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Support the statement, the computer is a tool for informatics , but not the focus.

Marsha, I think you might have been one of the first to hit on the basic computer skills aspect. The computer is a tool, but not everyone has the same level of capability to utilize that tool to the benefit of the patients. However, that doesn't mean they aren't effective at what they do, or that they don't provide adequate patient care that is evidenced based. Therefore, there has to be some other way for them to get or give necessary knowledge. I thin you supported the point that knowledge and literacy are the focus of informatics, and that having basic computer skills is just a way to gain access to the real focus.

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Lindsey I have seen that literature supports the quote you used, “ Informatics, simply stated, is the use of information technology in healthcare (Sewell & Thede, 2013)”. This statement corroborates that information, not computation, is the primary object of study of informatics. A central idea bhind informatics is to process the data to yield the information that is needed to support a specific set of human activities. For example, in the health care systems, time-based, source-based, and problem-oriented medical records predate computers.these are are all important informatics products had nothing to do with computation (i.e., computers) even though now they are integrayted together with the intent to achieve the end result, i.e. optimal patient care.

Bernstam, E. V., Smith, J. W., & Johnson, T. R. (2010).What is biomedical informatics. J Biomed Inform. 43(1), 104. doi: 10.1016/j.jbi.2009.08.006

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No one can argue the fact that computers, even with all the glitches associated with their use, have made life convenient and practical. Tasks that originally took ages to achieve are sorted out and analyzed in a manner and within a time frame that enables the use of processed data (information) so that results are quickly obtained and progress can be made in leaps and bounds. Yet computers are not the focus but rather the tools used for the effective use of communication. But can we do without computers? Not necessarily so because even though there are other informatics tools like information architecture, ontologies, and book indices that do not depend on computers, the amount of data and available information is increasing exponentially. This makes computation increasingly important. However computerizing health care requires understanding culture, processes and workflow.

Bernstam, E. V., Smith, J. W., & Johnson, T. R. (2010).What is biomedical informatics. J Biomed Inform. 43(1), 104. doi: 10.1016/j.jbi.2009.08.006

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A computer is just a tool in informatics because a computer can't make a decision, only a human can. A computer, in informatics, is a tool that a nurse or any other healthcare provider controls. It is only a resource. Computers allow healthcare providers to document information in a timely and less redundant manner. The overall focus of informatics is to improve patient outcomes. This is done by combining nursing science, information science, and computer science. Patient outcomes depend on all three of these and not just one.

Communication among healthcare providers is vital in patient care. Technology saves time and allows access to a patient's documentation with a click of a button, but it also takes time away from what the main focus of healthcare is, which are the patients. More time is spent on documentation, than on direct patient care. Also, the use of technology leaves room for error. If something is documented wrong or in an insufficient manner, this could lead to problems with patient outcomes.

Kaminski, J. (2011). Utility: a revealing of nursing informatics. Retrieved from Utility: The Revealing of Nursing Informatics: Exploring the Field.....

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In order for nurses to utilize information to provide adequate bedside or community care, nurses must have the knowledge of technology and computers. Technology harbors the information of our patients and their care. Although it is not the focus of care and our patients are, it is still an essential tool for literature of our patients. Some healthcare professionals have become so focused on gaining the information from technology and have simply lost touch with the patients. The patient is the primary source for information. "Having informatics implemented into our care has a positive effect that information technology has on nurses' ability to attend to documentation in a more timely and less redundant manner." (Nursing Informatics, 2011)

A Revealing of Nursing Informatics. Utility. (2011). Retrieved from Utility: The Revealing of Nursing Informatics: Exploring the Field.....

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Katrina,

Informatics is an important tool for us as nurses to implement and I do agree that it is to improve patient outcomes.

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Esha,

I see that you are all for the implementation of technology and computers, but as we grow with in the technology lets not forget about our main source: the patient.

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Jauclyn,

I agree with you whole-heartedly. The quality of the care that is provided is very much dependent upon the effectiveness of communication. We see this everyday in our clinical settings.

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Jauclyn, I agree that timeliness and effectiveness of informatics is essential in patient care. If someone is confused about how a system works, they might document wrong or maybe even skip documenting on something that could be vital to a patient's health. Important information can be easily overlooked or missed if communication among healthcare team members is not efficient.

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Lindsay,

I don't know where to begin. Great points made. I do agree and like how you elaborated on the use of technology as it relates computers being used as a method to make information more readily available.

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Esha, I agree that it doesn't matter on what technology is available if the flow of communication is not efficient. Technology hasn't always been available and healthcare depended solely on the communication of healthcare providers.

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Lindsey, I agree that computers are not required for informatics. True enough, it makes information more readily available which in turn makes healthcare more efficient, but it definitely is not a necessity.

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