What is Health Care Informatics?

Health care informatics is a discipline that involves the tracking, storing and communication of important health information between practitioners and organizations in the medical field. Many areas have laws governing how the information is stored in order to protect patient's privacy. 

Definition

Health care informatics, also known as medical informatics, is the combination of information, technology and medical devices used in medical research and patient treatment. With advancements in technology, the medical field is far more advanced in the ability to collect, analyze and distribute medical information to a variety of medical disciplines.

Tools

Medical informatics draw on a variety of tools and disciplines. Computers hold and organize information. Medical devices monitor health conditions and deliver important health-related information. The ability to move this information between practitioners, researchers and various medical fields increases chances of solving difficult problems in medicine.

Laws and Regulations

Health care laws are generally established in regards to health care informatics to ensure confidential patient information is handled properly. Since the retrieval and storing of medical information technologically, and may be easily accessed, medical practitioners must comply with specific requirements to protect the information and only share without violation of a patient's rights.

Many countries appoint specific government agencies or committees to ensure practitioners and medical organizations understand rules related to the management of health informatics. It is common knowledge that high-quality record management is important and conducive for generating advancements in the medical field and creating more effective treatments for patients.