Information technology in health care: Information retrieval, processing, and protection (review)

Abstract

Hacker attacks on information resources in clinics of the UK, Belgium, Lithuania, clinical and biochemical laboratories in Russia and Belarus in 2017 as well as the refusal of 199 German hospital managers to use modern computer information technologies in 2016 gave an impetus to investigate the issue of computerization in health-care facilities. The need for using computer information technology is unchallengeable, though its current use in clinical practice is associated with a number of problems. Besides, the amount of clinical data is increasing, while some information remains unanalyzed posing risks of fatal errors. This review describes the problems of computer technology implementation, use, and protection. To make computer technology work effectively in the health care system, we have to deal with the following problems: architecture compatibility, perception and interpretation of handwritten text, interpretation of medical terms, text formalization and standardization, creation of electronic medical notes, development of electronic medical records and databases, personalization and protection of information.