...(AMIA) and the International Medical Informatics Association (IMIA) are both organizations that offer membership to those working in the health informatics field. This paper defines health informatics; describes the key features of each organization; compares the codes of ethics and codes of conduct of each with the current Canadian requirements; and assesses the potential of the codes to provide a structure for Canadian clinicians.
Health Informatics
Health informatics is also known as "medical informatics" and is defined as "the intersection of information science, medicine and health care. It deals with the resources, devices and methods required to optimize the acquisition, storage, retrieval and use of information in health and biomedicine" (Health informatics, 2006). Tools used in the job include computers, obviously, but also include "clinical guidelines, formal medical terminologies, and information and communication systems" (Health informatics, 2006). In dealing with medical information, key areas of concern include accuracy and privacy.
The Key Features of Each Organization and Their Codes of Ethics
Although it would seem obvious that any medical...