Medizinische Informatik – Herausforderungen der Informationstechnologie in der Medizin

In 1977, Reichertz has defined medical informatics from the viewpoint of information logistics: to provide the right information at the right time at the right place [1; 2]. The analysis of medical information and (bio-)signal processing contributes substantially to an improved information provision. Therefore, medical informatics is an applied science in the best sense of the word. The special requirements of the medical domain continuously promote innovative processes in computer science, e. g., we refer to the invention of expert systems in the context of medical diagnosis. Almost 30 years later, medical informatics is still an emerging field of research and applications that aims at information logistics, but the process also continues beyond this goal [3]. Just providing information is not sufficient anymore. Since the amount of information available in electronic form is exploding, information selection must also be supported by medical informatics. Furthermore, information needs interpretation in order to gain knowledge. Reflecting an intensive discussion in scientific literature ten years ago [4–8], Haux has defined the following grand challenges for research in health informatics [9]: 1. diagnostics (‘the visible body’); 2. therapy (‘medical intervention with as little strain on the patient as possible’); 3. therapy simulation; 4. early-recognition and prevention; 5. compensating physical handicaps; 6. health consulting (‘the informed patient’); 7. health reporting; 8. healthcare information systems; 9. medical documentation; 10. comprehensive documentation of medical knowledge and knowledge-based decision support.