title: Consumer Health Informatics--integrating patients, providers, and professionals online.
abstract: Consumer Health Informatics (CHI) means different things to patients, health professionals, and health care systems. A broader perspective on this new and rapidly developing field will enable us to understand and better apply its advances. This article provides an overview of CHI discussing its evolution and driving forces, along with advanced applications such as Personal Health Records, Internet transmission of personal health data, clinical e-mail, online pharmacies, and shared decision-making tools. Consumer Health Informatics will become integrated with medical care, electronic medical records, and patient education to impact the whole process and business of health care.
authors.affiliation: Library Services, UPMC Shadyside, Health Sciences Library, UPMC Shadyside Health Sciences Library, 5230 Centre Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15232, USA. kleinfm@msx.upmc.edu
authors.forename: Michele S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Klein-Fedyshin
mesh_terms: D022126:Access to Information; D003195:Computer Communication Networks / Q000592:standards*; D016494:Computer Security; D003657:Decision Making; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D008491:Medical Informatics Applications; D016347:Medical Records Systems, Computerized; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D010358:Patient Participation; D010594:Pharmacies; D013685:Telecommunications / Q000592:standards; D014481:United States