Showing papers in "Yearb Med Inform in 2008"

Extracting information from textual documents in the electronic health record: a review of recent research.

Abstract: Objectives: We examine recent published research on the extraction of information from textual documents in the Electronic Health Record (EHR). Methods: Literature review of the research published after 1995, based on PubMed, conference proceedings, and the ACM Digital Library, as well as on relevant publications referenced in papers already included. Results: 174 publications were selected and are discussed in this review in terms of methods used, pre-processing of textual documents, contextual features detection and analysis, extraction of information in general, extraction of codes and of information for decision-support and enrichment of the EHR, information extraction for surveillance, research, automated terminology management, and data mining, and de-identification of clinical text. Conclusions: Performance of information extraction systems with clinical text has improved since the last systematic review in 1995, but they are still rarely applied outside of the laboratory they have been developed in. Competitive challenges for information extraction from clinical text, along with the availability of annotated clinical text corpora, and further improvements in system performance are important factors to stimulate advances in this field and to increase the acceptance and usage of these systems in concrete clinical and biomedical research contexts. Cli

Technologies for an aging society: a systematic review of "smart home" applications.

Abstract: Objectives A “smart home” is a residence wired with technology features that monitor the well-being and activities of their residents to improve overall quality of life, increase independence and prevent emergencies. This type of informatics applications targeting older adults, people with disabilities or the general population is increasingly becoming the focus of research worldwide. The aim of this study was to provide a comprehensive review of health related smart home projects and discuss human factors and other challenges. MethodsTo cover not only the medical but also the social sciences and electronics literature, we conducted extensive searches across disciplines (e.g., Medline , Embase , CINAHL, PsycINFO, Electronics and Communications Abstracts, Web of Science etc.). In order to be inclusive of all new initiatives and efforts in this area given the innovativeness of the concept, we manually searched for relevant references in the retrieved articles as well as published books on smart homes and gerontechnology Results A total of 114 publications (including papers, abstracts and web pages) were identified and reviewed to identify the overarching projects. Twenty one smart home projects were identified (71% of the projects include technologies for functional monitoring, 67% for safety monitoring, 47% for physiological monitoring, 43% for cognitive support or sensory aids, 19% for monitoring security and 19% to increase social interaction). Evidence for their impact on clinical outcomes is lacking. Conclusions The field of smart homes is a growing informatics domain. Several challenges including not only technical but also ethical ones need to be addressed.

Biomedical ontologies in action: role in knowledge management, data integration and decision support.

Abstract: Objectives: To provide typical examples of biomedical ontologies in action, emphasizing the role played by biomedical ontologies in knowledge management, data integration and decision support. Methods: Biomedical ontologies selected for their practical impact are examined from a functional perspective. Examples of applications are taken from operational systems and the biomedical literature, with a bias towards recent journal articles. Results: The ontologies under investigation in this survey include SNOMED CT, the Logical Observation Identifiers, Names, and Codes (LOINC), the Foundational Model of Anatomy, the Gene Ontology, RxNorm, the National Cancer Institute Thesaurus, the International Classification of Diseases, the Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) and the Unified Medical Language System (UMLS). The roles played by biomedical ontologies are classified into three major categories: knowledge management (indexing and retrieval of data and information, access to information, mapping among ontologies); data integration, exchange and semantic interoperability; and decision support and reasoning (data selection and aggregation, decision support, natural language processing applications, knowledge discovery). Conclusions: Ontologies play an important role in biomedical research through a variety of applications. While ontologies are used primarily as a source of vocabulary for standardization and integration purposes, many applications also use them as a source of computable knowledge. Barriers to the use of ontologies in biomedical applications are discussed.s in

Accessing and integrating data and knowledge for biomedical research.

Abstract: Summary Objectives: To review the issues that have arisen with the advent of translational research in terms of integration of data and knowledge, and survey current efforts to address these issues. Methods: Using examples form the biomedical literature, we identified new trends in biomedical research and their impact on bioinformatics. We analyzed the requirements for effective knowledge repositories and studied issues in the integration of biomedical knowledge. Results: New diagnostic and therapeutic approaches based on gene expression patterns have brought about new issues in the statistical analysis of data, and new workflows are needed are needed to support translational research. Interoperable data repositories based on standard annotations, infrastructures and services are needed to support the pooling and meta-analysis of data, as well as their comparison to earlier experiments. High-quality, integrated ontologies and knowledge bases serve as a source of prior knowledge used in combination with traditional data mining techniques and contribute to the development of more effective data analysis strategies.

Health and biomedical informatics: opportunities and challenges for a twenty-first century profession and its education.

Abstract: Objectives: Characterize the health and biomedical informatics workforce, its professionalization, and its education. Methods: Literature review and analysis. Results: Although the value of health information technology is increasingly well-documented, there are still barriers to its widespread adoption around the world. One of those barriers is a well-defined and competent workforce for developing, evaluating, and implementing systems. There are plenty of opportunities in health and biomedical informatics, yet there also is still much that we do not know about this workforce and its education. Conclusions: Continued efforts must be made to characterize and understand the optimal organization and education of this workforce.

Assessing the Capital Efficiency of Healthcare Information Technologies Investments: An Econometric Perspective

Abstract: Objectives:To examine the different methods that can be used in the quantification of the added value of information technologies (IT) in the health care sector. This quantification represents a major issue for decision-makers and health care professionals when they have to plan an IT investment. Methods: Articles were chosen via Medline, internet and the University of Geneva bibliographic portal. Some of the papers were obtained directly from their authors. We examine the most current methods used to evaluate IT return on investment (ROI) in the general business and in the health care sector, drawing attention on methods traditionally used in macroeconomic studies that could reveal themselves disruptive for IT ROI impact evaluation in hospitals. Results: Financial and accounting methods can provide interesting data on a specific IT project but are usually incomplete for revealing the global IT investment influence. Econometric methods tend to demonstrate the positive impact of health care IT (HIT) on hospital production and productivity. Hospitals having higher levels of IT investment tend to deliver a higher level of clinical quality and show improved hospital cost performances. Conclusions: Information technologies are so intermingled with people and processes that the identification of specific IT benefit remains questionable. Using macroeconomic tools could be the best way to analyze and compute IT ROI in health care. Econometric tools take into account all types investments (inputs) and all the returns (outputs) enabling the precise measurement of IT investments impact, breakeven points, and possible threshold levels, thus providing helpful intelligence to reach the higher levels of IT governance in hospitals.ighe

Rising expectations: access to biomedical information.

Abstract: Objective: To provide an overview of the expansion in public access to electronic biomedical information over the past two decades, with an emphasis on developments to which the U.S. National Library of Medicine contributed. Methods: Review of the increasingly broad spectrum of webaccessible genomic data, biomedical literature, consumer health information, clinical trials data, and images. Results: The amount of publicly available electronic biomedical information has increased dramatically over the past twenty years. Rising expectations regarding access to biomedical information were stimulated by the spread of the Internet, the World Wide Web, advanced searching and linking techniques. These informatics advances simplified and improved access to electronic information and reduced costs, which enabled inter-organizational collaborations to build and maintain large international information resources and also aided outreach and education efforts The demonstrated benefits of free access to electronic biomedical information encouraged the development of public policies that further increase the amount of information available. Conclusions: Continuing rapid growth of publicly accessible electronic biomedical information presents tremendous opportunities and challenges, including the need to ensure uninterrupted access during disasters or emergencies and to manage digital resources so they remain available for future generations.

Traceability in healthcare: crossing boundaries

Abstract: Objectives This paper is a survey on the problem of traceability in healthcare. Traceability covers many different aspects and its understanding varies among different players. In supply chains and retails, traceability usually covers aspects pertaining to logistics. The challenge is to keep trace of objects manufactured, to track their locations in a production and distribution processes. In food industry, traceability has received a lot of attention because of public health problems related to infectious diseases. For instance, in Europe, the challenge of traceability has been to build the tracking of meat, from the living animal to the shell. In the health sector, traceability has mostly been involved in patient safety around human products such as blood derivates contaminants or implanted devices and prosthesis such as mammary implants. There are growing interests involving traceability in health related to drug safety, including the problem of counterfeited drugs, and to privacy. Traceability is also increasingly seen as a mean to improve efficiency of the logistics of care and a way to better understand costs and usage of resources. Methods This survey is reviewing the literature and proposes a discussion based on the real use and needs of traceability in a large teaching hospital. Results and Conclusion Traceability in healthcare is at the crossroads of numerous needs. It is therefore of particular complexity and raises many new challenges. Identification management and entity tracking, from serialization of consumers’ good production in the supply chains, to the identification of actors, patients, care providers, locations and processes is a huge effort, tackling economical, political, ethical and technical challenges. New requirements are needed, not usually met in the supply chain, such as serialization and persistence in time. New problems arise, such as privacy and legal frameworks. There are growing needs to increase traceability for drug products, related to drug safety, counterfeited drugs, and to privacy. Technical problems around reliability, robustness and efficiency of carriers are still to be resolved. There is a lot at stakes. Traceability is a major aspect of the future in healthcare and requires the attention of the community of medical informatics.

Access to health information: a key for better health in the knowledge society.

Abstract: Objectives: to illustrate how access to health information is a key determinant to the strengthening of health and healthcare systems, and highlight related current challenges of the evolving knowledge society. Methods: reflections on some of the dimensions of access to health information, with a focus on current evolutions of the World-Wide- Web, unresolved issues and research perspectives. Conclusion: our knowledge society is growing, maturing, and bringing powerful tools that can improve the quality, safety, and efficiency of healthcare processes and help citizens manage their health. However, many obstacles and challenges are still facing us. These include our ability to manage information and knowledge rather than data, produce decision-support tools with contents and ergonomics that effectively change behaviors, orient information users in the ever-growing jungle of the social World-Wide-Web, learn how to make sense and enable knowledge discovery in the huge and increasingly connected biomedical data repositories, and bridge the digital divides that exist within communities and across the world.i

Towards Addressing the Opportunities and Challenges of Web 2.0 for Health and Informatics

Abstract: Objective: To provide an overview of Web 2.0 and Health 2.0, and so facilitate a widespread discussion of the nature of these concepts and their possible application within the health domain, and implications for health and biomedical informatics and for IMIA. Methods: IMIA, the International Medical Informatics Association, has established a Web 2.0 Exploratory Taskforce to bring together interested individuals from within and outside IMIA to explore the nature and potential of Web 2.0 applications. The Taskforce aims to develop background materials and sample uses of Web 2.0 applications, so as to propose specific lines of action for the IMIA Board and General Assembly. This paper provides a brief overview of Web 2.0 and related concepts, and examples of general and healthspecific Web 2.0 applications. Some examples of the issues, challenges and opportunities are introduced, to set the scene for a wider dialogue on if, how, and how best, IMIA, and the wider health and informatics communities, should use these new applications and approaches. Results and conclusions: This brief paper provides an introduction to, and overview of, the many issues involved in considering the application of Web 2.0 to health and informatics. All interested individuals and organisations are invited to use this as a starting point for engaging in wider discussion and contributing to the Taskforce and to IMIA's future.

Medical multimedia retrieval 2.0.

Abstract: Objectives: The objective of this article is to provide an overview of current trends in medical multimedia retrieval. This state of the art is then compared with trends and techniques in the Web 2.0 field that addresses several of the problems of current multimedia retrieval and may help in solving them. Methods: The article uses a review of the current literature on medical imaging and medical multimedia retrieval from the Pubmed and Google scholar literature search engines. Other sources include popular Web 2.0 web pages and articles on Web 2.0 describing the main concepts of these technologies in the medical domain. Results: Web 2.0 has significantly changed the way we interact with the Internet and has created an important added-value by promoting activities of users and interactions between users. In the medical field, there are many examples of adoption of these methods and multimedia retrieval can play an important role in this field by supplying the right data at the right time. Conclusions: Medical multimedia retrieval still has a long way to go to become an everyday tool in the medical field and in clinical practice. Still, when reusing and linking much of the electronic patient record’s data, image retrieval can be a technology to help extract important knowledge and navigate through the large amounts of data. Key challenges for more widespread adoption of these technologies involve legal rules for secondary use of medical data because currently only very few image data sets with ground truth have been made available.with

The IMIA strategic plan--towards IMIA 2015.

Abstract: OBJECTIVE To present the IMIA Strategic Plan, 'Towards IMIA 2015', to a wide audience within and outside the 'IMIA family', so as to aid in turning the vision of the plan into reality. METHODS IMIA, the International Medical Informatics Association, unanimously adopted the IMIA Strategic Plan, 'Towards IMIA 2015', at its 2007 General Assembly meeting in Brisbane, Australia. The wide dissemination of this plan is one of the first stages in the developing IMIA Transition Plan, which will develop a roadmap and specific projects for implementing the strategy. The IMIA Strategic Plan is presented here, and we welcome dialogue with all who wish to work with IMIA to achieve the vision and the strategic goals, of providing leadership and expertise to the multidisciplinary health focused community and policy makers to enable the transformation of healthcare to improve the health of the world population. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS IMIA and its members are now engaged in work to support implementation of the IMIA Strategic Plan. IMIA invites all with an interest in our activities to work with us towards achieving the strategic goals and making the vision a reality by 2015.

E-learning for health-care workforce development.

Abstract: Objectives: To summarize advances in informatics that contribute to scaling-up the health care workforce. Method: A review of projects and methods in information and communication technologies (ICT) that are having an impact on educating frontline health care workers. Results and Conclusions: e-learning is providing innovative approaches for health workforce development, especially in underserved areas.

Health Informatics Master Program at King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Abstract: Objective: The purpose of this paper is to describe the Health Informatics Master Program at King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences (KSAU-HS), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Methods: We have reviewed health informatics master programs worldwide with more emphasis on the recommendations of the International Medical Informatics Association on education in health informatics, research, and faculty/trainee participation at KSAU-HS. Results: An applied health informatics master program has been designed where graduates will be able to deploy information and communication technology in support of health systems' processes. This is due to the fact that most of health organizations are driven by information and communication technology. The program embodies the features of effective applied health informatics master programs recommended by the International Medical Informatics Association on education in health informatics and delineated as curricula integrating three areas of knowledge and skills: 1) Methodology and technology for the processing of data, information and knowledge in medicine and healthcare, 2) Medicine, health and biosciences, and 3) Informatics/ computer science, mathematics and biometry. Conclusions: The health informatics master program (MHI) immerses students in the multidisciplinary field of health informatics education. Graduates of the MHI program will be well- prepared informaticians for leadership positions, able to meet the increasing demands in the field of health informatics to manage, plan, develop, and provide expert consultations to the healthcare sectors.e

Biomedical informatics in the desert--a new and unique program at Arizona State University.

Abstract: Objectives: A new academic Biomedical Informatics (BMI) Program in Phoenix, Arizona, embodies a unique organizational structure to draw on the strengths of a computer science and informatics school and the biomedical and clinical strengths of a college of medicine, in an effort to infuse informatics approaches broadly. Methods: The program reflects a partnership of two state universities that situates the Arizona State University (ASU) Department of BMI on a new downtown Phoenix Biomedical Campus with the University of Arizona (UA) College of Medicine in partnership with ASU (COMPHX). Plans call for development of faculty and expertise in the four major subdomains of BMI, as well as in various cross-cutting capabilities. Results: Coming into existence in a state that is investing significantly in biomedical science and technology, BMI has already developed Masters and PhD degree programs, is working with COMPHX to integrate informatics intensively into the education of the medical students, and has been authorized to plan for an undergraduate program in BMI. Reflecting the statewide emphasis on the biomedical and health sector, the growing faculty are engaged in a number of research partnerships and collaborative centers. Conclusions: As one of the newest academic BMI programs is taking shape in Arizona, it is embarking on a wide-ranging educational program and a broad research agenda that are now in their earliest stages.en

Decision support, knowledge representation and management: structuring knowledge for better access. Findings from the Yearbook 2008 Section on Decision Support, Knowledge Representation and Management.

Abstract: Objectives: To summarize current outstanding research in the field of decision support, knowledge representation and management. Method: Synopsis of the articles selected for the IMIA Yearbook 2008. Results: Five papers from international peer reviewed journals have been selected for the section on decision support, knowledge representation and management. They address a wide range of topics such as the recognition and extraction of negation or time from clinical narratives, the use of ontological elements to reduce the complexity of natural language processing applications or to strengthen the precision of document retrieval as well as the benefits of integrating clinical decision support within computer provider order entry. Conclusions: The best paper selection brings to light that whatever the methodological approach used in decision support, knowledge representation and management, all applications benefit from manipulating information that is expressed in both a meaningful and structured way. In order to combine the flexibility and expressive power of natural language with the computational tractability of structured data, the electronic health record based on structured narrative offers new perspectives.ructur

Health information systems: current challenges and developments. Findings from the Yearbook 2008 Section on Health Information Systems.

Abstract: Objectives: To summarize excellent current research in the field of Health Information Systems. Method: Synopsis of the articles selected for the IMIA Yearbook 2008. Results: HIS is a broad field that includes many fruitful areas of research and development. Some current topics were selected for this IMIA yearbook. Conclusions: The best paper selection of articles on health information systems shows examples of original developments in the area of: medical record systems to meet specific requirements in a developing country, methodologies to identify strengths and weaknesses of hospital information systems, networking of hospital information systems towards an integrated regional health platform, and development of an open source picture archiving and communication systems to facilitate the integration of advanced new imaging functionalities

Reflections on curiosity.

Abstract: Objective: The purpose of this article is to show that curiosity is the driving force behind all scientific endeavors. The second purpose is to show that all science is constrained on its underlying assumptions. Methods: Three examples are used to illustrate the above theses: one from cosmology, the second from biomedical research, and the third from the formalization of human reasoning in a computer. The three examples are supported by quotes from Albert Einstein [1]. Results and conclusions: Research in cosmology shows that the horizon of our knowledge is continuously expanding but that major scientific questions remain to be solved. The second example from biomedicine explains that the more we discover of the details of living phenomena, the more complex they appear to be. The example involving human reasoning makes clear that the brain is still largely unknown territory. Like Einstein, who said he held ‘humble admiration of the illimitable superior spirit who reveals himself in the slight details we are able to perceive with our frail and feeble mind’, I have a deep admiration for the Architect who reveals himself in the details that we are privileged to study in our research. As Albert Einstein said: The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing.

A bio-medical informatics perspective on human factors. Findings from the Yearbook 2008 Section on Human Factors.

Abstract: Objectives: To summarize current excellent research in the field of human factors. Methods: We provide a synopsis of the articles selected for the IMIA Yearbook 2008, from which we attempt to derive a synthetic overview of the activity and new trends in the field. Results: while the state of the research in the field of human factors is illustrated by a set of fairly heterogeneous studies, it is possible to identify trends. Thus, clearly, the importance of issues related to medical order entry, which also founded human factors studies in medical informatics, still occupies a central role in the field. In parallel, we observe an emerging interest for human factors from the field of bioinformatics, where the mass of data generated by high/ throughput experiments and large-scale genome analysis projects, raises specific processing challenges. Such challenges will have to be addressed to achieve post-genomics era medicine. Conclusions: The best paper selection of articles on human factors shows examples of excellent research on methods concerning original development as well as quality assurance of previously reported studies. The crucial role of preserving interpersonal communication among healthcare staff in computerized working environments is complemented by more original scientific investigations, which demonstrate the needs for computerized applications to transform the biomedical data overflow into more operational clinical knowledge. Altogether these papers support the idea that more elaborated computer tools, likely to combine contextual contents, are needed.

Health Care and Informatics: On IMIA’s Opportunities and Responsibilities in its 5th Decade: Reinhold Haux (President of IMIA 2007-2010)

Abstract: ObjectiveTo report about major past and future activities of IMIA, the International Medical Informatics Association. Method Summarizing discussions and planning activities within IMIA, in particular with respect to its Board and General Assembly meetings in 2007; looking at recent informatics evolution by commenting on IMIA Yearbook surveys and best paper selections. Results Major recent IMIA activities include Medinfo 2007, finalizing its long-term strategic plan ‘Towards IMIA 2015’, and the reinforcement of IMIA’s collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO). The IMIA Yearbook of Medical Informatics, published annually since 1992, can be regarded as an important observatory for progress in health and biomedical informatics. Future activities comprise implementing IMIA’s strategic plan, reshaping its portfolio of conferences, preparing Medinfo 2010, in addition to continuing to support and enable collaborative international exchange of research and education and bridging to the practice of health and biomedical informatics. Conclusions Informatics has emerged as an increasingly important field for health care and for the health and biomedical sciences. Within the last 40 years IMIA has evolved to a truly global organization, in a world, where medical informatics has gained significant importance for high-quality, efficient health care and for research in biomedicine and in the health sciences. Now in its 5th decade, IMIA’s responsibilities as well as opportunities as a global, independent organization have both increased. Geissbuhler A, Kulikowski C, editors. IMIA Yearbook of Medical Informatics 2008.

The Promise of Systems Biology in Clinical Applications Findings from the Yearbook 2008 Section on Bioinformatics

Abstract: Objectives:: To summarize current excellent research in the field of bioinformatics. Method: Synopsis of the articles selected for the IMIA Yearbook 2008. Results: Current research in the field of Bioinformatics shows that the emergent field of systems biology is starting to offer innovative solutions to clinically-relevant problems. The approach used can be top-down, where models are created based on hypotheses to describe previously unexplained phenomena and then tested against experimental or clinical evidence. It can also be bottom-up, where mathematical models are built by harnessing existing information about the components (e.g. protein entities, interaction networks) of a system in order to discern critical system-level mechanisms that can be relevant for clinical applications. Progress in this area is aided by the ongoing development in data integration and management, whose current focus is on better semantics for facilitating translational research. Advances in other important areas, such as microarray technology, text mining and ontologies, are also noted. Conclusions: The best paper selection of articles on bioinformatics gives examples of original research that exploits mathematical modeling to tackle medical problems and of improved semantic solutions for data integration. As new directions are explored and the technologies mature, these approaches are expected to be increasingly integrated into clinical practice.

Education and consumer informatics: improvements in existing systems. Findings from the Yearbook 2008 Section on Education and Consumer Informatics.

Abstract: Objectives: To provide an overview of the current excellent research done in the field of advancements in Education and Consumer Informatics as well as studies done to better understand, the already existing systems. Method: Synopsis of the articles on education and consumer health selected for the IMIA Yearbook of Medical Informatics 2008. Results: In the domain of education, eHealth literacy becomes a key topic and a challenge, the Internet evolving as the primary medium to access health information. A system developed to measure the eHealth literacy level of consumers reflects the importance of this skill. In consumer health informatics, the selected papers emphasize valuable advances in bridging the information gap as well as the growing implementation of functioning systems. Conclusion: The selected articles highlight the need for recognising existing weak links in the healthcare system and then strengthening them through patient education and involvement, as well as possible improvements through real-world implementations.ovem

Health and clinical management--from hospital to home patient care management. Findings from the Section on Health and Clinical Management.

Abstract: Objectives: To summarize last year's excellent research in the field of heath and clinical management. Method: Synopsis of the best articles selected for the IMIA Yearbook 2008. Results: The selection process for this yearbook's section on 'Health and Clinical Management' results in four excellent articles representing various topics of the field. These papers cover areas from inpatient managerial decision support to remote patient monitoring at their homes. Conclusions: Although these articles represent only a fraction of the worldwide work in the 'Health and Clinical Management' domain, they show promising strategies for contributing to improving the management of patient care.

Sensors, Signals, and Images in Medical Informatics: Progress and Evaluation Findings from the Yearbook 2008 Section on Sensors, Signals, and Imaging Informatics

Abstract: Objectives: To summarize current research in the field of sensors, signals, and imaging in medicine and the impact of it in the medical informatics field through the selection of important and representative papers. Methods: Survey of the 2007 biomedical literature in the area of sensors, signals, and imaging informatics. Results: The review process of many candidate papers reflects the large variety of this research field. Four articles were finally selected with the help of the reviewers representing the important domains of brain-computer interfaces, brain shift correction, computer-aided interventions, and wearable sensors. Conclusions: The four selected papers show the wide variety in medical informatics research concerning sensors, signals, and images. Imaging and signal research becomes increasingly broad and the number of techniques available and used in clinical practice is enormous and constantly increasing. The selected articles can only present a few highlights and many important topics had to be left out of this overview.

Nursing care systems: enhancing care processes in practice and management.

Abstract: Objective: To summarize aspects of nursing informatics application and introduces challenges that are currently being addressed by nurses around the world. Methods: Key contributions in the field are surveyed and put in the perspective of the IMIA Nursing Informatics Strategic Plan. Results: As a discipline, nursing informatics offers real and practical instruments and opportunities to delivery nursing care across settings, units of care and specialties. A variety of patient care systems are managed by nurses who are introduced to this link during their training embracing information networks, communication skills together with an ability to work both in practice and administrative positions in a variety of clinical and community settings. Conclusion: At a time when the tendency is toward a computer-based patient record, nurses must be able to identify what kind of nursing data and information will construct useable and useful nursing knowledge. There are many options for each area of application and the selection must be done carefully, considering the enhancement for organizational, technological and local requirements.ion

Access to Health Information Findings from the Section on Access to Health Information

Abstract: Objectives: To summarize current excellent research in the field of access to health information. Method: Synopsis of the articles selected for the IMIA Yearbook 2008. Results:Four articles from international peer reviewed journals were selected for this section. This selection is composed of two studies which gives an overview of how people currently access health information and two descriptions of original systems which show actual challenges and alternatives to better access information in the health domain. Conclusion: The possibilities of access are increasingly more important for online health information, taking into mind the pros of the goal of universality and the cons of overabundance and unevenness of quality. Current research is going in the direction of studying the user behavior and building better alternative systems to reach health information. However more research should be done about the Web 2.0 technologies related to the access to Health information, since they are currently changing information access and selection paradigm.

Access to health information. Editorial.

Abstract: OBJECTIVES: To provide an editorial introduction to the 2008 IMIA Yearbook of Medical Informatics with an overview of its contents and contributors. METHODS: A brief overview of the main theme of "Access to Health Information", and an outline of the purposes, contents, format, and acknowledgment of contributions for the 2008 IMIA Yearbook. RESULTS: This 2008 issue of the IMIA Yearbook highlights how Access to Health Information has become ubiquitous over the web during the past decade, with a significant number of publications in biomedical and health informatics addressing both the science and technology of the field and how it is contributing to the improvement of health systems worldwide through a number of original contributions, and selected excellent papers published during the past 12 months. CONCLUSION: The reviews and surveys on the main research fields in medical informatics in the Yearbook provide an overview of progress during this fortieth year of IMIA, focusing on the critical role that informatics plays in access to health information.

A tribute to Jean-Claude Healy, a free thinker and visionary leader for biomedical informatics.

Abstract: A Tribute to Jean-Claude Healy, a Free Thinker and Visionary Leader for Biomedical Informaticss -

A life for health informatics. Jan van Bemmel is the second recipient of the IMIA/UMIT Medical Informatics Award of Excellence.

Abstract: A. Geissbuhler1, E. Ammenwerth2, N. Lorenzi3, S. Miksch4 1Department of Imaging and Medical Informatics, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland 2Institute for Health Information Systems, UMIT, University for Health Sciences, Medical Informatics and Technology, Hall in Tyrol, Austria 3Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA 4Danube University Krems, Department of Information and Knowledge Engineering, Krems, Austria