Developing a medical informatics education program to support a statewide health information network

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Informatics
• Health Information Management
• Medical Library Science

Background:

• The Florida Health Information Network (FHIN) was established in 1989 to provide biomedical information services.
• Services are offered to the University of Florida Health Science Center (HSC) and health professionals statewide, particularly in northern counties.
• FHIN provides database access, circulation, document delivery, and information services.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the development and implementation of a medical informatics education program.
• To address the need for training users with varying levels of computer experience.
• To ensure effective utilization of FHIN's biomedical information services.

Main Methods:

• Developing and implementing a comprehensive training program for library staff and HSC users.
• Expanding training to include remote users.
• Creating educational offerings covering access mechanics, network use, applications, and database searching.

Main Results:

• The program successfully trained library staff and HSC users.
• The remote training program was developed and implemented.
• Educational materials and sessions were designed to accommodate users with limited computer experience.

Conclusions:

• The medical informatics education program is crucial for effective FHIN service utilization.
• Training initiatives are essential for bridging the digital divide in accessing health information.
• The program's success highlights the importance of ongoing user education in health informatics.