This study uses the article by Williams, Oke, and Zachary (2019) entitled “Public Health Delivery in the Information Age: The Role of Informatics and Technology”. The decision to choose it was informed by its rich content with respect to the effective means of obtaining, studying, and managing medical information, and using health concepts alongside technological systems to assist caregivers in the provision of quality care. In the past couple of decades, the medical sector has adopted information technology as a vital revolutionary tool for the management of change, improvement of care delivery, assurance of quality, and health promotion (Coiera, Ammenwerth, Georgiou, & Magrabi, 2018). Health professionals use different information systems to facilitate real-time inspection networks, gather data, distribute information, and enhance rapid, effective communication.
Report Content
The article by Williams et al. (2019) relates to health informatics as its purpose was to assess the application of information technology tools and their influence on the quality of care. The researchers affirm that medical systems have resorted to the utilization of information technology and health informatics to enhance care delivery. International outbreaks such as Ebola and Zika were successfully controlled as electronic surveillance networks facilitated effective information sharing and communication. There is a need for continued research to develop a more successful technological system to ensure timely pandemic prevention and the quick sharing of vital details (Rao & Srivastava, 2019).
Reaction to some outbreaks has been challenging because of ineffective medical infrastructure, poor geographical and cultural acquaintance with the infection, and mistrust in government and health professionals (Beard, Wentz, & Scotch, 2018). To overcome the existing challenges, there is a need for valuable systems to identify and thwart the effects of infectious diseases. Additionally, reinforcement of the global surge capacity, meticulous training of scientists and caregivers, fast and trustworthy laboratory tests, information technology systems, and enhancement of disease prevention and control are crucial. There is a necessity for excellent international response systems, actions, and policies that encompass short-term and long-term strategies of tackling threats, improving the quality of care, and dealing with future disease outbreaks.
In their study, Williams et al. (2019) sought information from six reputable databases, for example, MEDLINE and CINAHL. They classified the research studies into three groups, which included the description of health informatics, forms of surveillance systems and their impact on medical care, and the concerns of functionality, problems, capacity, and training. The analysis established that, because of the mounting anticipations to offer real-time reaction and patient-centered evidence-based care, there has been an upsurge of information technology and informatics implementation. Nevertheless, hindrances such as interoperability, confidentiality, technology transfer, effective communication, knowledge sharing, and standardization of data abound. Re-engineering the provision of healthcare is vital to the satisfaction of the rising demands. This necessitates investment in personnel training and development and capacity building through edification in informatics. The objective of successful medical education should be to prepare learners for the future by generating an ambiance that backs the teaching of public health informatics, competencies, and proficiencies.
Regardless of the current successes, the health care sector requires highly advanced technology that is focused on successful collaboration among professionals, agencies, and other stakeholders to ensure sufficient pandemic forecasting and communication. It is also crucial to establish and uphold a solid basis that embraces core operations for an effective emergency reaction prior to a crisis. Additionally, the application of incident management support is paramount for positive patient outcomes. Therefore, health care institutions and all medical professionals should proactively involve governmental and non-governmental stakeholders, as well as research studies, for instance, the one conducted by Williams et al. (2019), in a bid to create robust information systems and emergency management approaches alongside surge capacity.
Summary
Informatics will improve the manner in which caregivers manage, examine, interpret, and implement medical information for improved health systems. It has the potential to decrease the cost of treatment, enhance the quality of life, evade preventable infections, promote excellent health care, predict emergencies, and avert looming epidemics. Integrated approach on numerous facets of health care delivery assists in making valuable decisions and ensuring the most successful diagnosis and population-centered treatment. Although there are numerous challenges in the health care sector, exploiting the available opportunities associated with informatics and information technology will result in effective systems. Improved communication and information management to detect and analyze diseases and epidemics while accelerating response for timely systems will assist in tackling the existing health problems.
The knowledge gained from the article will enable effective protection of the health of populations and improvement of care by using helpful systems, enhancing communication, sharing of data, and preventing disease. This will lead to numerous achievements in the delivery of quality care. Future patients will benefit from such things as increased life expectancy, decrease in maternal and child mortality, prevention of epidemics, and effective avoidance and treatment of chronic diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular ailments, and workplace-linked injuries. To tackle public health problems internationally, health administrators require timely and valuable information that enhances evidence-based care. Sufficient preparation for pandemics and adverse events through health informatics is essential to prevent panic and ensure successful protection of the entire population.
References
Beard, R., Wentz, E., & Scotch, M. (2018). A systematic review of spatial decision support systems in public health informatics supporting the identification of high risk areas for zoonotic disease outbreaks. International Journal of Health Geographics, 17(38), 1-19.
Coiera, E., Ammenwerth, E., Georgiou, A., & Magrabi, F. (2018). Does health informatics have a replication crisis? Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association, 25(8), 963-968.
Rao, A., & Srivastava, A. (2019). Big data in health informatics. ASCI Journal of Management, 47(2), 36-46.
Williams, F., Oke, A., & Zachary, I. (2019). Public health delivery in the information age: The role of informatics and technology. Perspectives in Public Health, 20(11), 1-19.