care sector took place in the US in the early 50’s along with the rise of computers. Several terminology used during those times are medical computing, computer medicine, medical automatic data processing, medical software engineering and medical electronic data. The coordinating body, which looks after the smooth transfer of technology to the health care sector, is called the International Medical Informatics Association which was formed in the early 70’s.

 

The first use of computers was in US in for dental projects. It was used by Robert Ledley at National Bureau of Standards. The next step was the development of expert systems like MYCIN. Researchers developed MUMPS which is a multi utility programming system in a computer laboratory in Massachusesetts General Hospital in Boston which is most frequently used language for health care applications. In recent times a modification of this system is being used in the hospital for Veterans affairs.

 

The members of the European Union are dedicated to set up an integrated health care system in the member states, and share information and in the process improve the quality and inspire growth in this sector.