Clinical Information Systems and Applications

Clinical information systems (CIS) have developed rapidly over the last 20 years and are now found in all settings that deliver and support care. From small clinics to large tertiary care settings, blood banks to pharmacies, CIS are ubiquitous. These systems may be composed of single software solutions or complex integrated modules to create a complex system. Healthcare functionality provided by software has become so broad that once simple medical devices are now minicomputers that need to be interfaced with the larger electronic health record. Telehealth allows for the provision of care outside of the physical walls of an organization, and communication between providers and patients can be accomplished today via secure messaging. Health information exchanges allow information to flow between providers and organizations. Registries take advantage of the patient data being collected to better track conditions and preventive and treatment services. As these systems have matured, the door has opened to innovations that will bring healthcare technology well beyond where it is today.