Includes bibliographical references and index.

Contents: General computer information: Informatics in the health care professions -- Hardware, software, and the roles of support personnel -- Ensuring the quality of information -- Electronic communication and the internet -- Health care information systems: Health care information systems -- Strategic planning -- Selecting a healthcare information system -- System implementation and maintenance -- Information systems training -- Information security and confidentiality -- System integration -- The electronic health record -- Regulatory and accreditation issues --Contingency planning and disaster recovery -- Specialty applications: Using the computer to support health care education -- Telehealth -- Research --