title: Why is IT important?
abstract: Healthcare organisations are under pressure to offer improved patient care while at the same time attempting to reduce or, at best, manage costs. Technology has always played an important role in medicine, helping with devices and improving investigations and treatments. In many cases, this technology has helped to boost revenues at the same time. Information Technology (IT) has been applied traditionally within the administrative areas of the organisation. More recently, it is being used within the clinical area and is therefore confronting healthcare professionals with both opportunities and challenges in carrying out their tasks. This paper attempts to cut through the jargon and hype surrounding trends in Information Technology and focus on aspects with which the organisation should be concerned.
authors.affiliation: IBA Health, Singapore.
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cohen
mesh_terms: D003199:Computer Systems; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D007256:Information Systems; D012846:Singapore; D013672:Technology