ICT in Medicine
FatMax 2007. Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.5 License
ICT in Medicine
MEDICINE
+ ICT
=
“TELEMEDICINE”
Patient Records
Communications
Internet
ICT in Medicine
Expert Systems
Equipment
Research
FatMax 2007. Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.5 License
Patient Records

One obvious use of ICT in medicine is the introduction
of databases to store patient records
•
Currently moves are being
made to transfer all paper
records over to a £12bn NHS
database
•
Central storage of records
•
All the benefits of databases!
FatMax 2007. Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.5 License
Patient Records
Faster access to
patient records

Transfer of patient data will
be quicker e.g. between
GPs and hospitals
Less storage space needed
CENTRALISED DATABASE
Data analysis tools e.g.
identify patients at risk
Doctors writing
easier to read!!!
Multimedia capabilities
e.g. scans, x-rays etc. all
available in one record
FatMax 2007. Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.5 License
Patient Records

Security Concerns
(insufficient safeguards)
“Over-reliance” on ICT
Time/cost of inputting large
volumes of data from old
paper based records
CENTRALISED DATABASE
Doctor training – it actually
takes longer for some
doctors to complete
electronic records
Who sees the information?
Some concern over the
content of electronic records
FatMax 2007. Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.5 License
Internet

The Internet is awash with a wide variety of medical
“tools” for both professional and layperson
•
Online diagnosis – expert systems
•
Medical dictionaries
•
“Alternative” treatments
•
Support groups for every
imaginable illness
FatMax 2007. Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.5 License
Internet Services
24/7 access to
information
Reduces the burden on GPs

Patients can make informed
choices e.g. alternative
treatments
Reduces the burden on
hospitals
ONLINE SERVICES
Support for patients
from other sufferers
Cheaper prescription drugs
Note: this is usually illegal
Access to research for professionals
FatMax 2007. Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.5 License
Internet Services
Reliability of websites?
Inaccurate self-diagnosis

Sale of dangerous so-called
“prescription drugs”
ONLINE SERVICES
Digital Divide – who has
access to Internet services?
Temptation for Govt. to
replace “core” services
with cheaper web-based
provision
FatMax 2007. Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.5 License
Medical Equipment

Lots of equipment used in the field of medicine is
dependant on ICT to function effectively
•
•
•
Scanners (e.g. CAT, MRI etc.)
use computers to process data
Microprocessors are used in a
variety of medical devices
Computer guided lasers in
surgery
FatMax 2007. Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.5 License
Medical Research

ICT has changed the way in which medical research is
conducted
•
•
•
Modelling the effects of new drugs
– reduces the need for vivisection
and clinical trials
ICT is used to conduct clinical trials
Collaboration between international
teams e.g. Human Genome Project
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Equipment/Research
New types of surgery
possible
Reduces waiting times in
hospitals

Better quality of life for the
disabled
Collaboration between
healthcare professionals
EQUIPMENT/RESEARCH
Management of
clinical trials online
Miniaturisation of medical devices
Cost reductions – estimated
saving of $200 million and two
years on the cost of developing
new drugs
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Equipment/Research
Hardware/software can
have flaws and break down

Cost – the capital cost of an
MRI scanner is over
£1million!!!
EQUIPMENT/RESEARCH
Training – doctors and
surgeons need to retrain to
use new equipment
“Over-reliance” on ICT
Can never replace clinical
trials
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Expert Systems

A computer system that simulates the knowledge and
expertise of a human specialist e.g. a doctor
•
•
•
Some people prefer the anonymity
of a “robot doctor”
Can be kept up-to-date and
continually added to - acquiring
knowledge faster than any human
Some people prefer a “human
touch”
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Communications 1

Advances in telecommunications are revolutionising the
delivery of out-patient healthcare
•
•
Remote diagnosis can be
used to diagnose and treat
patients remotely
Self monitoring – patients can
monitor/treat their own
conditions at home without the
need for a visit to hospital
FatMax 2007. Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.5 License
Communications 2

Advances in telecommunications are revolutionising the
way health care professionals are able to share
information
•
•
Wireless transmission
provides a vital link between
paramedics and hospitals
Videoconferencing can be
used by professionals to share
expertise with colleagues all
over the world
FatMax 2007. Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.5 License
Summary/Revision

Use the your textbook or
the Internet to make your
OWN notes on
developments in ICT in
Medicine

Your notes should cover the
benefits/drawbacks of
increased use of ICT in
Medicine
FatMax 2007. Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.5 License