It in Medicne

IT in Medicine

There are advantages and disadvantages of the computer in medicine. In most cases the computer system is necessary. It can keep track of things like vitals to doctors orders and even when and which doctor comes in to see you. The computer keeps track of a person's medicine and how often they need to take it and at what dosage was prescribed. It can tell nurse or hospital personal when as certain drug is running low and how much needs to be ordered.

In therapeutics is a system that still requires a doctor to make decisions about the treatment; but to make their jobs easer the computer can provide automated checks, warning if necessary about the patient's allergies, potential drug interaction, or dosing errors. Some people want to point their fingers at the computer system, and are quick to say that it will not work because there are too many ways to mess up the system.

These people are the same people who complain when the paper files are three or four inches thick. On one hand these people are right. If the files are not backed up properly then if a person pushes a wrong key then the files might be lost. This is why it is so important that there are various security measures in place. The hospitals, doctors, nurses, ex-ray tech, pharmacy, and the nurses' aid need access to these records in order to perform their duties properly.

I chose this article because the field of medicine intrigues me. It is hard to fathom the idea that we as a society are moving into the computer world. In my opinion this society is moving past the robot stage and right into the chip stage. Everything that a person wants or needs to find is literally at a person's finger tips. It is very hard for the older generation to grasp but given enough time it will be grasped.

Reference

Information Technology in Medicine. (2010). In Black's Medical Dictionary, 42nd Edition. Retrieved from www.credoreference.com