© 2009 Delmar, Cengage Learning
17:1 Introduction
• Greatest advancement in information processing since the invention of the printing press
• Computer use a necessity in health care
© 2009 Delmar, Cengage Learning
Uses in Health Care
• Hospital or medical information systems (HIS or MIS)
• Diagnostic testing
• Education of health care personnel
• Basic and applied research: statistical analysis of data
© 2009 Delmar, Cengage Learning
Computer Literacy
• Ability to understand basics of how a computer works and applications used in your field or profession
• Essential to health care professionals
• Comfort in using a computer for job
• Practice and experience in using computers is necessary to develop computer literacy
© 2009 Delmar, Cengage Learning
History of the Computer
• First computers installed in late 1950s and early 1960s
• Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer (ENIAC)
• Microchips
• Sizes of computers
© 2009 Delmar, Cengage Learning
17:2 What is a Computer System?
• Electronic device that is a complete information processing system
• Hardware—machine components
• Software—programs or instructions
© 2009 Delmar, Cengage Learning
Input Devices
• Information is entered into the computer by means of an input device
• Computer keyboard
• Magnetic tape
• Touch screen monitor
• Optical scanner
• Mouse
• Light pen
© 2009 Delmar, Cengage Learning
Central Processing Unit (CPU)
• Processes all information or data entered into the computer
• Acts as the “brains” of the computer
• Internal memory unit
• Arithmetic and logic unit
• Control unit
© 2009 Delmar, Cengage Learning
Output Devices
• Output is the finished work of the computer system
• Occurs after data has been processed by the CPU
• Printer
• Video display
• Forms of output
© 2009 Delmar, Cengage Learning
17:3 Computer Applications
• Word processing
• Compiling databases
• Scheduling
• Maintaining financial records
• Monitoring patients
• Performing diagnostic tests
(continues)
© 2009 Delmar, Cengage Learning
Computer Applications(continued)
• Maintaining inventories
• Developing spreadsheets
• Communicating through modems
© 2009 Delmar, Cengage Learning
Examples of Uses
• Health information technician
• Physician
• Pharmacist
• Dietician
• Laboratory technician
• Nurse
• Environmental service worker
© 2009 Delmar, Cengage Learning
Computer Uses and Issues
• Hand-held portable computer
• Confidentiality for strict enforcement
• Contingency backup plan essential
© 2009 Delmar, Cengage Learning
Information Management
• Role of computers in health care – Tracking immense amounts of data
– Storing the data
– Having data easily accessible
– Available in useful format
© 2009 Delmar, Cengage Learning
Database
• Organized information
• Record: collection of related data
• Fields: separate pieces of information
• File: group of records
• See Figure 17-8 in text
(continues)
© 2009 Delmar, Cengage Learning
Database(continued)
• Advantages of a database– Easy retrieval of records
– Organized in different ways
– Access separate records at one time
– Changes can be entered quickly
– Generate reports as needed
– Studies can be done
(continues)
© 2009 Delmar, Cengage Learning
Database(continued)
• Accuracy is essential when entering data
• Input must be carefully reviewed for errors
• Health care information managers may be required to design and create a database
(continues)
© 2009 Delmar, Cengage Learning
Database(continued)
• Computer software enables the user to create error free documents
• Functions of software programs– Design text and documents
– Check spelling and grammar
– Store documents
– Send documents by e-mail, print, fax
– Connect to other computers
(continues)
© 2009 Delmar, Cengage Learning
Database(continued)
• Spreadsheets provide – High-speed calculations of numerical data
– Worksheet with intersecting rows and columns
– Basis for billing and accounting programs
– Graphs and charts for statistical use
(continues)
© 2009 Delmar, Cengage Learning
Database(continued)
• Commercially integrated systems are available for health care facilities
• Medisoft or Medical Manager programs for medical offices provide coordination of administrative tasks
© 2009 Delmar, Cengage Learning
Computer Applications for Diagnostics
• Computer-based diagnostic tests
• Analyzing blood tests
• Electrocardiogram (ECG) computerized interpretation systems
• Computerized tomography (CT)
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
(continues)
© 2009 Delmar, Cengage Learning
Computer Applications for Diagnostics(continued)
• Positron emission tomography (PET)
• Ultrasonography
• Oncology
© 2009 Delmar, Cengage Learning
Computer Applications for Education
• Computer-assisted instruction (CAI)
• Interactive video or computer-assisted video technology
• Internet for distance learning and licensure examinations
© 2009 Delmar, Cengage Learning
Computer Applications for Research
• Available information from the National Library of Medicine database
• Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) to prepare and analyze data
• Computer technology research world-wide known as bioinformatics
© 2009 Delmar, Cengage Learning
Computer Applicationsfor Communication
• Networks—computers linked together in health care facilities
• Internet—links computers located around the world
• Electronic mail (e-mail)
• Telemedicine for medical/health care use
(continues)
© 2009 Delmar, Cengage Learning
Computer Applicationsfor Communication
(continued)
• E-medicine for contacting physicians
• Telepharmacies speed up the process of dispensing medicines
• Listserve mailing lists for sharing health information
© 2009 Delmar, Cengage Learning
17:4 Using the Internet
• Network of computer users
• Modem—electronic device to send or receive data
• Browser—software to access the internet for information
• Many services and sources available for the health care professional
© 2009 Delmar, Cengage Learning
Search Engines
• Defined as a database of Internet files
• Engines include: search program, index, and retrieval program
• Types of search engines: crawler-based, human-powered, mixed
• Many different search engines available
© 2009 Delmar, Cengage Learning
Searching the Web
• Must develop a strategy
• Identify key words
• Combine key words
• Vary your search
• Use different search engines
• Evaluate the information source
• Identify the source
(continues)
© 2009 Delmar, Cengage Learning
Searching the Web(continued)
• Determine the author
• Check for accuracy
• Verify important data
• Looks for signs of quality
• Check for currency
• Health care workers are able to research many topics on the internet; can be an excellent learning tool
© 2009 Delmar, Cengage Learning
Summary
• Computers used as cost-effective and efficient tools
• Enhance quality patient care
• Used for many areas of health care
• Computer technology has had tremendous impact on health care
(continues)