How Health Informatics Evolved From a Concept to a Recognized Discipline and Specialty

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Health informatics, also known as medical informatics, is the application of information technology, computer science, and other disciplines to healthcare. Over the past few decades, it has evolved from a concept to a recognized discipline and specialty. The formation of professional organizations and educational programs has played a crucial role in advancing health informatics. One early journal article that helped to establish the field of health informatics was “The Evolution of Definitions for Nursing Informatics: A Critical Analysis and Revised Definition” by Nancy Staggers, published in the Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association in 2002. In the article, the author defines health informatics as “the application of information technology to the field of health care.” Nancy discusses the various subfields within health informatics, including medical, nursing, and public health informatics. The author also highlights the importance of professional organizations, such as the American Medical Informatics Association, in advancing the field.
The field of health informatics has evolved significantly since the publication of this article. Advancements in technology, such as the widespread use of electronic health records and the increasing use of big data and artificial intelligence in healthcare, have significantly impacted the field. Additionally, there has been a growing recognition of the importance of patient engagement and the need for patient-centered care, leading to the development of new subfields, such as patient informatics. The formation of professional organizat...