The intersection of informatics and interprofessional collaboration

Institute of St Michael’sHospital, Toronto, Ontario, CanadaINTRODUCTIONAstheinterprofessionalfieldhasgrown,ithasbenefitedfromthe inclusion of perspectives byother academic fields such associology and economics (Reeves, 2010). Informatics isanother field that can play a role in enhancing interprofes-sional collaboration and care. This editorial explores how wecan establish synergies between the field of informatics andthe interprofessional field. We first provide some definingcharacteristics to help understand the nature of informatics.We also discuss the array of functional (and dysfunctional)uses when designing and implementing informatics inhealthcare.CHARACTERISTICS AND FUNCTIONAs a starting point we need to understand what informaticsis. First and foremost, informatics is more than justtechnology. Rather it is an interdisciplinary science thatincorporates fields such as information science, decisionscience and organizational theory. Although definitions vary,informatics involves the study of information and com-munication systems in healthcare and the application ofthese systems for decision-making and other tasks (Coiera,2003; Shortliffe & Blois, 2006). A key focus of informatics isthe development of solutions to address informationprocessing and communication issues. These solutionsinclude not only improved ways to collect data but alsoimprovedwaysto analyze and communicate data so it can beincorporated into care delivery. Although many informaticssolutions involve some aspect of technology, we should notassume that cutting-edge technology is necessary in allcircumstances.Associating informatics solely with technology is unfor-tunate and puts the emphasis on the tools (i.e. computers)rather than the collaborative processes and work undertakenas part of healthcare delivery (Musen, 2002). Coiera (1995)states that informatics is as much about computers ascardiology is about the stethoscope. A technology-centricperspective also implies that technology is always necessaryto solve informatics problems. Rather the use of technologyfor problem solving should be dependent upon the task athand. For example, the surgical safety checklist is aninformation management tool that lists the necessary tasksthat need to be completed pre- and post-surgery (Weiseret al., 2010). Although not a high technology tool, studieshave indicated it may be beneficial for enhancinginterprofessional communication and patient safety in anoperating room context (e.g. Haynes et al., 2009).USES AND ABUSES IN HEALTHCAREInformatics tools and applications have enhanced manyaspects of healthcare delivery. For example, Kuziemsky et al.(2012) described how informatics applications can providepatient, service delivery and administrative benefits inhospital and community settings. These benefits includedimproved administrative decision-making about resourcescheduling, the ability to provide patient-centered care andthelinkageofpatientrecordsover timetosupportcontinuityof care. The asynchronous and distributed nature ofcollaborative care delivery has benefited from informaticstools that facilitate communication and informationexchange across team members (Reddy, Gorman, &Bardram, 2011). Simulation tools and models have alsobeen found to be beneficial for supporting the delivery ofinterprofessional care (e.g. Wisborg, Ronning, Beck, &Brattebo, 2008).A key challenge for informatics is to ensure that itsresearch is relevant and meaningful for healthcare pro-fessionals. While well-designed health information technol-ogy (HIT) can enhance delivery, poorly designed systems