Information Management: Electronic Networking
Electronic networking refers to any of several forms of informationexchange between two or more computers through any of several methods ofinterconnection. The use of networking is rapidly spreading throughoutmuch of the world as a fast, reliable, and, in most applications,inexpensive form of communication. It is inexpensive because it is fast,and it can use existing public phone lines. Multiple messages can be sentin a single phone call, lowering their average cost. In "packet-switched"systems, there is no need to establish a real- time circuit, as in atelephone call. Instead, information can be sent in "packets" that areencoded with their source and destination(s). Error-correcting modems can The network economy is challenging traditional well-establishedhealth care institutions to develop new patient-oriented models and investin information and communication technologies (Tomasko, 1993). So it isobvious that the organization I work with is making extensive use of thecommunication networks for leveraging its patient care needs. My organization makes extensive use of most common networkapplication: electronic mail (e-mail), whereby messages
A BBS is a to one configuration, generallyused for the posting and obtaining of information items, whereas anelectronic conference is a many accessing many configuration wherein anongoing conversation takes place. Telemedicine refers tothe use of electronic information and communication technologies to provideand support health care electronically to the patients (Field, 1996). The advantages of conferencing include: teaching andseminars, scientific collaboration in research and writing, the concept ofthe virtual patient demonstration, reduction in time necessary forcommunication. It is also possible to use networking to transfer lengthy filesbetween computers, and to "log on" to a remote computer in order, forinstance, to search a database for information. Although public health andhealth services research may require de-identified personal healthinformation, policies and procedures to protect privacy will need to ensurea balance between confidentiality and appropriate access to personal healthinformation (Freimuth, 1990). The essential benefit of electronic networking is that it provides apowerful and efficient way for communication to occur and for informationto flow, cheaply and rapidly. The personal privacy and the confidentiality of health information aremajor issues for consumers, and these concerns are magnified wheninformation is collected, stored, and made available online. My organization also makes use of electronic conferencing systems forresearch purposes. The mediummay be the public phone lines, private dedicated lines, or a radiofrequency. Telemedicineis a technological system adopted as a communication medium for medicalinformation transfer or exchange between health care parties (Roter andHall, 1992). As theavailability and variety of interactive health applications are growing,consumer confidence about developers' ability or intent to ensure privacyis being challenged. My organization also makes extensive useof collaborative electronic infrastructure that offers integratedcommunication between physicians, hospitals, medical centers, andconsultants. The other important communication network that myorganization works with is the use of telemedicine. Theconcept of telemedicine embodies major transformations occurringsimultaneously in medical care and in information technology. These specialized functionsare dependent upon the particular network protocol used.
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