Informatics in Primary Care: Strategies in Information Management for the Healthcare Provider (Health Informatics)

Informatics, the study of the science of information and related disciplines, is being increasingly applied to medicine and healthcare. Medical schools are de­ veloping departments, divisions, and sections of medical (or biomedical) infor­ matics, and curricula are being created for medical students and residents. For many practicing physicians, questions such as "What is informatics?" and "Why is informatics important in medicine?" are becoming commonplace. Further, once these basics are understood, many physicians seek more complete information about this new "basic science. " The goal of this book is to provide primary care physicians with a practical in­ troductory understanding of medical informatics, focusing on areas of importance in primary care. Additionally, we seek to present clinical contexts in which some of the various applications of medical informatics can be applied. The book begins with an overview of medical informatics, based on the inter­ action (interface) between the patient and the primary care physician. Next, we study how this interaction can be documented with electronic medical records, and how information on laboratory data and imaging, originating from other elec­ tronic sources, can be integrated into the electronic medical record. We then cover several areas that concern the content of the information used in primary care. Areas of focus include evidence-based medicine, decision support, knowledge re­ sources, and patient education. Finally, this book concludes with five chapters concerning practical aspects of primary care informatics: workflow, privacy and security, electronic billing, reporting and analysis, and telecommunications. Machine generated contents note: Preface Thomas E. Norris, M.D. Contributors 1. Overview of Primary Care Informatics Thomas E. Norris, M.D. 2. Electronic Medical Record (EMR) Harold I. Goldberg, M.D. 3. Importing Data from Other Programs and Databases: HL7 Interfaces James I. Hoath, Ph.D. 4. Importing Laboratory Data James Fine, M.D., and David Chou, M.D. 5. Importing Images Brent K. Stewart, Ph.D., Anthony J. Wilson, M.D., Steve G. Langer, Ph.D., and Kelly P Martin, M.H.A., M.B.A. 6. Evidence-Based Medicine John P. Geyman, M.D., and Fredric M. Wolf, Ph.D. 7. Clinical Decision Support Peter Tarczy-Horoch, M.D., and Thomas H. Payne, M.D. 8. Knowledge Resources: Finding Answers to Primary Care Questions Debra S. Ketchell, M.L., H.S.L., Leilani St. Anna, M.L.I.S., Sherry Dodson, M.L.S., Sarah Safranek, M.LI.S., and Terry Ann Jankowski, M.L.S. 9. Computer-Based Patient Education Resources and Instruction Cezanne Garcia, M.PH., C.H.E.S. 10. Workflow Automation with Electronic Medical Records Cedric J. Priebe III, M.D., and Eric Rose, M.D. 11. Privacy and Security of Patient Information Paul D. Clayton, Ph.D. 12. Electronic Billing for the Primary Care Physician Peter J. House, M.H.A., and Lydia Bartholomew, M.D. 13. Reporting and Analysis P. Jeffrey Hummel, M.D., M.PH., and Teresa A. Spellman-Gamble, M.PA. 14. Telecommunications in Primary Care David Masuda, M.D. Index.

This text is designed to enhance patient care by providing the primary care practitioner with contemporary up-to-date information on the wide variety of topics they will confront in their practice. With the rapid and wide-spread technological advances of recent years, no single aspect of medicine has become as daunting as informatics. Physicians are now confronted with a broad and enormous range and volume of information. Accessing, managing and implementing this information is a serious task.
This text has a practical, reader-friendly approach that provides access to key issues. It will provide the primary care physician with the fundamentals of informatics, including electronic medical record (EMR), electronic scheduling, billing and using scientific databases.
As information continues to make the rapid leap from paper to bytes, this book is essential for staying current. It shows how to most effectively implement the changes to the advantage of both the physician and patient.

Front Matter....Pages i-x Overview of Primary Care Informatics....Pages 1-11 Electronic Medical Record (EMR)....Pages 12-23 Importing Data from Other Programs and Databases: HL7 Interfaces....Pages 24-34 Importing Laboratory Data....Pages 35-52 Importing Images....Pages 53-70 Evidence-Based Medicine....Pages 71-88 Clinical Decision Support....Pages 89-102 Knowledge Resources: Finding Answers to Primary Care Questions....Pages 103-119 Computer-Based Patient Education Resources and Instruction....Pages 120-151 Workflow Automation with Electronic Medical Records....Pages 152-165 Privacy and Security of Patient Information....Pages 166-173 Electronic Billing for the Primary Care Physician....Pages 174-186 Reporting and Analysis....Pages 187-213 Telecommunications in Primary Care....Pages 214-233 Back Matter....Pages 235-241 "This book is designed to enhance patient care by providing primary care practitioners with contemporary information on the wide variety of topics, they will confront in their practices. Given the rapid and widespread technological advances of recent years, no single aspect of medicine has become as daunting as informatics, with physicians facing the high volume and broad range of information. With its practical and reader-friendly approach, this books aims to guide the physician in accessing, managing, and implementing this information."--BOOK JACKET The middle-aged family physician (FP) entered the exam room to see Alicia Jones, a 47-year-old female patient.