title: Developing health surveillance networks: An adaptive approach.
abstract: The research literature on public health information and communication networks shows enormous promise and tremendous obstacles. There is a great deal of evidence to suggest that when electronic health information systems are widely employed, and clinical information is easily shared, trained individuals can track and monitor health status, and avert acute events that can potentially effect an individual or a population. However, the research literature also leaves unresolved important questions about effectiveness vs. efficacy: that is, whether health information sharing can achieve compliance on a large scale, particularly across social, political, economic and geographic boundaries. For this reason, we propose adaptive health care information networks to collect, process and disseminate health information and reduce medical errors. This research assesses existing electronic health monitoring initiatives in the United States and worldwide, discusses their progress and limitations. We identify how health care information networks could be improved by the application of innovative theories and technologies, such as complex adaptive theory, expert systems, and grid technology.
authors.affiliation: The Graduate Center, The City University of New York, USA.
authors.forename: Suzanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tamang
authors.forename: Danny
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kopec
authors.forename: Tony
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: McCofie
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Levy
mesh_terms: D003195:Computer Communication Networks; D003198:Computer Simulation; D005103:Expert Systems; D006801:Humans; D033181:Information Dissemination; D019300:Medical Errors / Q000517:prevention & control; D008491:Medical Informatics Applications; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods*; D040442:Public Health Informatics; D018511:Systems Integration