Medical Informatics: Computer Applications in Health Care

Abstract

formidable title of this well-written textbook belies its readability and usefulness. While the terms informatics and computers can turn all but the computer literate away in disinterest or even fear, this book is useful to many, computerophilic or not. It is written by a veritable Who's Who in medical informatics (the rapidly developing scientific field that deals with the storage, retrieval, and optimal use of biomedical information, data, and knowledge for problem solving and decision making). two editors, two associate editors, and 24 authors are all well published and leaders in the field. Yet, unlike some books with many authors, this one is well conceived and edited. There is agreement of terminology throughout and little overlap of topics. need for a book such as this is well understood. As the editors state, The practice of medicine is inextricably entwined with the management of information. With all the