Objective: To discuss trends in information technology (IT) for the future of healthcare. Method: To report from the viewpoint of a global healthcare IT enterprise. Results: Healthcare IT consists of far more than electronic storage of information and automation of existing manual processes. It is the linchpin in an effective care process. Systems are available today that coordinate the complex...

Nearly 2500 years ago, Hippocrates kicked off a revolution in healthcare by calling for the careful collection and recording of evidence about patients and their illnesses. This call—which first introduced the goal of sharing data among physicians to provide the best care possible for patients—established a foundation for the evolution of modern healthcare. Although 25 centuries have passed sin...

The emergence of the Internet has impacted the health information and the healthcare industry. The information revolution has reduced the distance between the healthcare providers and consumers. It permits easy dissemination of information and fast accessibility of data. Because of easy accessibility, privacy and confidentiality has become an important issue to be considered in the implementati...