Module 4 Flashcards
What is informatics? (Example?)
Informatics is the intersection of:
a) People (e.g. patients/consumers and healthcare providers)
b) Systems (such as technology)
c) Data (data becomes information which in turn becomes knowledge)
- Is interdisciplinary (not interprofessional) includes health science, computer science and information science
e.g. teenage smokers in evergreen
What is health informatics?
- Health informatics is part of the larger discipline of informatics. The optimal use of information, often aided by the use of technology, to improve health, health care, public health and biomedical research
- Goal of better health and use technology as an enabler
What is Friedmans Theorem? (Example)
- A person working in partnership with an information resource is “better” than that same person unassisted
- It’s important to remember that - in the provision of healthcare - technology can enable but must always be viewed critically - does it make things safer? more efficient? perhaps both? Does it cause different types of errors to occur? Is it cost effective?
e.g. Gay - HIV Test Reminder by Pharmacist
- Use the information to improve health outcomes; rather than form a pre-concieved notion of the patient
Why are electronic health records beneficial?
- The idea that access to data and information allows us to make informed decisions based on evidence, and improve patient outcomes; improving patient outcomes is the overall goal of informatics.
Why is media important in regards to patients?
- It is imperative to keep in mind that there are many sources of health information available through media outlets - some very credible
- It is equally important not to be judgemental of patient’s sources - curiosity is a very positive thing, and should be encouraged, not dismissed. Our role is to guide and translate (and be equally curious!).
- “Sorry, I am unaware of that information, but I can tell you what I do know”
What does the “quantified self” mean and what is its relationship to informatics?
- People were went beyond tracking their everyday life (e.g. food on Twitter, diapers, etc.)
- Data storage improvement track sleep, fitness throughout day, blood pressure, heart rate data
- Self/system how they can be used for self-knowledge as well as system knowledge
What resource (s) should healthcare professionals recommend to patients?
Government Sponsored Health Information Websites
- Useful for patients
Infographics
- Present information in a graphic manner
- Can be excellent teaching and learning tools
What are the concerns with mobile records?
- One must consider the use of mobile devices in the delivery of care more broadly (with respect to patient records and communication about patients)
What is a digital native? What is a digital immigrant?
- Digital natives have grown up with computer technology, and may be very connected on Social Media.
- Digital immigrant is a person who grew up before the internet and other digital computing devices were ubiquitous
Why is it important to recognize the “digital divide”?
- From a patient care perspective, the “digital divide” is important to understand. Aside from the need to breach it in educational settings, it is important to appreciate that one’s orientation toward digital technology will take you beyond the classroom - to the workplace and patient’s bedside, for example.
What is e-health?
- A term used to describe the delivery of healthcare services using technology
- Health Canada - eHealth is an overarching term used today to describe the application of information and communications technologies in the health sector
- World Health Organization - The cost-effective and secure use of information and communication technologies in support of the health and health-related fields including healthcare, health surveillance and health education, knowledge and research.
- E-health and informatics are complementary
Why is it necessary for their to be a demand for health information technology workers? What must they understand?
- Create a sucessful and safe interface between HIT and the healthcare delivery system
- Workforce must understand healthcare, information and communication technologies; and the people processes, and culture of an organization
Pharmacy’s role in health informatics
Effective management and delivery of medication-related data, information, and knowledge across systems that support the medication-use process
A pharmacists primary role and responsibility in informatics should encompass:
MAADC
- Data, information, and knowledge management –> Manage medication information while promoting integration and information exchange across disciplines
- Information and Knowledge Delivery –> Using clinical knowledge and judgement through studying information, embedding information in practice and re-assesing knowledge for its usefulness and effectiveness (Life-long learning)
- Practice Analytics –> Analyzing pharmacy data for solutions on how to improve decision making
- Apply clinical informatics –> apply users experiences and research to improve clinical practice
- Leadership and Advocate –> Be an advocate and initiate development/implementation of clinical information systems
Maintenance roles and responsibilities of pharmacy informatists:
CEEP
Corrective –> Take educational steps to improve the system
Customized –> Modify the system for patients needs –> Essential as technology and meds are always chnaging
Enhancement –> Improve the performance of applications and people associated with the tools
Preventative –> taking steps in advance to reduce the risk of a problem occuring –> testing the system prior to release or improvements made
