Medical Informatics as a Discipline at the Beginning of the 21st Century

J. L. Talmon; A. Hasman

doi:10.1055/s-0038-1634319

Methods of Information in Medicine, Table of Contents

Methods Inf Med 2002; 41(01): 04-07
DOI: 10.1055/s-0038-1634319

Original Article

Schattauer GmbH

Medical Informatics as a Discipline at the Beginning of the 21^st Century

J. L. Talmon

¹Department of Medical Informatics, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands

,

A. Hasman

¹Department of Medical Informatics, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands

› Author Affiliations

Abstract

Summary

Objectives: To analyse the present situation of the discipline medical informatics and to propose actions for change.

Methods: Evaluation of the current situation mainly based on anecdotal evidence.

Results: The difference between the scientific and the engineering aspects of medical informatics get blurred. Because of the requirements of European funding medical informatics focuses more on engineering than on science. Too many manuscripts are submitted that describe engineered artefacts without a scientific purpose. Some of the subjects (like security issues) that are studied in medical informatics are not considered important by medical faculties thus impeding support.

Conclusions: The methodological underpinnings of our research should be strengthened, impact studies should be more frequently performed; the quality of results reporting should be increased.

Keywords

Medical informatics - methodology - impact studies - reporting quality

Full Text

References

References
1 Hasman A, Haux R, Albert A. A systematic view on medical informatics. Comput Methods Programs Biomed 1996; 51: 131-9.
2 Recommendations of the International Medical Informatics Association (IMIA) on Education in Health and Medical Informatics. Methods Inf Med 2000; 39: 267-77.
3 Hasman A, Talmon JL. Education and Research at the Department of Medical Informatics Maastricht. In: van Bemmel JH, McCray AT. editors. IMIA Yearbook of Medical Informatics 2000. Patient-Centered Systems. Stuttgart, New York: Schattauer; 2000: 100-6.