1. APPLICATION OF COMPUTER IN MEDICINE BY MASHAEL SAUD ALHARBI

2. There are numerous applications of the digital computer in medicine and its related fields. What are the specifications that makes the computer used in medical applications? 1-The ability of the computers to store very large quantities of data and to have it readily available for further processing 2- Computers can also be used in conjunction with biomedical instruments so as to make possible digital control of all functions of the instruments.

3. 3- Since computer has large data storage capacity, it is possible to optimize the measurement conditions of instruments. 4-The incorporation of computer into instruments enables the instruments to have a certain amount of intelligence or decision making capability. 5-The most powerful asset of the computer is its enormous speed of operation.

4. CHARACTERISTICS OF MEDICAL DATA In hospital, there are three types of data which are required to be acquired, manipulated and archived. Data can be : (1)Alphanumeric (2) medical images and (3) physical signals.

5. APPLICATION OF COMPUTER IN MEDICINE The applications of computer are : (a) Data Acquisition (b) Storage and Retrieval (c) Data reduction and transformation (d) Mathematical operations (e) Pattern recognition

6. (f) Initiate control (g) Accuracy (h) Averaging (j) Calibration (k) Table lookup (l) Formatting, printing and display

7. APPLICATION OF COMPUTER IN HOSPITAL (a) Centralised data of outpatient (b) Monitoring of Patients’ treatment (c) Assistance in diagnosis (d) Imaging (e) Automation of clinical laboratory (f) Inter department communication (g) Biotelemetry

8. TELEMEDICINE It is the application of computer technology and telecommunication to provide health care from one place to another. TELEMEDICINE APPLICATION Telemedicine can be applied to all medical specialties but its main applications are: commonly found in pathology, cardiology, radiology and medical education.

10. Telemedicine concepts can be : (a) Store and Forward (b) Real time

11. PICTURE ARCHIVING AND COMMUNICATION SYSTEM

12. The communication of medical images :requires (1) an agreement on the format of representation of the digital image data (2) a communication protocol (3) Either LAN within the hospital or any other mean of communication to distant locations.

13. The ACR-NEMA image format contains following information (a) identification data of the patient (b) data of the examination and imaging device used (c) image representation data (d) image pixel data

14. TELEMEDICINE BY MOBILE COMMUNICATION

15. TELEMEDICINE AND INTERNET The world wide web (www) is an internet resource. It has information producing sites which can be accessed by the general public. It is possible to use the world wide web for imparting teleeduction and for other applications of telemedicine. However it is beneficial to have a dedicated link as it offers security to the data and reliability to communication due to fewer users using the link.

16. MEDICAL INFORMATION SYSTEM These information systems are created to contain and communicate patient data to any authorised user. It is of utmost importance that PACS should be integrated to RIS and HIS for effective utilization of all patient data.

17. MEDICAL CODING AND CLASSIFICATION Medical coding and classification systems are expected to become increasingly important in the health care sector. They are integral part of the electronic health information systems. The coding and classification systems will be used to improve the quality and effectiveness of medical services. Activities connected to the different coding and classification systems are very important attempts at standardization which are taking place in different countries within the discipline of medical information. These activities must secure a proper professional and economic support. It is also of vital importance that national health authorities should participate in these activities so as to establish formal cooperation with professional bodies.

18. Database design topologies and network security The primary goal of a data base management system (DBMS) is to provide a way to store and retrieve database information that is both convenient and efficient DATABASE ENVIRONMENTS can be (1) the mainframe environment (2) the client/server environment (3) the internet computing environment.

19. The Mainframe Environment

20. Client/Server Enviroment

21. Internet Computing Environment

22. ASPECTS OF DATABASE DESIGN 1. Database Redundancy 2. Consistency 3. Integrity 4. Anomalies

23. NORMALISING OF DATABASE The anamolies are removed by using the concept of normalization of the database. Normalising of data base is carried out step by step by using normal forms which can be: (1) first normal form (2) second normal form (3) third normal form (4) boyee code normal form (BCNF) (5) fourth normal form (6) sixth normal form and (7) project join normal form (PJNE) and dynamic key normal form(DKNF)

24. CLIENT/SERVER TOPOLOGIES A single centralised server cannot handle large number of clients. Hence a common solution is to use the cluster of machines arranged in some topology. There are various topologies of client /server database which are: (1) Ring topology (2) centralised topology (3) hierarchical topology (4) centralised plus ring topology.