| Healthcare Informatics combines IT and | | | | Perhaps some days, weeks or months will be |
| healthcare, in order to bring technology into health. | | | | busier than others, or maybe it always gets busy |
| Just as computers and networks, and the internet | | | | at the same time every day. |
| are helping to revolutionise businesses all over the | | | | 6. Thanks to electronic medical records, patient |
| worild, they are helping healthcare too. | | | | data is more accurate, as it is all done on |
| Here's what you should know about. | | | | computer, so there are no handwritten notes and |
| 1. The NHS NPfIT, or National Programme for IT | | | | no papers to lose. |
| is making the NHS better for patients in many | | | | 7. Healthcare Informatics also help to promote |
| ways. Thanks to healthcare informatics, there are | | | | better communication, and between locations. |
| now electronic medical records, X Rays and | | | | NHSmail is the secure NHS internal email system |
| ultrasounds can be electronically sent between | | | | and allows medical staff to get second opinions, or |
| hospitals, and there is now more choice for | | | | find out more about a patient, even from |
| patients about where they are seen. | | | | hundreds of miles away |
| 2. Sharing patient information between locations | | | | 8. Better financial control can be achieved by using |
| means that if you are seen at a different hospital, | | | | healthcare informatics. It's easier to can see |
| then your medical history can be accessed from | | | | where time and resources can be best used so |
| your normal GP or hospital, so that no matter | | | | that they are not wasted, and ensure there isn't |
| who is treating you or where, they'll always have | | | | a shortage of resources anywhere else. |
| your current medical information. | | | | 9. Using reporting systems covering different |
| 3. The NHS eSpace system allows healthcare | | | | locations, it's possible to see how your hospital is |
| staff to share their knowledge and experiences, | | | | operating at different times, or how many |
| so that all staff can learn from others, and won't | | | | number staff you need, how many operations |
| need to spend their valuable time doing research | | | | have been performed, or how many beds you |
| that's already been done. It can also be used for | | | | need of a given day. All of this helps to ensure |
| much more too. | | | | that patient care is better. |
| 4. Healthcare Informatics is also concerned about | | | | 10. As all the information is computerised, and |
| the day to day running of a hospital or other | | | | easier to access and update. It means that any |
| medical establishment. Perhaps you need to | | | | information required can be accessed immediately. |
| improve the workflow, and see where your staff | | | | Better information means that better healthcare |
| are needed the most and when. You'll be able to | | | | can be provided. Better for staff means better |
| spot trends, and see which areas you can | | | | for patients too. |
| improve on. | | | | Now you know more about healthcare |
| 5. You'll be able to keep your staff well organised, | | | | informatics, what it means, and how it will help |
| in order to improve patient care by ensuring that | | | | you, you'll be able to benefit from it the next time |
| you have the right staff and resources available. | | | | you need medical treatment. |