ICT in Healthcare
Topic 6
WJEC Objectives
• Scanning, life support,
computer controlled
equipment
• sensors (analogue and digital), data measured and its use
• scanning devices; MRI (magnetic resonance image); CAT
(computerised axial tomography)
• advantages and disadvantages of scanning devices
• backup and recovery procedures
• new and future developments and limitations.
• Medical Databases
• electronic patient record keeping (EPR)
• blood bar coding and tracking systems ISBT 128
• use of the Internet, intranets and extranets
• distributed medical databases
• backup and recovery procedures
• new and future developments and limitations.
• Expert systems
• Artificial Intelligence
• neural networks and how parallel processors work
• software languages (PROLOG, ASPRIN)
• expert system shells (knowledge base, inference engine, user interface)
• how expert systems work
• medical uses of expert systems e.g. MYCIN,
NEOMYCIN etc.
• advantages and disadvantages of expert systems.
Medical Expert Systems
• Key word is: Artificial Intelligence
• A system based on Rules to reproduce the
Role of a Human Expert
• Works by using Questions and Answers
– (IF-Then rules)
Medical Expert Systems
• Go on NHS Direct website
• Use system to find out what is wrong with you
• Other Examples
– NEOMYCIN – Used to train doctors
– MYCIN – Helps doctors with obscure cases
and patients can be put on correct
medication
3 Parts to Expert System
LEARN THIS
Knowledge Base
A database of all of the facts
and knowledge on a subject
Inference Engine
A set of rules to base the decisions on
(IF-Then)
User Interface
How the questions and
answers are presented to the
user
Brings the parts of the database
together to answer the questions
being asked
Exam Question
Extensive use is made of Expert Systems.
State the three main components of every
expert system and then describe with
examples the advantages and disadvantages
of using an expert system in medicine. [7]
Exam Question Answers
Medical Databases (ERP)
• Pre-Electronic Database
Storage problems:
Huge number of files
needed
Only one person can
access data at the same
time
Problems with
storing patients
records manually
(paper based)
Records go missing
Handwritten notes messy
And hard to understand
Medical Databases (ERP)
• Patients records now stored electronically
• Data can be accessed by more than one medical
professional at the same time
• No need to transport files (speed of data access)
• Security
• Latest information can be accessed from patients
bedside (example: results from blood tests)
Blood Bar Coding and Tracking
• Tracking of blood across is an essential service
the NHS provide
• It is also essential that it is accurate
• Identify what data is held on the blood and
why it is important that it is tracked correctly
Intranets and Extranets
GP
Consultant
Supplier
Surgeon
Nurse
Distributed Databases
Radiology
Intensive Care
A+E
Pharmacy
Laptop
on the
ward
The user uses one database
software application to access the
information and is likely to be
unaware that the data is not stored
in one place
Patient data is stored on lots of separate databases
Plastics
Surgery
Security
• Access Levels
• Data Encryption
• Passwords
• Audit Trails
Exam Question
• Discuss the reasons why databases were
introduced for storing patient records and
assess the impact they have had upon patient
tracking and monitoring. [6]
Exam Question Answers
Sensors – Analogue to Digital
• Analogue Signals
• Digital Signal
Sensors Used In Hospitals
• What is measured using sensors in hospitals?
•
•
•
•
•
•
Temperature
Blood Pressure
Pulse
Blood Sugar
ECG (Heart Rate)
Respiratory Rate
Advantages
•No “Human Error” – no missed
readings
•More Accurate
•Real Time Monitoring
•Automatically Measure Trends
Scanning Devices
• MRI
• Use Radio Waves to build up a picture of the inside of a
patient
• Used for checking function of organs such as liver, kidney,
spleen, blood vessels and heart damage
• CAT
• Similar x-ray, but multiple x-ray beams are sent out at
different angles to produce a more detailed scan
• Used to pinpoint tumours
Scanning Devices
• Advantages
• Can look at internal organs
in 3D
• MRI scans are safer than XRays
• Higher cure rate due to early
detection
• Reduces the need for
exploratory surgery
• Faster Diagonosis
Disadvantages
• scanning equipment
very expensive
• Exposure to radiation is
dangerous for staff
operating scanners
• Patients have to be still
for about 1 hour in an
MRI machine
Future Technologies
• Home Healthcare
• Video conference using sensors so that consultation with doctor can
be done from home
• Diabetes management
• Automatic blood glucose measurements are taken and if blood
glucose is too low a sensor automatically releases glucose from a
reservoir implanted into patient
• Japanese Toilets
• A Japanese company is developing a toilet that analyses urine and
sends a report automatically to the GP if necessary