Impacts of Informatics on Public Health

Informatics has had various impacts on public health, including increased knowledge sharing, improved patient participation, and enhanced coordination and communication. This paper explores the advantages of informatics in revolutionizing and improving healthcare, empowering individuals to take charge of their health, and facilitating coordination and communication among healthcare specialists and patients.

RUNNING HEAD: HEALTH INFORMATICS 1
Health Informatics
Student’s name
Institutional affiliation
Due date

Health informatics 2
Question 1
Nursing informatics is one of the established fields in nursing that has continued to
evolve over time due to the role and the nature of work of the informatics nurse specialists. The
informatics nurses ought to perform certain roles which include but not limited to oversight role
in data management and integration, supporting decision making and healthcare services through
use of technology to enhance record keeping and communication (Hebda, Hunter, & Czar,
2019). In addition, Yen, Phillips, Kennedy, & Collins, (2017) adds that the informatics specialist
nurses also assist in modification and development of computerized systems in healthcare to
achieve better results. In today’s healthcare system, these are the main roles of informatics nurses
though the roles may vary depending on the region and available state laws and policies. This
paper focuses on the roles of the informatics nurse and a prediction of their future roles as well.
Leadership and management constitutes one of the most vital roles of the informatics
nurse. This role can be summarized as providing assistance towards the administration of the
institution. This is made possible by the fact that the informatics nurses are able to access various
management records, worker profiles and patient feedback. This kind of information makes the
informatics nurses to be able to understand both staff and workers better and therefore advise the
management in their leadership and administrative role.
According to Nagle, (2015) informatics nurses also engage in educating and training
nurses and the general public on various technology. Informatics nurses offer knowledge on
various technology, their correct use and the advantages and disadvantages. Informatics nurses
help colleagues and train them in using health technology to improve quality of healthcare. In
addition to this, informatics nurses ensure smooth flow of information in the hospital through
proper coordination, integration and facilitation. Informatics nurses therefore act as a link

Health informatics 3
between various departments, between workers and staff and between management and
subordinate workers.
In the future, Data analysis will also be a critical role that informatics nurses shall
execute. In a hospital organization, informatics nurses will be able to handle big data, manage it
and analyze it to produce better outcomes, interventions and practices. Synthesis of information
and knowledge with the day to day running of the hospital is important in improving patient
outcomes. McCormick, & Saba, (2015) argues that it will therefore be essential that informatics
nurses help other healthcare workers in making evidence based conclusions and informed
choices that better the patient outcomes therefore improving the quality of care.
According to Cummins, Gundlapalli, Murray, Park, & Lehmann, (2016) integrity and
compliance with existing laws and policies are very important values not only for nurses but also
for other health workers. In the near future, the informatics nurses will be charged with the
responsibility of ensuring that the health workers are up to date with relevant policies and
legislation regarding practice. Informatics nurses will therefore engage deeply in monitoring and
evaluation of fellow workers to ensure that they are compliant with laws and standards such as
the HIPAA and Joint commission among other current and emerging legislations.
In conclusion, it is quite clear that informatics nurses play important roles in leadership
and administration, communication and coordination, education and training and data analysis.
In addition to these roles, informatics nurses also help in research and evaluation.

Health informatics 4
References
Cummins, M. R., Gundlapalli, A. V., Murray, P., Park, H. A., & Lehmann, C. U. (2016).
Nursing Informatics Certification Worldwide: History, Pathway, Roles, and
Motivation. Yearbook of medical informatics, 25(01), 264-271.
Hebda, T., Hunter, K., & Czar, P. (2019). Handbook of informatics for nurses and healthcare
professionals (6th ed.). New York, NY: Pearson. ISBN: 978-0134711010. Chapters 17 -
20.
McCormick, K., & Saba, V. (2015). Essentials of nursing informatics. McGraw-Hill Education.
Nagle, L. M. (2015). The role of the informatics nurse. In Introduction to nursing
informatics (pp. 251-270). Springer, London.
Yen, P. Y., Phillips, A., Kennedy, M. K., & Collins, S. (2017). Nursing informatics competency
assessment for the nurse leader: instrument refinement, validation, and psychometric
analysis. JONA: The Journal of Nursing Administration, 47(5), 271-277.

Health informatics 5
Question 2
According to Hebda, Hunter, & Czar, (2019) connected health refers to a sociotechnical
oriented method of healthcare delivery and management. In other words, connected health can
also be referred to as technology enabled care. Connected care utilized readily available
technologies to deliver care to consumers at their level of need and at their point of convenience.
Use of technology available to consumers allows the consumers to have an opportunity to
manage their care in a more flexible and convenient way. Connected care therefore refers to the
model of care that utilizes technology to deliver care outside the hospital. This paper focuses on
connected care, some of its examples in today’s care and their advantages as well as
disadvantages.
To begin with, the smart glucose monitoring device is a device that assists diabetic
people to control and manage blood glucose levels by taking the blood glucose levels at regular
intervals. The wearable also detects trends of blood sugar levels which enables the patient to take
control of their blood sugar levels. The advantages of the device include the fact that it is more
efficient, it helps patients to take more charge of their health and it also facilitates more
productive conversations with healthcare providers. In addition, it also reduces hospital visits and
admissions for diabetic patients (Nelson, & Staggers, 2016). However, one disadvantage of the
devices is that they are expensive and not many people are able to afford the devices.
Connected inhalers are a relief for patients suffering from asthma and COPD. In addition
to the normal inhaler, the connected inhaler has a modified propeller that has a sensor attached to
a Bluetooth. This is then connected to an app that helps people to understand the allergic
conditions that cause symptoms, how they can get medication and it also provides important
forecasts on allergens at a given place and time. The importance of a connected inhaler is that it

Health informatics 6
enables the patient to take medication more frequently and more consistently thus staying
healthy for longer. In addition, it also provides information that keeps patients updated and
informed on how to take better care of their life (Gay, & Leijdekkers, 2015). One disadvantage
of these inhalers is that they require internet connection and may not be effective when
connection is low. In spite of that, initial and maintenance cost is high as compared to other
inhalers.
Connected contact lenses refers to medical smart lenses that can be used for a variety of
interventions. Initially, the connected lenses research began on how the lenses could be used to
measure glucose level in tears and therefore sound a warning to people on the threat of diabetes
prevalence or risk. This project was believed that it could help people prevent themselves from
diabetes before the research was shelved. Connected lenses however can still be used for a
variety of applications such as measuring changes in eye dimensions that may cause disease. One
advantage of the connected lenses is that they can be used to predict and prevent disease. In
addition, there also many uses of the lens that have not yet been explored and that would provide
insight in health informatics. One of the disadvantage however is that it is costly and would not
provide value for money (Wager, Lee, & Glaser, 2017).
In conclusion, it is clear that the connected health services include the Bluetooth enabled
coagulation testing system, the apple wearable depression monitor watch, connected contact
lenses, ingestible sensors, connected inhalers and smart continuous glucose monitoring device
among others. Connected care brings health services closer to consumers. In addition, it
empowers them to take charge of their lives and their health.

Health informatics 7

Health informatics 8
References
Gay, V., & Leijdekkers, P. (2015). Bringing health and fitness data together for connected health
care: mobile apps as enablers of interoperability. Journal of medical Internet
research, 17(11), e260.
Hebda, T., Hunter, K., & Czar, P. (2019). Handbook of informatics for nurses and healthcare
professionals (6th ed.). New York, NY: Pearson. ISBN: 978-0134711010. Chapters 17 -
20.
Nelson, R., & Staggers, N. (2016). Health Informatics-E-Book: An Interprofessional Approach.
Elsevier Health Sciences.
Wager, K. A., Lee, F. W., & Glaser, J. P. (2017). Health care information systems: a practical
approach for health care management. John Wiley & Sons.

Health informatics 9
Question 3
To improve public health, reliable, competent and up to date technology is an important
prerequisite. The use of informatics requires the proper use of technology modelled and
customized to fit in a healthcare system. Informatics provides knowledge on collection, analysis
and management of data derived from healthcare technology for various uses. Some of these
uses include supporting decision making, leadership and administration, improving the quality of
care, control of cost and enhancing research. Informatics has had various impacts on public
health. This paper focuses on these impacts and their examples.
According to Hebda, Hunter, & Czar, (2019) informatics have provided great platforms
of sharing knowledge among health workers and also to the general public through training and
educational means. This has had various great advantages in the process of revolutionizing and
improving health care. For instance, informatics has increased what the average person know
about health and health care technology. In addition, it has also facilitated sharing of knowledge
among health workers which has helped in improving patient outcomes. The overall advantage
of the shared knowledge is that it has made it has increased attention of individuals to the matters
affecting their health and the urge to focus on healthy lifestyles to improve health.
Venot, Burgun, & Quantin, (2016) argues that informatics has also improved patient
participation in healthcare. Use of informatics and varied healthcare technology has empowered
people to take charge of their health. the fact that informatics has increased what people know
about their health, diseases, progress and health outcomes has also helped them to make better
choices and decisions regarding their health. Nevertheless, informatics has empowered people to
participate actively and to have more productive discussions with their health providers. Lastly,

Health informatics 10
it has also increased the frequency with which people seek health services and go for checkups as
they are made to understand the importance and urgency of doctor visits and regular checkups.
Coordination and communication between different healthcare specialists and patients as
well as the general public has been improved greatly by informatics. Increased coordination has
been essential in providing a patient centered care approach. The use of electronic health records
that cut across various fields has assisted in the coordination of treatment among specialists. This
has assisted in giving patients holistic care that has greatly improved quality of care. Good
coordination has also facilitated more informed choices and evidence based conclusions thus
reducing errors and clinical malpractices which has then improved healthcare (Collen, & Ball,
2015).
In conclusion, it is evident that informatics have impacted greatly to public health which
has improved patient outcomes. Improvement in technology and data management has improved
accuracy and data management which helps health workers to serve patients better. Besides care
in the hospital, informatics have reduced the work that doctors and public health workers have to
do by increasing what patients can do on their own. Informatics have facilitated healthy lifestyles
among people through frequent hospital visits and checkups.

Health informatics 11
References
Collen, M. F., & Ball, M. J. (Eds.). (2015). The history of medical informatics in the United
States. Springer.
Hebda, T., Hunter, K., & Czar, P. (2019). Handbook of informatics for nurses and healthcare
professionals (6th ed.). New York, NY: Pearson. ISBN: 978-0134711010. Chapters 17 -
20.
Venot, A., Burgun, A., & Quantin, C. (2016). Medical informatics, e-Health. Springer Editions.