Information technology in primary health care. 1999

N H Lovell, and B G Celler
Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia. n.lovell@unsw.edu.au

Appropriate application of information technology in primary health care will extend traditional diagnosis and patient management beyond the doctor's clinic into the everyday living environment. We describe a model of information management in primary health care, and place special emphasis on the emerging areas of clinical decision support, computerised clinical measurements, patient education and network connectivity. Briefly discussed is the design of innovative home monitoring techniques and a telemedicine based communications infrastructure that should improve access to high quality primary health care for all citizens, irrespective of their distance from major urban centres. A preliminary design for a telemedicine-assisted primary health care network is presented, based on this model of information management. The premise is that improvements in health care services and reductions in health care costs can be effected by establishing a continuum of patient care from the patient's home, to the doctor's surgery, to speciality services in hospitals and to other service providers in the health care sector. While, the proposal focuses on new opportunities arising from the imminent introduction of broad band interactive fibre optic networks throughout Australia, the technology and projected data transfers could easily be handled in the short-term using modem access to the standard telephone network. A simple connectivity scheme for system integration is also presented.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D010353 Patient Education as Topic The teaching or training of patients concerning their own health needs. Education of Patients,Education, Patient,Patient Education
D011320 Primary Health Care Care which provides integrated, accessible health care services by clinicians who are accountable for addressing a large majority of personal health care needs, developing a sustained partnership with patients, and practicing in the context of family and community. (JAMA 1995;273(3):192) Primary Care,Primary Healthcare,Care, Primary,Care, Primary Health,Health Care, Primary,Healthcare, Primary
D003194 Computer-Assisted Instruction A self-learning technique, usually online, involving interaction of the student with programmed instructional materials. Programmed Instruction, Computerized,Self-Instruction Programs, Computerized,Computer Assisted Instruction,Computer-Assisted Instructions,Computerized Programmed Instruction,Computerized Self-Instruction Program,Computerized Self-Instruction Programs,Instruction, Computer-Assisted,Instruction, Computerized Programmed,Instructions, Computer-Assisted,Program, Computerized Self-Instruction,Programs, Computerized Self-Instruction,Self Instruction Programs, Computerized,Self-Instruction Program, Computerized
D003199 Computer Systems Systems composed of a computer or computers, peripheral equipment, such as disks, printers, and terminals, and telecommunications capabilities. Computer Architecture,Computer System,Computer Systems Development,Computer Systems Evaluation,Computer Systems Organization,Real Time System,Real-Time Systems,Organization, Computer Systems,Architecture, Computer,Architectures, Computer,Computer Architectures,Computer Systems Evaluations,Development, Computer Systems,Evaluation, Computer Systems,Evaluations, Computer Systems,Real Time Systems,Real-Time System,System, Computer,System, Real Time,System, Real-Time,Systems, Computer,Systems, Real Time,Systems, Real-Time,Time System, Real,Time Systems, Real
D005194 Family Practice A medical specialty concerned with the provision of continuing, comprehensive primary health care for the entire family. Family Practices,Practice, Family,Practices, Family
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D017216 Telemedicine Delivery of health services via remote telecommunications. This includes interactive consultative and diagnostic services. Tele-Care,Tele-ICU,Tele-Intensive Care,Tele-Referral,Telecare,Virtual Medicine,Mobile Health,Telehealth,eHealth,mHealth,Health, Mobile,Medicine, Virtual,Tele Care,Tele ICU,Tele Intensive Care,Tele Referral,Tele-Referrals
D018511 Systems Integration The procedures involved in combining separately developed modules, components, or subsystems so that they work together as a complete system. (From McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms, 4th ed) Integration, Systems,Integrations, Systems,Systems Integrations
D019451 Information Management Management of the acquisition, organization, storage, retrieval, and dissemination of information. (From Thesaurus of ERIC Descriptors, 1994) Management, Information
D020000 Decision Support Systems, Clinical Computer-based information systems used to integrate clinical and patient information and provide support for decision-making in patient care. Clinical Decision Support System,Clinical Decision Support Systems,Clinical Decision Support,Decision Support, Clinical,Clinical Decision Supports,Decision Supports, Clinical,Support, Clinical Decision,Supports, Clinical Decision

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