Health care informatics: the key to successful disease management

Health services integration and disease state management (DSM) require improved health care informatics systems. Accurate, comprehensive patient information and an integrated data infrastructure are needed for all stages of DSM, from development and implementation of programs to evaluation and continuous program improvement. The lack of an integrated information infrastructure is one of the leading obstacles to achieving a comprehensive electronic patient data system. This article examines initiatives underway to make the computer-based patient record a reality.