History of Informatics and Areas of Practice
Informatics is a term that refers to the integration of nursing, its information and information management with information and communication technology (ICT) to promote the health and wellbeing of people across the globe (Elsayed, El-Nagger & Mohamed, 2016). Informatics has emerged as an important component in modern healthcare systems given the increased adoption of technology in this industry. Elsayed, El-Nagger & Mohamed (2016) state that the nature and extent of use of information and communication technology in healthcare has experienced dramatic changes across the globe over the past two decades. Given the significance of nursing informatics, this paper provides an overview of the history of informatics. The overview includes a discussion on three informatics groups or specialty areas that have had significant impacts on informatics based on their rank, preference, and importance.

History of Informatics

Informatics in the healthcare field is a discipline that incorporates a wide range of products, theories, activities, and research. The origin of health informatics can be traced back to evolution and adoption of information technology in medicine. According to Rendon (2014), informatics in healthcare emerged from 1949 when Dr. Gustav Wagner established the German Society for Medical Documentation, Computer Science, and Statistics. This organization was the first professional organization for informatics worldwide and paved the way for the development of informatics to become an integral part of modern healthcare. In 1952, the first computer used in clinical practice was McBee manual punch card at the American Society for Clinical Pathology. This was followed by research in integrating technology in healthcare such as the publication by Ledley & Lusted in 1959 on how to integrate computers in healthcare to automate the work of clinicians and lessen errors.

Over the years, various stakeholders within and outside the healthcare field have undertaken measures that are geared toward promoting digitalization of healthcare processes. The development and use of digital computer has had significant implications in the growth and practice of clinical medicine. The development of informatics in healthcare has been supported by various informatics groups or specialty areas. Nursing, Finance, and Software/medical device vendors are the three specialty areas that have had the greatest impact on informatics in the field of healthcare.

Role and Ranking of Specialty Areas in History of Informatics

As previously indicated, nursing, finance and software/medical device vendors are specialty areas that have significantly impacted the growth and development of healthcare...…informaticists are not encouraged to engage in direct clinical care despite their many years of clinical experience. The decrease in the number of nursing informaticists working in corporate offices and for vendors is a trend expected to continue in the future. The other probable future trend in nursing informatics is requiring nursing informaticists to engage in direct clinical care given the worsening nursing shortage. It is also expected that security of health information management systems will improve in nursing informatics since better management of health information is as important as patient care.

In conclusion, nursing, finance and software/medical device vendors will continue to propel the future of health informatics and the overall healthcare sector. As shown in this analysis, these specialty areas have continued to play a critical role in the development and application of informatics in healthcare. These specialty areas will continue to shape the future of health informatics since they all focus on enhancing healthcare. However, nursing informatics will continue to be the leading specialty area in health informatics since it is the frontline of patient care. The increased adoption of technology in nursing is expected to enhance patient care while lessening errors or mistakes.