Belk PP

The Importance of Healthcare Informatics in Patient Care and Public Health

The Importance of Healthcare Informatics in Patient Care and Public Health

Student’s name: Belkis Palacio

Institution: Florida National University

Instructor: Aciel Sagrera

Course: Nursing Informatics-DAX-DL01

Date: May 26, 2026

Abstract

Healthcare informatics solves real issues in healthcare systems, such as doctors making errors in their care, messages being lost, Incorrect records, and a lack of data for patients. Informatics usage in healthcare settings is becoming more complex and can inform clinical data management and utilization to improve patient outcomes, healthcare quality, and operational efficiency (Hovenga, 2022). Nursing informatics is a combination of the nursing sciences and computer science and information technology that enables health care professionals to make evidence-based decisions and deliver quality, safe patient care. Better access to EHRs, better clinical decision support systems, less risk of medication or treatment errors, and access to data analytics and other capabilities have all enhanced communication among providers (Kraus et al., 2022).

Moreover, healthcare informatics is essential in public health, where the information is gathered, organized, and analyzed to look for disease trends, monitor outbreaks, and direct public health efforts to prevent diseases. Accurate data/information enables healthcare agencies and public health authorities to respond to community health issues effectively and efficiently, by using their resources more efficiently (Ting et al., 2021). Informatics also helps in preparing nurses to improve their practice with technology, and also helps them easily adapt to the changing health care delivery systems.

Overall, healthcare informatics is critical in helping elevate the healthcare and public health efforts, increasing efficiency, and promoting patient safety (Ali et al., 2023). Finally, the trends in informatics in nursing further support evidence-based nursing practices, collaborative care across multiple fields, and delivery of improved health care to a variety of patient populations. Communication among the healthcare providers has been enhanced by better access to EHRs, better clinical decision support systems, less risk of medication or treatment errors, and access to data analytics.

References

Ali, S., Khan, H. M., Shah, J., & Ahmed, K. (2023). An electronic health record system implementation in a resource limited country—lessons learned. Digital Health, 9(9). https://doi.org/10.1177/20552076231203660

Hovenga, E. J. S. (2022). Nursing informatics integration into mainstream health informatics. Studies in Health Technology and Informatics, 300. https://doi.org/10.3233/shti220947

Kraus, E. M., Brand, B., Hohman, K. H., & Baker, E. L. (2022). New Directions in Public Health Surveillance: Using Electronic Health Records to Monitor Chronic Disease. Journal of Public Health Management and Practice, 28(2), 203–206. https://doi.org/10.1097/phh.0000000000001501

Lytle, K. S., Westra, B. L., Whittenburg, L., Adams, M., Akre, M., Ali, S., Furukawa, M., Hartleben, S., Hook, M., Johnson, S. G., Settergren, T. (Tess), & Thibodeaux, M. (2021). Information Models Offer Value to Standardize Electronic Health Record Flowsheet Data: A Fall Prevention Exemplar. Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 53(3), 306–314. https://doi.org/10.1111/jnu.12646