Using informatics to expand awareness

Abstract

The development of solutions for health is more difficult than for many other industries because the health sector is complex and fragmented; involves multiple levels of government, numerous individuals and a large number of private sector organisations. The degree of spending on information infrastructure in healthcare is evidence of a strong belief by policy makers and others, that information technology will improve patient care and deliver quality health outcomes (Conrick, Hovenga et al. 2004). Automation has much to offer healthcare workers and indeed, the last few years have seen the beginnings of a transformation in healthcare, triggered by a rapid rise in the use of information technology across all areas of healthcare and the rapid increase in the sophistication of information systems. While, health administration was an early adopter of information technology and new technology for diagnostic and treatment purposes is always rapidly embraced, investment in systems to support clinicians lags well behind. Clinicians continue to drown in paper work and often make decisions based on fragmented, poor quality data.