Introduction
The computer is perhaps the most iconic invention present in current times that influences multiple aspects of our lives, if not all. It has changed the way we work, our social life, and even our way of thinking. The world has now become one single platform where people can interact and do real business thanks to this great machine- the computer (Hall 156). Originally; the term computer meant a person with the ability to perform calculations of numerical nature with the assistance of a mechanical device of computing. The real computer revolution began in the 1930s with binary computing being central to all aspects of computing of all ages. The mechanical machine of addition of 1642 is the root of computer invention and it is from here that inventions like ABACUS-an early computing tool, John Napier’s logarithm, and William Oughtred’s slide rules evolved from as some of the early computing tools.
The abacus is the earliest known existence of the current computer’s ancestor, dating back to close to 200 years. It was simply a bracket made of wood that held corresponding wires with beads attached. All forms of arithmetic operations would then be achieved just by moving the beads along the wires by rules of programming. In 1694, Blaise Pascal to help his father-a tax collector, came up with the next phase of computer invention when he invented the digital calculating machine which could only go as far as adding numbers entered through the turning of dials (Soma 32). Charles Babbage, a professor of mathematics designed a steam-powered calculation machine capable of storing up to one thousand fifty digit numbers; and it included built-in operations that are vital to a general modern computer. Cards with holes, commonly referred to as punched cards were used to program the machine and these were also used to store data. However, most of the inventions of this professor were a failure due to a lack of proper techniques of precision machining and poor demand for devices of this nature (Soma 46).
Application in commercial industries
There was a witnessed loss of interest in computers especially after the period of the inventions of Babbage until the period between 1850 and 1900 when the interest was reborn due to great advances in mathematics and physics. Some of the progress comprised intricate arithmetic and formulas that hitherto used a lot of time besides being very arduous for individual engagement. The progressive interest was well sustained and in 1890 when computers found major use during the conduction of the U.S. census. This was made possible through a punched card system with the ability to read the information on the cards automatically without the need to depend on humanitarian assistance.
The computer then proved to be a crucial tool in the process of tabulating the census totals, given the fact that the U.S. population was growing extremely quickly. Commercial industries became aware of these advantages of computers and soon, new versions of punch-card machines specially made for business were developed by IBM and other corporations like Burroughs. The punched card machines were heavily used in most businesses worldwide for purposes of computing. This was especially after the discovery by businesses in other industries that the machines had a powerful capability that could handle most of their work in a short time; hence saving most of the time used in normal activities. They also found a good percentage of application in science for purposes of research especially in analyzing acquired data, a function that is very significant in all works of science. The use of machines of punch-card architecture went on for over fifty years since their first usage and this marked the formal spread of computers to other critical fields like healthcare (Chposky, 1988).
Computers in Healthcare: Health Information Systems
From ancient times, healthcare was generally about the collection of information and its processing to identify the specific problem that a patient suffered from to offer appropriate treatment. Hippocrates and Galen are known to be the early physicians to have the healing of their patients documented to improve care through the use of the documented information. However, it is until the 19th century that the technology of computers started to be used in healthcare for purposes of diagnosis and eventual treatment. Hutchinson’s device is one of the initial systems that was used and it served the function of measuring the lungs’ vital capacity. The application of computers in healthcare then underwent a revolutionary. Some of the popular technologies of this period include the thermometer, ophthalmoscope, x-ray, stethoscope, and microscope. The increase of medical technology and the needed specialization also led to the increase of the quantity of data necessary to make a diagnosis and have treatments administered (Brighthub, 2010). Subsequently, medical records became significant as documents of keeping the information for patients hence the need to organize the data and records in fast and efficient ways, and from this point; the era of healthcare information systems was born.
A Healthcare information system is essential, a computerized data system that performs the core function of routine collection, analysis, reporting, and storage of information about all aspects of healthcare; including service delivery, demographic details, cost, and quality. These systems for healthcare bear a significant relationship with most of the information systems used for business operations in companies, industries, institutions, and governments; thus implying that the basic operating principles are largely similar. Therefore, the development of healthcare information systems can also be traced to the early evolution of computers since it is the very same computers that are used to perform the functions of the healthcare information systems through specialized programming. For a long duration, in fact, until the late 1960s, information systems in healthcare, like most other industries were paper-based. Relevant aspects had to be put in place in systems and technology evolution to cater to healthcare organizations. The early application of information systems in healthcare took place in the late 1960s and early 1970s, mostly focusing on financial operations. The clinical area also found considerable usage for the information systems especially for capturing clinical information and making crucial medical decisions. It is during this period that several projects related to healthcare information systems were undertaken. A good example is the Warner project undertaken in Salt lake city, Utah at the Latter Day Saints hospital (Merida, 2002).
In the recent past, the healthcare industry has experienced a lot of growth as information systems seem to be playing a very critical role in the provision of healthcare services. There is the implementation of large scale applications in electronic medical records, telemedicine-which enables the provision of remote diagnosis, the upgrade of hospital information structures, the use of public networks like the internet for distribution of relevant information to the public and patients in general and setting up of intranets and extranets for sharing crucial information with stakeholders among others (Beaver, 2002). Currently, there is the proposition that healthcare should rely thoroughly on information systems to cut down costs to some reasonable levels. Healthcare spending has been increasing at an alarming rate. This is coupled with the increase in the impact of chronic diseases among the aged whose dependency on the healthcare system has also increased in recent years. In the field of research, there are several projects aimed at accelerating the application of more established healthcare information systems. Some of them include I-living which is essentially a supportive system for living. These systems have been under development by researchers at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. There is also the smart in-home monitoring system that is in progress at the University of Virginia. This is emphasizing the collection of data by using a low-cost suite of non-intrusive sensors (Durresi & Barroli, 2008).
Conclusion
In conclusion, healthcare information systems have evolved gradually to become significant in the medical practice and all related fields. From diagnosis, treatment to secure and convenient storage of patient information for different valid purposes; these systems have proven their worth in both cost-cutting and ease of patient handling. Governments and all relevant institutions worldwide now need to work closely with the IT industry to clearly outline the role of information systems in healthcare. This will be vital for the security of the information systems. Overall, healthcare information systems are ultimately vital and should be encouraged in all organizations to improve the quality of healthcare which is a very important need for all human beings.
Works Cited
Beaver, Kevin. Healthcare Information Systems, Second Edition (Best Practices). New York: Auerbach Publications, 2002.
Brighthub (2010). Evolution of Medical Technology. Web.
Chposky, James. Blue Magic. New York: Facts on File Publishing. 1988.
Durresi, Arjan. Barolli, Leonard. Secure Ubiquitous Health Monitoring System. New York: Springer, 2008.
Hall, Peter. Silicon Landscapes. Boston: Allen & Irwin, 1985 Gulliver, David. Silicon Valley and Beyond. Berkeley, Ca: Berkeley Area Government Press, 1981.
Merida, Johns. Information Management For Health Care Professions (The Health Information Management Series). Kentucky: Delmar Cengage Learning, 2002.
Soma, John T. The History of the Computer. Toronto: Lexington Books, 1976.