Information Concepts

I want to point out how we use data and information in our daily life. There are variety of ways we use information and data in our daily life. Such as using computer at work place to feed information or to get information, using cell phones, GPS navigation system in cars and cell phones, online banking, etc. I would like to talk about how information and data used in healthcare settings and their differences. “Data refers to the lowest abstract or a raw input which when processed or arranged makes meaningful output. Information is usually the processed outcome of data.” (2) “Information is central to the delivery of medical care. This simple fact is well understood. It is the driving force behind continuing efforts to apply computers to the task of managing information in the hospital setting.” (3)

Hospitals and health care organization use data and information in variety of ways. I have been working in different hospital settings, and I find it easier to use computer charting than manual charting. Some of the disadvantages to manual charting is open access to patient’s information to other people and it is an invasion of patient privacy. Valuable information such as patient personal information, insurance information, medical diagnosis, physician progress notes etc. which should be kept confidential and only be handled by professionals who has access to the system. The use of information system helped better patient care, more safety and cost effective services in hospitals.

“Even though information technology is now common in a number of hospitals and biomedical laboratories, in the 1950s only a small number of scientists imagined its enormous potential. In 1967, supported by NCRR, doctor Homer Warner led a seminal effort that created one of the first bioinformatics systems.” “As computer systems advanced, in the 1970s a hospital information system named HELP developed (Health Evaluation through Logical Processing), which collected extensive patient data. This integrative approach to organizing and storing patient information gave health professionals access to the totality of records in one system, which supported their decision making.” (1).

Work Cited
1. Staropoli, Al. “Use Of Information Technology In Hospitals”
2. http://www.differencebetween.net/language/difference-between-data-and information/
3. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2248080/pdf/procascamc00003-0200.pdf