Medical

Informatics
Dr.T.V.Rao MD

Professor Of Microbiology

Dr.T.V.Rao MD

Albert Einstein

Imagination is
more
important
than
knowledge"

Dr.T.V.Rao MD

Informatics
The application of
information
technologies to
optimize the
information
management
function within an
organization
Dr.T.V.Rao MD

Information technology
Any technology which
processes and
communicates data,
includes:
computers, voice, data
and image sensing and
communications
devices, graphics
devices, multi-media
storage, etc.
pen, paper, telephones
and fax machines
Dr.T.V.Rao MD

Medical Informatics
"the science of analysis, documentation,

steering, control and synthesis of

information processes within the health
care delivery system, especially in the
classical environment and medical
practice".
Recihertz P
Protokoll der Klausurtagung Ausbildungsziele, Inhalte und Methoden in
der Medizinischen Informatik
Ulm: Reisenberg/b. 1973
Dr.T.V.Rao MD

Health or Medical Informatics

The terms 'medical informatics' and 'health informatics'
have been variously defined, but can be best understood as
the understanding, skills and tools that enable the sharing
and use of information to deliver healthcare and promote
health. 'Health informatics' is now tending to replace the
previously commoner term 'medical informatics', reflecting
a widespread concern to define an information agenda for
health services which recognises the role of citizens as
agents in their own care, as well as the major informationhandling roles of the non-medical healthcare professions.
BMIS (2002)

Dr.T.V.Rao MD

Medical Informatics
Knowledge
Management

Clinical Information
Management

Communication

Decision Support

Dr.T.V.Rao MD

Health Informatics
Health informatics is seen as to be concerned
with the individual and group behaviour of
health care personnel in their interaction
with information and information
technologies.
Medical informatics is seen to be rooted in
medicine and computer science
the social, organizational, and policy
aspects of information technology are not
usually taken into consideration
Dr.T.V.Rao MD

Health Informatics consists of

Information Technology
Health care
Research
Education

Fundamentals

Dr.T.V.Rao MD

Communication
Knowledge Management
Decision support
Clinical Information
Management
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Are too slow adopting the change

Medical schools
have long
recognized the
need to revise
their teaching
methodology, but
have been slow to
change.
Dr.T.V.Rao MD

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Why Learn Medical Informatics?

In the 1920-1930s the
Radio was very cool.
In those days, the Radio
was not a black box
with buttons you have
in your car.
To get a good reception,
you had to know a little
bit about electronics
and things...
Dr.T.V.Rao MD

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Why Learn Medical Informatics?

Computers are fast and
affordable today.
If you dont know a
little bit about what
"coils are inside you will get frustrated
and will bother other
people.
And yet we want
computers and IT now!
Dr.T.V.Rao MD

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ICT based Leaning

As we have to use information and
communication technologies (ICT) in
education but how to do so, and how to
ensure equitable access for teachers and
learners, ICT removes problems
concerning space and time. Computers
are increasingly used in medical
education.
Dr.T.V.Rao MD

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The first challenge

We have to prepare
future physicians for the
changing behaviors of
patients, who are
increasingly Internetsavvy and who
sometimes appear to
know more about their
diseases than their own
teachers
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The second challenge

This is closely linked to
the first, is to raise
awareness among
physicians and Medical
students in training of the
many benefits of using
ICT to Improve not only
the quality of
interventions and health
care delivery but, from a
broader perspective, the
organization of the health
care system itself
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The third challenge

Is to motivate medical students and practitioners
to use ICT to find information, learn and develop.
It is proposed that information
Literacy should be a mandatory skill for all
medical students. The e-learning mode of training
is also addressed. Although underemployed in
most medical faculties, it represents the future of
initial and continuous medical training. Virtual
resources and communities, simulations and 3D
animations are also discussed.
Dr.T.V.Rao MD

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The fourth challenge.

A further
challenge inherent
to the use of ICT in
medical education
is how to
implement this
innovation into
teaching and
learning

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Objectives: To train all the

Medical students and Faculty in
the Medical information and
Technology

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Medical Education is shifting to

Problem based learning
There has been a
philosophical shift in
medical education in
recent years.
Pioneered by the
McMaster and Newcastle
medical schools, there
has been a move from the
traditional lecturefocussed program to a
problem-based approach
(Harden).
Dr.T.V.Rao MD

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Information fluency is the intersection of information

literacy, computer literacy and critical thinking.

Dr.T.V.Rao MD

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Computers Medicine
Computer
and power of
computers in
the science
and medicine
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Modern Methods of
www.search
Use of
Internet,
Modern
methods in
Internet
search
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ICT Medicine
Information
and
communicatio
n technology
for Medical
professionals
Dr.T.V.Rao MD

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E-learning and Resources

Retrieval of
Medical
information
e-learning in
Medicine
Podcasting and
Video casting in
Medicine
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Contributing on WWW

Contributing
and sharing
our
knowledge
on World Wide Web
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Medical Informatics Improves Educational

Strategies
Didactic vs problem
solving
Competencies
Word processing
Information retrieval
Information
management
Data analysis
Presentation
Communication skills
E-mail, file transfer, web

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Knowledge is exploding and

Patients are demanding

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Medical Education is shifting to

Problem based learning
There has been a
philosophical shift in
medical education in
recent years.
Pioneered by the
McMaster and Newcastle
medical schools, there
has been a move from the
traditional lecturefocussed program to a
problem-based approach
(Harden).
Dr.T.V.Rao MD

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Orientation by teachers is the primary

goal
By making our primary goal
the preparation of students
to be medical information
managers, we have a strong
rationale for the inclusion of
medical informatics
applications into the
curriculum. This goal also
provides a criterion by
which the appropriateness
of curricular offerings can
be judged and the
outcomes of instruction can
be evaluated.
Dr.T.V.Rao MD

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Informatics Use in Health Care

Communication

Decision Support

Telemedicine
Tele-radiology
Patient e-mail
Presentations

Reminder systems
Diagnostic Expert Systems
Drug Interaction

Knowledge management

Information Management

Journals
Consumer Health information
Evidence-based medical
information

Dr.T.V.Rao MD

Electronic Medical Records

Billing transactions
Ordering Systems

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Computer-aided instruction
These include computer-aided instruction,
learning about computers and their applications,
use of computer-based information resources,
use of computers as a tool and as a mechanism
for information management, decision support
and communication.) While medical informatics
includes computer applications, it is not limited
only to the use of computers, but includes the
knowledge, skills and attitudes involved in
seeking, manipulating and using biomedical
information.
Dr.T.V.Rao MD

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Best strategy/practice?!

Allow users/students to do the work themselves. Then, we should

simply follow up with them to make sure that they are successful.
Socratic questioning (i.e., reference interview) is useful too!
Dr.T.V.Rao MD

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Faculty should provide electronic

information
Faculty must identify the
prerequisite information
and skills that students
need to enable them to
access electronic
information sources, as well
as the course content the
student needs to "know"
and the information the
student needs to "know
how to access"
electronically.
Dr.T.V.Rao MD

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Virtual reality in teaching a priority in

Medical Education
The use of virtual reality
in simulated procedures
is a new application of
computers in medical
education and is as yet
in its infancy.
Procedures can be
standardised and
trainees able to test and
practice their skills.
Dr.T.V.Rao MD

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Medical Informatics to be part of Curriculum

Medical informatics to be incorporated into
medical school curricula in developing world.
So Medical informatics allows physicians to
access, analyze, and manage information so
that they can make educated decisions in
patient care .The use of computers and the
related technology is essential for
communication and information-sharing with
colleagues, for public and patient education,
and for professional development
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Continued efforts by Faculty will

create interest
Continued efforts must be
made to teach them the
skills necessary so that
they can benefit from
available and evolving
technology. In addition,
we recommend that
students be introduced to
computer-based testing
early in their medical
school careers to improve
their comfort levels with
this medium
Dr.T.V.Rao MD

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So, I think information fluency is

communicating, problem
solving, evaluating, analyzing,
synthesizing, and reflecting on
the entire process.

having the ability to think critically while being able to apply this
thinking across a variety of literacies (e.g., information,
technological, cultural, scientific etc.) in order to foster
understanding, support sound decision-making, and guide action in
the classroom and beyond!

Dr.T.V.Rao MD

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Students should develop interest in electronic

information
Students' attitudes toward
their education may also
have to change. Students
need to learn that they
must be information
seekers as well as
information managers. They
also need to acquire
knowledge about relevant
sources of information, and
the skills to access
electronic information.
Dr.T.V.Rao MD

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Medical Informatics makes the better

Health Managers
Our primary goal the
preparation of students
to be medical
information managers,
we have a strong
rationale for the
inclusion of medical
informatics applications
into the curriculum.

Dr.T.V.Rao MD

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Progress of Medical Informatics

Many Medical Informatics research centres
developed computerized medical record
systems
Incorporating Medical Informatics design
principles.
With the shift to clinician-driven designs
Many of these survived today and others are
making a resurgence
Dr.T.V.Rao MD

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Patient data is most important source of information

Change from Hard copy to Soft copies
As medical knowledge
continues to expand rapidly
with demands for more
efficient coordination of
patient data become
paramount, and the
pressures for improved
practice and application of
evidence based medicine
increases, medical
informatics will have
increasing influence in our
working lives as clinicians.
Dr.T.V.Rao MD

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An information literate individual

Determines the extent of information needed.

Accesses the needed information effectively and efficiently.

Evaluates information and its sources critically.

Incorporates selected information into ones knowledge base.

Uses information effectively to accomplish a specific purpose.

Understands the economic, legal, and social issues

surrounding the use of information, and access and use
information ethically and legally.
Source: ACRLDr.T.V.Rao
Information
MDLiteracy Competency Standards for Higher Education

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No matter what the future brings

we will always need the skills to
think critically about whatever
information is in front of us
regardless of format. Technology
cannot truly comprehend for us!

Dr.T.V.Rao MD

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Information technology is not a remedy for all

ills in Medical Education
Information
technology must not
be viewed as a
potential cure to the
current ailments of
medical education. It
may be part of the
solution and should
be treated as such
Dr.T.V.Rao MD

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Training Our Medicos a Priority

Medical informatics
certainly helps to fill
the gaps in teaching
methods. Training
our Medicos in ICT
will change the
perceptions of
Health care and
Delivery system.
Dr.T.V.Rao MD

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e- books and e-resources

Electronic learning (elearning) is moving from
textbooks in electronic
format (that are
increasingly enhanced by
the use of multimedia
adjuncts) to a truly
interactive medium that
can be delivered to meet
the educational needs of
students and
postgraduate learners
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Indian Journal of Medical Informatics

(IJMI)
Indian Journal of
Medical Informatics
(IJMI) is an Open
Access, peer-reviewed,
online journal adopting
a broad definition of
"medical informatics"
and focusing on the
applied aspects of
computers to
healthcare delivery.
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Summary
Medical Informatics discipline is not new
Yet appears to only be in its infancy in terms of
enhancing medical practice
Medical Informatics has the potential to
benefit patient care as much as a newly
discovered drug / therapy
Yet direct benefits will not come in classic
form therapeutic interventions.
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 Created by Dr.T.V.Rao MD for e learning

resources for Medical professionals in
Developing World
Email
doctortvrao@gmail.com

Dr.T.V.Rao MD

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