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Peer Review

Health Care in the Information Society: Volume 2 - From Anarchy of Transition to Programme for Reform

Reviewed:

Dec 9, 2023 by Health Sciences
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Ratings

Overall Rating: 4.8 stars
Content Quality: 4.5 stars
Effectiveness: 4.8 stars
Ease of Use: 4.8 stars
Overview:

In this fascinating book David Ingram traces the history of information technology and health informatics from its pioneers in the middle of the twentieth century to its latest developments. The book is distinctive in its broad scope and coverage and as the eyewitness account of an author who became the first UK professor appointed with the mission to bridge information technology with everyday medicine, health, and care. In this role, he has been a co-founder and leader of two rapidly growing initiatives, openEHR and OpenEyes, which stem from international collaborations of universities, health services and industries. These open source and open platform technologies have struck a widely resonant chord worldwide through their focus on community interest endeavours and open access to their methods and outputs. Set against the history of extremely costly, burdensome, and serially unsuccessful top-down attempts of governments to tackle the domain, the book argues for a greater focus on shared endeavours of this kind, contributing towards a standardized care information utility that incorporates methods and resources evolved, shared, and sustained in the public domain. As information technologies are now at the very core of health care, shaping the relationship between medical services and communities, professions, organisations and industries this book is important reading for politicians, health care academics, administrators and providers, and to anybody interested in the future of health services in the digital age.

Type of Material:

Open (Access) Textbook

Recommended Uses:

 

  • Required text
  • Supplemental text
  • Homework
  • In-class assignments from the readings
Technical Requirements:

 

  • Internet access
  • Web browser
Identify Major Learning Goals:

After completion with active engagement, the learner will:

  • Describe information policy initiatives including informatics useage in UK.
  • Delineate profiles of individual books and authors with significant contributions to health care information technology.

 

Target Student Population:

 

  • Graduate School
  • Professional
Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:

 

  • Some prerequisite knowledge of computer useage might prove helpful but not required.
  • Prerequisite knowledge in healthcare.

Content Quality

Rating:
Strengths:

  • The 624 pages of volume two are well written in a conversational style in first person from the author's perspective.
  • There are quotations to encourage connections and additional thoughts.
  • Organized well with subtitles and headings that break up the information.
  • This is an excellent synopisis of healthcare information systems. 
Concerns:

 

  • The source includes lots of information; some information could be more concise in certain areas. Readers may fatigue with the sheer volume of information. Some use of pictures or tables add to the overwhelming amount of information.

Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool

Rating:
Strengths:

  • This is great information for students regarding the history of information systems as well as current and future uses. 
  • Overall, provides a lot of information about UK progression of information technology in health care usage.
  • Interesting information for a historical perspective about informatics.
Concerns:

 

No identified learning objectives for chapters. 

Is wordy in some places.

Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty

Rating:
Strengths:

 

  • The material was easy to navigate and read. 
  • Consistent layout with easy to navigate format. 
Concerns:

 

  • A search option and thumbnails would enhance the usability for the reader.
  • An audible reading option would be nice.
Other Issues and Comments:

  • Overall excellent book and resource. 
  • Someone with informatics interest would find this text appealing. The resources and references provide additional areas for information. Reads like a novel of someone's life-long work and interests in informatics.
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