Health Informatics
Health informatics is the science behind the convergence of healthcare, information technology and business. The practice of health informatics deals with the storage, retrieval, sharing, and optimal use of data that relates to human health, and considers how we use this knowledge for problem solving and decision making. Sometimes called digital health or e-health, the field of health informatics underpins a nation’s ability to deliver an affordable, flexible health system that provides better health outcomes to citizens.
At its core, health informatics is about getting the right information to the right person at the right time. It is critical to the delivery of information to healthcare professionals so they can deliver the most appropriate care.
Health Informatics underpins a nation's ability to deliver an affordable, flexible health system that will provide better health outcomes to citizens.
Active project areas within health informatics include:
- Electronic Health Records
- Knowledge Management
- Decision support
- Telemedicine and telehealth
- Standards
- Evidence for benefit/harm
- Ethics and Security
Based on international trends, the NZ health sector needs to be ready to support further changes in communication technologies, portability, genomics, and telehealth. In addition to managing the changing public expectations of access to their health information.
Reference: What is Health Informatics? - Health Informatics New Zealand (hinz.org.nz)