A decade ago, many hospital organizations had virtually zero clinical informaticists, and even the most IT-advanced organizations only had a handful. Now, the most advanced hospitals and health systems are likely to have dozens, as EMR, CPOE, eMAR, PACS and other core clinical information systems become must-haves in today's patient care environment. And as the healthcare industry lurches forward to meet the meaningful use requirements under the ARRA-HITECH Act, the demand for these gurus is set to explode. Turn to this issue's cover story on page 8 to find out what the pioneers have learned about building clinical informaticist teams, and why leading national healthcare IT recruiters are warning of an imminent hiring crisis. The bottom line? It's time to think teams, not just individuals. And is everyone in your boat rowing in the same direction? The answer could spell the difference between success and setback in crucial patient care operations areas.
Also in this issue: With all the attention on EMR and CPOE these days, what's been happening in the imaging IS area? A recent survey of healthcare IT leaders looks at a mature PACS market, and what the potential is for a turnaround in the near future (pages 18-20).
And, what are the latest trends in the world of mobile computing carts? CIOs are divided over how to strategize forward in this tricky area, as handheld mobile devices move rapidly into hospital organizations, and the various pertinent technologies evolve forward quickly. Meanwhile, the security, energy, and ergonomics issues are as significant as ever. Find out the latest on pages 26-35.
Healthcare Informatics 2010 July;27(7):4
