Computers in Health Care for the 21st Century

Abstract

As the world enters the last decade of the 20th Century, there is a great deal of speculation about the effect of computers on the future delivery of health care. In this article, the authors attempt to identify some of the evolving computer technologies and anticipate what effect they will have by the year 2000. Rather than listing potential accomplishments, each of the affected areas: hardware, software, health care systems and communications, are presented in an evolutionary manner so the reader can better appreciate where we have been and where we are going.

Key-Words

Future - Hardware - Software - Health Care Systems - Communications

• REFERENCES

• 1 Bursky D. ISSCC: digital ICs. Electronic Design 1989; 37: 49-53.
• 2 Gothnon R. Micromachine magic. Popular Science. 1989 234. 88-92, 143.
• 3 Iverson W R. U.S. gropes for unity on HDTV. Electronics 1989; 62: 70-80.
• 4 Williams T. Flat-panel displays come on strong in speed, resolution and color. Computer Design 1989; 28: 65-82.
• 5 Hample S E. The Silly Book. New York: Harper and Brothers; 1961. (Definition: A typewriter that won’t write right is a typewronger).
• 6 Cox B J. Object Oriented Programming: An Evolutionary Approach. Reading Mass: Addision Wesley Publ Comp; 1987
• 7 Clancey W J. Viewing knowledge bases as qualitative models. IEEE Expert Summer 1989; 04: 9-23.
• 8 Kirschner R A. Lasers in medicine & surgery. Photonics Spectra 1988; 22: 80-2.
• 9 Bakker A R, Ball M J, Scherrer J R, Willems J L. eds. Towards New Hospital Information Systems. Amsterdam: Elsevier Science Publishers; 1988
• 10 Ball M J, Hannah K J, Gerdin Jelger U, Peterson H. eds. Nursing Informatics: Where Caring and Technology Meet. New York: Springer Verlag; 1988
• 11 Mayo G E, Ball M J. How to select a computerized medical office practice system. Disease A Month 1988; 34: 1-51.