The term information technology (IT) includes not only the use of computers but
also communications networks and computer literacy—knowledge of how to use
computer technology. As in other fields, the basic tasks of gathering, allocating, controlling,
and retrieving information are the same. The push to use IT in all aspects
of health care, from the electronic health record (EHR) to integrated hospital
information technology (HIT) systems, makes it crucial for health care professionals
to be familiar with basic computer concepts. In this chapter, we will focus on
computer literacy, computers, and networks. Currently, computer literacy involves
several aspects. A computer literate person knows how to make use of a computer in
his or her field to make tasks easier and to complete them more efficiently, has a
knowledge of terminology, and understands in a broad, general fashion what a computer
is and what its capabilities are. Computer literacy involves knowledge of the Internet and the World Wide Web and the ability to take advantage of their
resources and to critically judge the information.
A computer is an electronic device that accepts data (raw facts) as input, processes,
or alters them in some way and produces useful information as output. A computer
manipulates data by following step-by-step instructions called a program. The
program, the data, and the information are temporarily stored in memory while
processing is going on, and then permanently stored on secondary storage media for
future use. Computers are accurate, fast, and reliable.
“Technology will provide no miracles that feel like miracles for long,” observes editor
and historian Frederick Allen. Adds science-fiction writer Bruce Sterling, “We should
never again feel all mind boggled at anything that human beings create. No matter
how amazing some machine may seem, the odds are very high that we’ll outlive it.”
The personal computer is over two decades old. The Internet has been familiar to the
public for over 10 years. It has been more than five years since the now common place
“www” for World Wide Web began appearing in company ads. And, like
cars, elevators, air-conditioning, and television—all of which have wrought
tremendous changes on society and the landscape—they are rapidly achieving what
technology is supposed to do: become ordinary. They are becoming part of the
wallpaper of our lives, almost invisible.
When computer
and communications technologies are combined, the result is information
technology ”info tech” defined as technology that merges computing with
high-speed communications links carrying data, sound, and video.
Note there are two parts to this definition computers and communications.
A computer is a programmable, multi use machine that accepts data raw facts
and figures and processes, or manipulates, it into information we can use,
such as summaries, totals, or reports.
Communications technology, also called telecommunications technology,
consists of electromagnetic devices and systems for communicating over long
distances. Online means using a computer or other information device,
connected through a voice or data network, to access information and services
from another computer or information device.
Hardware and Software
To understand the myriad uses of IT in health care, you need to familiarize yourself
with computer terminology, hardware, and software applications. Every computer
performs similar functions. Specific hardware is associated with each function.
Input devices take data that humans understand and digitize those data, that is,
translate them into binary forms of ones and zeroes, ons and offs that the computer
processes; a processing unit manipulates data; output devices produce information
that people understand; memory and secondary storage devices hold information,
data, and programs.
Although all computers perform similar functions, they are not the same.
There are several categories based on size, speed, and processing power: supercomputers
are the largest and most powerful. Supercomputers are used for scientific
purposes, such as weather forecasting and drug design. Supercomputers take complex
mathematical data and create simulations of epidemics, pandemics, and other
disasters. Mainframes are less powerful and are used in business for input/output
intensive purposes, such as generating paychecks or processing medical insurance
claims. Minicomputers are scaled-down mainframes; they are multiuser computers
that are used by small businesses. Microcomputers (personal computers) are powerful
enough for an individual’s needs in word processing, spreadsheets, and database
management. Small handheld computers called personal digital assistants (PDAs)
originally could hold only a notepad, a calendar, and an address book. Today,
sophisticated PDAs are used throughout the health care system. Physicians can write
prescriptions on PDAs, consult online databases, and capture patient information
and download it to a hospital computer. PDAs also hold reference manuals and are
used in public health to gather information and help track diseases and epidemics.
The embedded computer is a single-purpose computer on a chip of silicon, which is embedded in anything from appliances to humans. An embedded computer may
help run your car, microwave, pacemaker, or watch. A chip embedded in a human
being can dispense medication, among other things.
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