In this fascinating book David Ingram traces the history of information technology and health informatics from its pioneers in the middle of the twentieth century to its latest developments. The book is distinctive in its broad scope and coverage and as the eyewitness account of an author who became the first UK professor appointed with the mission to bridge information technology with everyday medicine, health, and care. In this role, he has been a co-founder and leader of two rapidly growing initiatives, openEHR and OpenEyes, which stem from international collaborations of universities, health services and industries. These open source and open platform technologies have struck a widely resonant chord worldwide through their focus on community interest endeavours and open access to their methods and outputs. Set against the history of extremely costly, burdensome, and serially unsuccessful top-down attempts of governments to tackle the domain, the book argues for a greater focus on shared endeavours of this kind, contributing towards a standardized care information utility that incorporates methods and resources evolved, shared, and sustained in the public domain. As information technologies are now at the very core of health care, shaping the relationship between medical services and communities, professions, organisations and industries this book is important reading for politicians, health care academics, administrators and providers, and to anybody interested in the future of health services in the digital age.
Type of Material:
Open (Access) Textbook
Recommended Uses:
Homework
Lecture
Class activities
Flipped classroom activities
Team work
Self-paced activities
Technical Requirements:
Internet access
Major web browser to access source
Identify Major Learning Goals:
As information technologies are now at the very core of health care, shaping the relationship between medical services and communities, professions, organizations and industries this book is important reading for politicians, health care academics, administrators and providers, and to anybody interested in the future of health services in the digital age.
At the completion of this OER source, the user will
Describe the adventure of ideas that has powered the rise of computer science and Technology.
Describe the impact of computer science and technology on the advance of life sciences, medicine and health as they move into and through the information age.
Target Student Population:
Graduate School
Professional
Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:
Computer technology
Information Technology
Health Informatics
General history
Content Quality
Rating:
Strengths:
Historical to current, accurate, relevant and supported by literature.
Ease of reading with exceptional flow of content.
This book is of high level analysis for highly educated reading.
Content appropriate for healthcare professionals - not overly simplistic
The book is a clear and complete demonstration of technology history related to medical usage.
Concerns:
The book is a detailed historical overview. It is not flexible and easily applied.
Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool
Rating:
Strengths:
In the right context and with the right audience, it provides a unique perspective that could help shape the thinking processes of future technology development.
The material demonstrates relationships between concepts.
Content is presented in a manner that is easy to follow
Major tenets develop into strong conceptual understanding
As a historical perspective may provide useful information.
Concerns:
Could be strengthened by including a section of applicability to modern healthcare or medicine.
The objectives are not always clear. Consider adding objectives for what the audience can take away from each section.
Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty
Rating:
Strengths:
The book is available online, download PDF, and print (cost).
The book includes selectable headings and text.
Images include source citations and descriptions of the images.
The Appendixes are helpful and noteworthy.
The website and links is in working order.
Navigation is clear and consistent throughout book.
Concerns:
The material lacks visual appeal. Could be strengthened by having more definitive chapters designated, with separations. The way it’s formatted, each section runs into the next so it’s not as visually appealing. Consider adding chapter review questions to make the material more engaging and prompts the reader to apply the material.
There are no clear instructions for the use of the material.
The material lacks critical elements that will enable inclusivity.
Creative Commons:
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