Importance of achieving semantic interoperability for national health information systems

• Autor(a) principal: Hovenga,Evelyn Johanna Sophia
• Data de Publicação: 2008
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: eng
• Título da fonte: Texto & contexto enfermagem (Online)
• Texto Completo: http://old.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0104-07072008000100018
• topic: Computerized medical records systems; Delivery of health care; Health policy

This reflective paper examines relationships between the Government policy-makers in health; health care providers in general; and the adoption of health care information, knowledge, and communication technologies. These technologies include the adoption of a national health language and computer science standards in health. These reflections are based on the author's observations and international involvement in the development of standards and in the development of national Government Health Information Comunication Technology implementation strategies over many years. A number of critical concepts appear to be poorly understood by key decision-makers. Alternatively, the political agendas and the need to look after a variety of vested interests continue to dominate. It is concluded that we must establish and actively promote a sound business case for the adoption of a national health computer science strategy that is based on the best available scientific evidence that supports a sustainable health system.