What is Health Informatics?
Health informatics, which combines health information management and computer science, is crucial in balancing health and lifestyle by providing valuable data and insights. With this information, healthcare providers can make informed decisions about patient care and help users manage their health better. Health informatics is significant in personalizing health advice, such as dietary recommendations, exercise routines, and sleep patterns, to meet an individual's needs and preferences. Health informatics also helps prevent, diagnose, and treat diseases by providing healthcare professionals with access to various medical data sources, including electronic health records, medical images, and patient-generated data collected from wearables or mobile health applications. Through health informatics, individuals can make informed decisions and take control of their health, resulting in a better balance between their health and lifestyle.
6 Examples of Health Informatics to Improve Your Health and Well-being
Mobile health (mHealth) apps, electronic health records (EHRs), telehealth, wearable devices, health information exchange (HIE), and big data analytics are all examples of health informatics that have shown promising outcomes and success stories.
Mobile Health Apps
Mobile health apps have revolutionized the healthcare industry by offering a convenient way for users to track their health data. Several research studies have highlighted the benefits of mHealth apps - especially when managing chronic health conditions. For instance, scientific research published in the National Center for Biotechnology Information exhibited how diabetic individuals who used self-monitoring and self-management mHealth applications showed significantly improved health outcomes compared to those who did not use them.
Interested in learning more about the medical benefits of mobile health applications? The article is available here for you to explore: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6597642/
Electronic Health Records (EHR)
The safety of patients is a top priority for both patients and healthcare providers. Several ways can be taken to ensure patient safety, such as appropriate prescription and dispensing of medications, remote patient monitoring, and diagnosis in rural areas. In this video by Health Science Channel, viewers will glimpse the critical work of health information pioneers and understand how technological advancements are revolutionizing healthcare delivery to ensure patient safety.
Furthermore, this episode highlights how programs like electronic health records (EHRs) have transformed healthcare, making it safer and more efficient for patients. EHRs enable healthcare providers to securely track patient medical history, medication prescriptions, and test results all in one place, reducing the chances of errors and test duplication. Additionally, EHRs enhance communication between healthcare providers, reducing the possibilities of confusion or miscommunication that could compromise patient safety.
Watch this informative video to learn how health information pioneers leverage technology to ensure patient safety.
TeleHealth
Telehealth has successfully increased access to healthcare services, particularly for rural and remote populations.
The video below shares a patient's telehealth experience at Panorama Orthopedics & Spine Center. The patient describes the process and benefits of having a virtual appointment with his doctor. He emphasizes the simplicity, efficiency, and convenience of getting medical care through this technology, highlighting the comfort of being in his own home for an appointment. The video illustrates how telehealth enables patients to have more manageable and accessible medical care, improving their overall healthcare experience.
Wearable Devices
Wearable devices are becoming common in healthcare as they help patients track health data and reduce the need for office visits. However, doctors may face a wealth of data from patients wearing such devices. They need to find ways to process this data meaningfully with the help of technology.
Check out the video below to learn more about healthcare technology and its impact on medical practices.
Visit Digital Medicine and the Future of Healthcare (thedoctors.com) to learn how wearables and other technologies change healthcare. At The Doctors Company's 2016 Executive Advisory Board meeting, a world-renowned expert, Robert M. Wachter, MD, discussed solutions to improve efficiency in the wake of increasing data. The board meeting is a forum where experts explore topics important to modern medical practices in today's changing healthcare environment.
Health Information Exchange (HIE)
Health information exchange (HIE) is the secure electronic sharing of health information. It helps reduce duplicate testing and improve care coordination between providers in different areas. HIE is centered around patient-centered data homes, giving patients access to their health records anytime, anywhere. If you want to learn more, consider the MS program in Population Health Informatics at CUNY SPH. Assistant Professor Karmen S. Williams is an expert in HIE and has published work in various medical journals. Check out the featured playlist to learn more.
Big Data Analytics:
Big Data Analytics: Healthcare providers often collect large quantities of data about their patients, but with big data analytics, they can analyze, interpret, and use this data to improve healthcare delivery, treatment, and outcomes. In this video by Dataiku, they discuss five ways data is currently being used in healthcare, such as predictive analytics and population health management. Check out the link to Dataiku's Analytics Quick Start in the resources mentioned in the video.
The video explores how data is being used in the healthcare industry. It highlights five ways data analytics is used in healthcare and includes treatment recommendations, medical imaging, hospital staffing, clinical trials, and claims data as examples. The video explains how data analytics is used to make healthcare services more efficient and effective and improve patient outcomes. The video also mentions a learning platform called Data IQ that offers free learning paths and quick-start guides for professions related to data analytics.
The Future of Healthcare: Embracing Health Informatics Technologies
In essence, health informatics advancements such as mHealth apps, telehealth, wearable devices, and big data analytics play an instrumental role in balancing health and lifestyle. They provide users with the tools to access personalized health data, assist healthcare providers in preventing, diagnosing, and treating diseases, and improve healthcare delivery. With a better understanding of health, individuals can make informed decisions about their lifestyle choices and better balance their health and overall well-being. The positive outcomes and success stories resulting from using health informatics technologies demonstrate their potential impacts on optimizing patient outcomes and improving healthcare delivery.
References
Bene, B. A., O’Connor, S., Mastellos, N., Majeed, A., Fadahunsi, K. P., & O’Donoghue, J. (2019). Impact of mobile health applications on self-management in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: protocol of a systematic review. BMJ Open, 9(6), e025714. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2018-025714
Ciox. (2017, October 3). Health Information Management Made Simple | Ciox. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQf2c5c62YA&t=32s&ab_channel=Ciox
Comport Consulting. (2019, November 14). Healthcare Mobile App Phunware. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhGipeZeH_0&ab_channel=ComportConsulting
CUNY SPH. (2023, June 21). What is Health Information Exchange? | A Lesson in Public
Health. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RoUhj2JFXpE&ab_channel=CUNYSPH
Health Science Channel. (2015, August 20). Electronic Health Records: A PatientÕs Perspective. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Etjx0fYsB9o&ab_channel=HealthScienceChannel
Panorama Orthopedics & Spine Center. (2020, April 17). Patient perspective:
Telehealth - A Patient’s Story. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pnKdIHCg18w&ab_channel=PanoramaOrthopedics%26SpineCenter
Recall by Dataiku. (2022, August 11). How Data is Used in Healthcare. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8TRt-2A0_4&ab_channel=RecallbyDataiku
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