Computer technology has impacted the practice of medicine in dramatic ways. Imaging techniques provide noninvasive tools which alter the diag nostic process. Sophisticated monitoring equipment presents new levels of detail for both patient management and research. In most of these high technology applications, the computer is embedded in the device; its presence is transparent to the user. There is also a growing number of applications in which the health care provider directly interacts with a computer. In many cases, these applica tions are limited to administrative functions, e.g., office practice manage ment, location of hospital patients, appointments, and scheduling. Nev ertheless, there also are instances of patient care functions such as results reporting, decision support, surveillance, and reminders. This series, Computers and Medicine, focuses upon the direct use of information systems as it relates to the medical community. After twenty five years of experimentation and experience, there are many tested ap plications which can be implemented economically using the current gen eration of computers. Moreover, the falling cost of computers suggests that there will be even more extensive use in the near future. Yet there is a gap between current practice and the state-of-the-art."

This series is directed to health care professionals who are leading the tra- formation of health care by using information and knowledge. Launched in 1988 as Computers in Health Care, the series offers a broad range of titles: some addressed to specific professions such as nursing, medicine, and health administration; others to special areas of practice such as trauma and radi- ogy. Still other books in the series focus on interdisciplinary issues, such as the computer-based patient record, electronic health records, and networked health care systems. Renamed Health Informatics in 1998 to reflect the rapid evolution in the discipline now known as health informatics, the series will continue to add titles that contribute to the evolution of the field. In the series, eminent - perts, serving as editors or authors, offer their accounts of innovations in health informatics. Increasingly, these accounts go beyond hardware and so- ware to address the role of information in influencing the transformation of healthcare delivery systems around the world. The series also increasingly focuses on "peopleware" and the organizational, behavioral, and societal changes that accompany the diffusion of information technology in health services environments.

Innovative 2nd edition, heavily updated and revised from the 1st edition

Introduction to various survey and evaluation methods involving IT systems in the healthcare setting

Critical overview of current research in health and social sciences

Emphasizes multi-method approach to system evaluation

Includes instruments suitable for research and evaluation

Discusses computer programs for data analysis and evaluation resources

Essential reference for anyone involved in planning, developing, implementing, utilizing, evaluating, or studying computer-based health care systems

Innovative 2nd edition, heavily updated and revised from the 1st edition

Introduction to various survey and evaluation methods involving IT systems in the healthcare setting

Critical overview of current research in health and social sciences

Emphasizes multi-method approach to system evaluation

Includes instruments suitable for research and evaluation

Discusses computer programs for data analysis and evaluation resources

Essential reference for anyone involved in planning, developing, implementing, utilizing, evaluating, or studying computer-based health care systems

This book will present 130 case studies illustrating ethical and social issues that arise from the increasing use of computers in medicine, nursing, psychology, pharmancy, and the allied health professions. The rapid development of health informatics offers a rich array of issues and challenges to academics, clinicians, and system developers. These issues involve threats to privacy and confidentiality, misuse of clinical and genetic information, risks to patients of bias and discrimination, erosion of the practitioner-patient relationship, threats to the autonomy of health professional, and compromises to the quality of care provided. The use of case studies is well known in medicine, nursing, public health, epidemiology, and other health education programs. This book presents selected cases with annotation and commentaries that illustrate ethical concerns and social problems in the use of computers in medicine. Such materials would be used as part of case-based methods of instruction in health professional training and continuing professional education programs. The discussions will be designed to illustrate how thoughtful individuals identify issues and approach such problems. The discussions will also highlight the perspectives of different academic and professional disciplines. Topics included in the four Appendices address ethical standards for Web sites; health Internet ethics and the principles for offering Internet health services to consumers; the quality assessment of Internet health information; and the principles governing AMA publications Web sites.