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. 2001 May-Jun;92(3):233-6.
doi: 10.1007/BF03404313.

Health informatics education: an opportunity for public health in Canada

D L Buckeridge  1 , V Goel
Affiliations

Health informatics education: an opportunity for public health in Canada

D L Buckeridge et al. Can J Public Health. 2001 May-Jun.

Abstract
in English, French

Health information infrastructure is being developed across Canada, and health informatics education should be a component of the emerging infrastructure. However, educational opportunities do not appear to be developing in pace with infrastructure. This study characterizes the required education, and describes specific issues facing the development of health informatics education. Twenty-six key informants were interviewed, and responses were analyzed to identify major themes. Subjects agreed that the current capacity for health informatics education is inadequate. Also, limited expertise could adversely affect health infostructure implementation and health system performance. A need was identified for both advanced and basic education. Four issues facing the development of health informatics education in Canada were consistently identified: awareness, collaboration, funding, and human resources. Public health is well positioned to play a central role in health informatics education due to its historical basis in handling health information, and its developing expertise in health informatics applications.

On est en train d’élaborer une infrastructure d’information sur la santé dans tout le Canada, et l’enseignement de l’informatique médicale devrait en faire partie, mais les possibilités de s’instruire ne semblent pas marcher de pair avec l’infrastructure. L’étude définit les cours nécessaires et décrit les enjeux particuliers liés au développement de l’enseignement de l’informatique médicale. Nous avons interrogé 26 sources clés et analysé leurs réponses pour en dégager les grands thèmes. Les sujets ont convenu de l’insuffisance de la capacité actuelle d’enseignement de l’informatique médicale. En outre, le manque de compétences pourrait nuire à l’élaboration de la structure d’information médicale, ainsi qu’au rendement du système de santé. On a défini le besoin de cours de base et avancés. Quatre enjeux au développement de l’enseignement de l’informatique médicale au Canada ont été formulés de façon constante: la sensibilisation, la collaboration, le financement et les ressources humaines. Fort de son expérience du traitement des données sur la santé et de son nouveau savoir-faire en matière d’applications médicales, le secteur de la santé publique est bien placé pour jouer un rôle clé dans l’enseignement de l’informatique médicale.

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References

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