Health Care In Information Age

Consumer Health Informatics is a new addtion to the list of health disciplines. It is defined by Gunther Eysenbach as that branch of Medical Informatics that analyses consumers' needs for information, studies and implements methods of making information accessible to consumers; and models and integrates consumers' preferences into medical information system( Eysenbach, 2000) Health Care is also in the Information age. As more consumers look to the internet for resources, E -health will be sought, not only by Health Professionals, but by healthy individuals and patients seeking information to make important health decisions. Whether through evidence based or through consumer awareness, the information has to be delivered, received and processed. Once the information is processed you can use it to make decisions that are good for you and your family. You can use it for self care, as public awareness to promote good health, to seek medcial attention, or to advocate on behalf of health issues. Your first step; however, is knowing that information is available. I will be blogging on health matters with information that is of interest to many of us.