Clinical Informatics: Prospects for a New Medical Subspecialty

Detmer and Shortliffe talk about informatics in clinical circles, which generated questions regarding the rigor or relevance of the field. With the expanding interest and investment in health information technology by hospitals, health systems, and practitioners, however, interest in and acceptance of clinical informatics has increased substantially. Since 1972, the National Institutes of Health, principally through the National Library of Medicine, has supported a number of centers of excellence that focus on workforce education in computer applications and the underlying science.