How Clinical Informatics Can Affect You

In practicing clinical medicine, computers andHIPAA contains a section on Administrative
programs are often used. These computers andSimplification which is about the technology plans
programs are part of an information system.that would be used to make data transfer
Clinical informatics is the study of such informationsimpler. If you have used electronic billing for
systems which governs the practice of clinicalservices involving health care since October of
medicine. Some of the facets of clinical informatics2003, you have followed the transaction
are data entry, telemedicine, imaging, data displayregulations of HIPAA. Take note that Medicare
and decision support.considers this as a requirement except if you
Data Entrystated you are a small practice in your record.
A usual example is of a nurse taking theThere is no doubt that you have known about
temperature of the patient. The nurse is using athe privacy rules that has been in effect since
point-of-care device to measure the temperatureApril 2003 from business partners, health plans or
which will be transmitted to the electronic healthhospitals.
record of the patient.Another way that clinical informatics can affect
Telemedicineyou is shown in the IOM report. The IOM report
Even with the absence of the physical slides, astated that there are about 100,000 medical
pathologist in Bethesda can conduct a review oferrors yearly. This concern about medical errors
the strange tumor found in a young male in thewas brought to the public. As a response to the
rural areas of California.report, another IOM report came out suggesting
Imagingthe use of computerized physician order entry
As technology progresses, new models of CT(CPOE) systems. According to this report, CPOE
scanners can have the latest algorithms ofsystems would decrease medical errors if this
software that can display 3-dimensional images.technology is implemented.
These 3D images could show vital structures'The third means of clinical informatics affecting
reconstruction.someone is through the National Health
Data DisplayInformation Infrastructure (NHII). The effort of
This can be best described by graphs of mediandeveloping a NHII was initiated by Dr. David
or even mean values using raw numbers. This willBrailer, the Office of the National Coordinator for
make things easier for a clinician conducting aHealth Information Technology director, who was
review. In addition, abnormal vital signs can beappointed by the Bush administration. The main
highlighted.objective of NHII is to make the patient
Decision Supportinformation anywhere in the country in a digital or
Urgency of feedback at the ordering entry time iselectronic format so it can be transmitted from
very essential especially about allergies of theits original storage area to where the patient is
patient and interactions amongst drugs. This iscurrently being treated if the need arises. It is
essential because it has proven to decrease thenoted though that there are clearly no plans for a
costs of healthcare as well as the morbidity ofcentral database containing patient information.
the patient.Implementation for the NHII is targeted to take
Clinical informatics can greatly affect an individualabout seven years. To achieve this objective,
as shown in the Health Insurance Portability andfinancial incentives are under the works to aid and
Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996. Under theencourage the acceptance of Electronic Health
HIPAA, keeping insurance for employees whoRecords or EHRs.
changes their jobs would be less troublesome.