Information Systems for Health Care Enterprises- 3rd Edition Description:

Information Systems for Health Care Enterprises, 3rd Edition review:
5 stars (Great breadth and depth of coverage - a rare combination) - This book, despite its deceivingly small size (210 pages), is a treasure of information about information systems for health care enterprises.The first telling sign is the author's qualifications: an MD and a PhD ... in computer science. Most books I have looked at take one angle or the other (health care vs. information systems), but none has the depth of understanding of the issues involved, including human aspects, organizational aspects, and technical ones.Health care enterprises have inherent complexities that make information system implementations complex and fraught with danger. The author understands that, but more importantly, understands how that impacts the development of information systems to support health care organizations (see e.g. chapter 3). Most of the chapters discuss the issues surrounding a particular aspect of information systems (human, organizational, cost, regulatory, legal), and how those issues impact information system development.The case studies, historical notes, and personal experiences of the authors are both entertaining and enlightening.The technical discussions are equally profound and detailed. The author's computer research background gives him a unique perspective, not afforded by many other authors. He is able to demystify "hot" technologies with straightforward explanations, and down to earth expectations.This book is a must read for both health care professionals who wish to embark on a major information system initiative and who would like to understand the technical issues, but I would definitely make it a required reading for information systems analysts who intend to enter the health care arena.