Health Informatics:
A Global Perspective
Tara Douglas-Williams, MSLS
Atlanta Medical Center
Georgia Health Sciences Library Association
March 7, 2008
Topics to Discuss
• Introduction to Health Informatics
• Global/Public Health
• Medical Informatics & Health Science
Librarianship
• Challenges & Opportunities
Informatics
Informatics includes the science of information, the practice of
information processing, and the engineering of information
systems. - Wikipedia
Dental
Nursing
Health
Consumer
Bio
Public
Pharmacy
Clinical
Health Informatics
(Medical Informatics)
The intersection of information science,
computer science and health care.
Math
Computer
Science
HEALTH
Information
Science
Medical Informatics
• Has been defined as the art and science of
organizing knowledge of human health and
disease and making it accessible and useful for
problem solving
• The internet is truly the defining information
structure of the global village.
Bull Med Libr Assoc 84(1);1996:11-16
The Informatics of health care reform
Health Informatics
Tools include:
• clinical guidelines
• medical terminologies
• information systems
• communication systems
Global Organizations
• World Health Organization (WHO)
www.who.int/en
• US Healthy People 2010
www.health.gov/healthypeople
• CDC Global Health website www.cdc.gov/ogh
CDC website
Public Health
• Health promotion and disease prevention is an
aspect of public health practice that can be
dramatically transformed by informatics
• Career opportunities, innovative
collaborations, consumer health application
development, networking opportunities with
national and global organizations
Rita Kukafka – Health Promotion Practice
Public Health Informatics
• Public Health is concerned with improving the health
of entire populations
• Informing, educating, and empowering people about
health issues
• Research for new insights and innovative solutions to
health problems
• Diagnosing and investigating health problems and
hazards in the community
Building better connections: the National Library of Medicine and public health
Betsy L. Humphreys, MLS, AHIP
J Med Libr Assoc 95(3) July 2007 pgs 293-300
Medical Informatics & Health
Science Librarianship
• delivery of relevant information to
clients in clinics, laboratories and other
health related work environments
• creating knowledge-based products and
resources
Medical Informatics & Health
Sciences Librarianship
Informaticians and Librarians are both
analyzing how to best integrate filtered
knowledge into decision support systems
for clinicians and researchers
New Definition of Health Sciences
Informatics
Health sciences informatics addresses
how health-related information is
structured, acquired, and utilized.
Preparing for New Challenges
• Changes in health care delivery and
information technology
• Biomedical informatics applications have
the potential to bridge the gap between
the pool of scientific knowledge and
individuals’ health care-related
information needs
Preparing for New Challenges
• Librarians are uniquely equipped to
understand and provide linkages
between information resources and
those who seek assistance
• There is an increasing convergence
between informatics and librarianship
Preparing for New Challenges
The goal is to engage students and
practitioners in the process of becoming
self-directed learners
Preparing for New Challenges
• Delivering health care globally
• Addressing societal problems
• Health Literacy
• Digital Divide
Opportunities
• Point-of-Care (EBM) & Ethnically relevant
resources
• Research (Clinical Trials)
• Health Information Programs
• Information Rx
• Patient Education Materials
• Web 2.0 Technologies
Opportunities
• Patient care systems
• Telemedicine
• Image Management Systems
• Computer aided surgery
• EMRs
Conclusion
• Building Trust
• Effective Partnerships
• Take Personal Responsibility
• Global Perspective of Health Information
and the dissemination
© Dept. of Global Health – University of South Florida