In almost all Western countries, concerted efforts are undertaken to stimulate the use of information and communication technology (ICT) in healthcare. Yet the number of success stories are few and the frustrations many. Health Information Management is a new textbook that introduces readers to the challenges, the lessons learned and the new insights of health information management at the start of the 21st century.

With a strong international orientation and a critical eye on many traditional information management views, the book illustrates key developments by drawing on many examples from different countries. This comparative approach provides readers with a comprehensive and well-balanced perspective to this core management topic in the healthcare field. It highlights how seemingly 'technical' management decisions affect both clinicians and patients, and how the unpredictable nature of technology development in complex organizations may be handled.

Few things make people react more strongly to the changes going on in health care than the word standardization. Critics shudder at the mindless sameness of standards, while supporters dream of a world in which standardized best practices open up a world of efficient health care delivery. The Gold Standard takes up this debate to investigate the real meaning of standardization and how it affects patients, doctors, and the institution of medicine. Showing that standards are not about less or more skills, or more or less uniformity, but rather about a redefinition of autonomy, patients, and relationships, Timmermans and Berg show instead that they are about creating new worlds of medical treatment. Cutting through the hype and fears, the authors show where the true powers of standardization lie. The Gold Standard will become a classic for students of medicine and health care policy, and will be a welcome book for anyone concerned with the future of our system of care.