The next transformation in the delivery of health care.
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The expected developments in the not too distant future (5-10 years) of molecular electronics and biocomputing (MEBC) are discussed. In the short-term, the study of very specific basic phenomena is expected (e.g. conducting polymers, strange electronic states of insulating polymers, bacteriorhodopsin (BR), arrays of molecules, self-organization of biomaterials, very specific biological systems, quantum coherence in cytoskeletal microtubules, optoelectronic information storage, associative memories, pattern recognition, hierarchical nature of biological information). New application fields outside the range of conventional technology (e.g. randomized algorithms, optoelectronic devices, chemical and biosensors, as well as a certain extent of commercialisation) have also been predicted. In the long-term, the study and solution of much deeper (sometimes scientific fiction-like) problems were foreseen, such as the self-organization of biomaterials, artificial self-reproduction, implementation of artificial cell dynamic control structures based on molecular devices for medical and environmental applications and the construction of neuronal computers as aids to the human brain.
This article looks back over four years during which major changes have occurred in healthcare informatics, both technically and from a policy perspective. A remarkable portion of what medical-informatics professionals were proposing in 1989 has subsequently come to pass. Thus, one lesson from reflections on the recent past is that now is the time for us to devise realistic expectations of what we will see happen in the next four years. Possible scenarios for the future are outlined, as are suggestions for how the informatics community might best prepare for what lies ahead.
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Recent developments in computer and communication technology were studied in relation to medical information network systems, using computers and IC cards, to solve problems in community health. Trial use of personal computer network systems among physicians and IC card systems for personal health data management are already in existence in some parts of Japan. These trials were studied and analyzed based on a questionnaire survey of physicians and patients. Results of the study produced some useful points that should be considered when introducing these systems. These included: 1) details on expectations and specifications for these systems by physicians and patients, 2) easy access to valuable information is a key point for active network systems among physicians, 3) plausibility of improvement of communication between physicians and patients by using these systems, 4) recognition that an important problem concerns patient information privacy and must be considered before introducing these systems. A study of practical merits of these systems and methodology for realization indicates that participation by active and attractive providers of information can be expected to stimulate frequent use of the network system. The cost of introducing these systems can be partially borne by eliminating the large investment now allocated for processing requests for reimbursement of medical services. Investigation into the introduction of medical information systems provides a good opportunity to elucidate problems in the present medical systems.
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Navigating any complex set of information resources requires tools for both browsing and searching. A number of tools are available today for using Internet resources, and more are being developed. This article reviews existing navigational tools, including two developed at the Yale University School of Medicine, and points out their strengths and weaknesses. A major shortcoming of the present Internet navigation methods is the lack of controlled descriptions of the available resources. As a result, navigating the Internet is very difficult.
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The results of a nationwide survey of the use of computers in rheumatology departments in the UK is presented. The survey revealed a widespread interest in the various possible uses of computer hardware and software in the specialty, and highlighted the difference between the experience of those who use computers and the aspirations of those who hope to.
The National Information Infrastructure (NII) or "information superhighway" is a high-priority federal initiative to combine communications networks, computers, databases, and consumer electronics to deliver information services to all U.S. citizens. The NII will be used to improve government and social services while cutting administrative costs. Operated by the private sector, the NII will rely on advanced technologies developed under the direction of the federal High Performance Computing and Communications (HPCC) Program. These include computing systems capable of performing trillions of operations (teraops) per second and networks capable of transmitting billions of bits (gigabits) per second. Among other activities, the HPCC Program supports the national supercomputer research centers, the federal portion of the Internet, and the development of interface software, such as Mosaic, that facilitates access to network information services. Health care has been identified as a critical demonstration area for HPCC technology and an important application area for the NII. As an HPCC participant, the National Library of Medicine (NLM) assists hospitals and medical centers to connect to the Internet through projects directed by the Regional Medical Libraries and through an Internet Connections Program cosponsored by the National Science Foundation. In addition to using the Internet to provide enhanced access to its own information services, NLM sponsors health-related applications of HPCC technology. Examples include the "Visible Human" project and recently awarded contracts for test-bed networks to share patient data and medical images, telemedicine projects to provide consultation and medical care to patients in rural areas, and advanced computer simulations of human anatomy for training in "virtual surgery."
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