The rise of health information technology.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this review is to discuss transformational changes taking effect in biology and medicine and to place them in a broad historical context.


RESULTS
Recent findings suggest that in the new millennium, information technology will promote great changes in the study of biology and the practice of medicine. Digital information, more readily assessed, analyzed and manipulated, will be used to integrate large and disparate data sets. Systems biology emerging as an interdisciplinary field will focus on complex interactions in biological systems. Health information technology will make possible efficient healthcare that is predictive, personalized, preventive and participatory.


CONCLUSIONS
Systems biologists' understanding of biological information will promote conceptual insights and practical innovations. Predictive, preventive, personalized and participatory medicine will help patients and physicians make optimal treatment decisions.
Milgrom
Henry
H
National Jewish Health, Denver, CO 80206, USA. milgromh@njhealth.org
Tran
Zung Vu
ZV
D020811:Biomedical Technology; D020000:Decision Support Systems, Clinical; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006801:Humans; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D049490:Systems Biology