Computers In Medical Field Essay -- Information Technology Essays

Introduction Today, in the United States, we all live in an age of technology and science. The use of technology and science has revolutionized our way of life. There are few things in history that have influenced our lives more than a computer. Today, there cannot be any field that is absent of the influence of computer applications. From farming to rocket science, computers have a huge role to play. The use of the computer has been on the increase for some time in many fields. Medicine is one of the many fields that have made tremendous strides in the twentieth century due to the advent of computers. Computers are used in medicine in almost all areas. Whether it is data management, diagnosis, or treatment, computers have there own applications. Everything we know today in medicine might not have been possible without the valuable contribution of computers. The Role of Computers in Storing Information Computers have been used as storage devices for medical information for many years. Computer-based patient records are good examples to prove the worth of computers as information storage. Due to startup and running costs, possibility for abuse, poor functioning, and the risk of loss of confidentiality, they were not used very much in the past. Now, they have become almost indispensable. Computer-based patient records have many advantages. They "have the potential to improve legibility, accessability, structure..."(Medical Informantics) the possibility of integration with telemedicine, and increased ability to collect health information. Computers are used for scheduling and appointment keeping. They are used to keep track of patients' visits. With the help of word processors, letters are typed and sent to... ...rt of medicine. Neither can they eliminate the need of human beings. What they can do is help us bring relevant and timely information to use on our care of individual patients. They can also help run the medical offices or hospitals in a way that makes good business sense. That is why many physicians have embraced the computer and made information technology an integral part of their approach to patient care. That is why they have been able to meet the increasing needs of the patents remarkably well. http://www.medicinenet.com/cat_scan/article.htm http://trc.telemed.org/telemedicine/primer.asp http://www.vet.uga.edu/mis/what.php http://www.mieur.nl/mihandbook/r_3_3/handbook/home.htm http://www.mieur.nl/mihandbook/r_3_3/handbook/home.htm (Much info I got was from this) If I forget we may want to think about getting rid of Advantages/Disadvantages sections