THE FUTURE OF HEALTH INFORMATICS: VISUAL ENHANCEMENTS IN ELECTRONIC HEALTH RECORDS

Abstract

The evolution of e-health systems, including electronic health records (EHR) and personal health records (PHR), has the potential to revolutionize the healthcare sector. The implementation of computerized record systems holds the promise of saving lives, preventing medication errors, and yielding substantial cost savings, as demonstrated by estimates suggesting 60,000 lives saved, 500,000 medication errors prevented, and $9.7 billion saved annually (Leapfrog, 2004). The World Health Organization defines e-health as the costeffective and secure utilization of information and communication technologies across health-related fields, encompassing healthcare services, health surveillance, health education, and research. E-Health encompasses various application domains, including electronic medical records, telemedicine, telecare services, consumer health informatics, and Internet-based technologies. The transformative potential of information technology in reshaping industries and creating value for stakeholders is widely recognized, particularly in information-intensive sectors like airlines, financial services, and retailing. In the context of healthcare, the growing population and increasing prevalence of diseases have generated vast amounts of data. E-health systems are gaining prominence due to technological advancements, addressing the data management challenges posed by expanding patient populations and healthcare demands. This paper explores the transformative potential of e-health systems, emphasizing their role in enhancing healthcare delivery, data management, and patient outcomes