This document provides an introduction to computers in healthcare, including: - A brief history of computers in healthcare from the 1960s to present, focusing on financial applications, departmental systems, networking, and specialized software. - An overview of the impact of computers on patient care, finance/reimbursement, public health, research, and education through technologies like the world wide web, electronic records, and clinical trials. - Descriptions of basic computer hardware components like central processing units, input/output devices, and how they connect and communicate via networks, internet connections, and wireless technologies. - Definitions of software, programming languages, and computerized healthcare records like electronic health records and their benefits

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Introduction to Computer
Systems for Health
Information Technology
Chapter 1:
Introduction to Computers

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History of Computers in Healthcare
• 1960s
– Financial applications
• 1970s
– Departmental computer systems
– Dummy terminals
– Hard drives

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History of Computers in Healthcare
• 1980s and 1990s
– Personal computers
– Increase in speed
– Specialized software
– Networking

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Technology’s Impact on HIM
Profession in 1990s
• Electronic billing
• Charge description master
• Networking of systems

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Impact of Computers
• Patient care
– World Wide Web
– Patient health record
• Finance and reimbursement
– Reimbursement systems
• Public health and epidemiology
– Secondary data
– Track trends

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Impact of Computers
• Research
– Clinical trials
• Education
– Used in classrooms
– Distance education
– Internet databases

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Hardware
• Portion of the computer that can be touched
• Examples
– Hard drive
– Monitor
– Mouse
– Keyboard
– Printer

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Hardware – Central Processing Unit
• Megahertz
• Cache memory
• Random Access Memory

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Hardware – Types of Computers
• Mainframe
• Laptop computes
• Handheld device
– Personal digital assistant

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Hardware – Peripherals
• Examples
– Keyboard
– Mouse
– Printer
– Scanner
– Monitor
– Speakers
– Flash drive

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Hardware – Common Input Devices
• Keyboard
• Mouse
• Light pen
• Touch screens
• Scanner
• Digital camera and video
• Microphone

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Hardware – Common Input Devices
• Docking station
• Optical character recognition

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Hardware within Computer
• Personal computer
– CPU
– Motherboard
– Memory chips
• Random Access Memory
• Read-Only Memory
• Cache
– System files

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Hardware within Computer
• Ports
– Traditional types
• Serial port
• Parallel port
– Modern types
• USB port
• Firewire
• Infrared light beam port
• Bluetooth

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Hardware within Computer
• Modem
• Video card
• Sound card
• Fan
• Expansion slots

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Hardware within Computer
• Bus
– Internal bus
– External bus
– Address bus
– Data bus
• Surge protectors

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Output Devices
• Monitor
– Resolution
– Pixel
• megapixel
– LCD screen
– Plasma screens

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Output Devices
• Printers
– Dot matrix
• Dots per inch
– Laser printer
– Thermal printers
– Ink jet printers
– Multifunction printer

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Output Devices
• Speakers
• Data projector
– Keystoning
• Scanner
• Optical disc
– Write once read many

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Wireless Connection
• Wi-Fi

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Notebook PC
• Laptop
• Wireless computers

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Software
• Instructions to operate
– Operating systems
– Application software
– Utility programs

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Software
• Multitasking
• Device driver
• Enterprise software

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Programming Languages
• Bit
• Byte
• Sample software languages
– FORTRAN
– COBOL
– BASIC
– Java
– C++

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Internet Programming Languages
• Hypertext markup language
• Extensible markup language
• Generalized markup language

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Communication and Internet
Technologies
• Network
– Hub
– Peer-to-peer
• Firewall
• Routes
• Client-server networks
• Local area network
• Wide area network

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Interfaces
• Connection between computer and network

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Internet Connections in Networks
• Ethernet
• Wireless
• Fiberoptic
• Modems
– Dial-up
– Cable
– Digital subscriber line

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Internet Connections in Networks
• Wireless cards

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Types of Networks
• Bus
• Star
• Token ring
• Tree (hierarchical)
• Hybrid
• Daisy chain network

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Internet Technologies
• Internet
– Internet service provider
– High speed
• T1
• T3

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Internet Technologies
• Intranet
• Extranet

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Computerized Records
• Electronic health record
• Electronic medical record
• Computerized patient record

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Computerized Records – Factors
• Instant access
• Automatic transfer of data
• 100% availability
• Interface with other hospital systems
• User friendly
• Secure security semantics
• Confidentiality
• Integrity of system

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Computerized Records – Benefits
• Improved access to education resources
• Decreased clinical errors
• Reduced redundant data entry
• Reduced duplicate testing
• Improved data analysis
• Improved record accessibility
• Increased accountability for accurate and complete
records

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Computerized Records – Benefits
• Improved patient confidentiality and record
security
• Consistent data presentation
• Increased patient healthcare communications
• Increased efficiency
• Reduced operating costs

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Computerized Records – Benefits
• Frees up space for document storage
• Reduced lost or misfiled documents
• Improved workflow
• Increased reimbursement turnaround time
• Ensured backup and disaster recovery