Abstract
There is increasing interest in the role of technology in health care and public health. Several researchers have predicted a coming revolution in health care similar to the transformations that occurred in the finance and retail industries upon the widespread adoption of computer technology (Abrams, 2006; Crane & Raymond, 2003; Gibbons, 2005, 2006). In biomedical research, computer technology has catalyzed the emergence of whole new disciplines such as regulomics, proteomics, phenomics, and pharmacogenetics (Gibbons, 2005). Telemedicine, e-prescribing, Electronic Medical Records, and computerized physician order entry systems are emerging as important tools to improve the quality of health care even though the broad health care transformation historically envisioned has not yet occurred (Crane & Raymond, 2003).
Key Terms in this Chapter
Information and Computer Technologies (ICT): Computers and telecommunications technologies.
Web of Human Interactions: Includes a consideration of disparate areas such as genetic, biologic, behavioral, psychological,?and socioenvironmental issues.
Biomedical Research: Research at the confluence of biology and medicine.
Chronic Disease: Diseases of long duration with generally slow progression.
Public Health: Health care issues that impact all citizens.
Regulomics: Economics of regulations.