On Medical Informatics^[*]

Abstract:

This paper summarizes the author’s point of view of defining medical informatics, to stimulate further discussions on how this “newly emerging discipline” should further proceed. We realize that the term “informatics” is related rather to the term “information science” than to “computer science”. Accordingly, medical informatics deals with the systematic processing of information in medicine. Many information systems in medicine are interrelated and can hardly be regarded as independent systems. As a result, medicine becomes gradually more an “empirical science of extreme complexity”. Because of its complexity and wide range of applications, medical informatics should be considered as a separate discipline, its aim being to contribute to the systematic processing of information in medicine. The contribution of medical informatics should be a better understanding of the human being and means for the provision of high quality patient care.

Key-Words:

Medical Informatics - Information Processing

^* The paper is based on two lectures the author gave at the universities of Heidelberg and Hildesheim with respact to the Heidelberg/Heilbronn and the Hannover/Hildesheim curricula on medical informatics.

• REFERENCES

• 1 Möhr JR. Training and Education in Medical Informatics. In van Bemmel JH, Ball MJ, Wigertz O. ed MEDINFO 83. Amsterdam: North Holland Publ Comp; 1983: 1030-5.
• 2 Brauer W, Hacke W, Münch S. Studienund Forschungsführer Informatik. 5th ed.. Berlin: Springer Verlag; 1984
• 3 Von Weizsäcker CF. Die Einheit der Natur. München: Hanser Verlag; 1971
• 4 Dagnielle P. Les mots “biomètre”, “biométrie” et “biométrique” au dixneuvième siècle. Biom Bulletin 1988; 5 (03) 3-4.
• 5 Reichertz PL. Medical Informatics – Fiction or Reality?. Meth Inform Med 1980; 19: 11-5.
• 6 Möhr JR. ed Zertifikat Medizinischer Informatiker. 1st ed.. Stuttgart: Schattauer Verlag; 1978
• 7 Zelen M. Biostatistical Science as a Discipline – a Look into the Future (including discussion). Biometrics 39: 827-37.
• 8 Immich H. Erfahrungsdenken und Biometrie. In: Proceedings of the 33rd Conference of the German Region of the International Biometric Society. Unpublished conference volume. 1987: 3-8.
• 9 Victor N. Therapiestudien: eine Herausforderung für den Biometriker. In Victor N, Dudeck J, Broszio EP. ed Therapiestudien. Berlin: Springer Verlag; 1981: 50-58.
• 10 Reichertz PL. Preparing for Change: Concepts and Education in Medical Informatics. Comput Meth Progr Biomed 1987; 25: 89-102.
• 11 Reichertz PL. Towards Systematisation. Meth Inform Med 1977; 16: 125-30.
• 12 Koeppe P. Education in Medical Informatics in the Federal Republic of Germany. Meth Inform Med 1977; 16: 160-7.
• 13 Möhr JR, Leven FJ, Rothemund M. Formal Education in Medical Informatics. Meth Inform Med 1982; 21: 169-80.
• 14 Pages JC, Levy AH, Gremy F, Anderson J. ed Meeting the Challenge: Informatics and Medical Education. Amsterdam: Elsevier Publ Comp; 1983
• 15 Reichertz PL, Koeppe P. ed Ausbildung in der Medizinischen Informatik. Berlin: Springer Verlag; 1982
• 16 Van Bemmel JH, Hasman A, Sollet PCGM, Veth AFL. Training in Medical Informatics. Comp Biomed Res 1983; 16: 414-32.
• 17 Unkelbach HD. Biometrie in der Informationslandschaft der Pharmaforschung. EDP in Med and Biol 1987; 18: 67-74.
• 18 Blum BI. Clinical Information Systems. Berlin: Springer Verlag; 1986