INFORMATION MANAGEMENT IN INFECTIOUS-DISEASES - SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST

Like all physicians, infectious disease practitioners are concerned an d uncertain about their future role as the United States undergoes a m ajor reform of its health care system. Managed care has become the dom inant type of health care provided to most patients in the United Stat es, and specialists are increasingly threatened as patient referrals d ecrease, reimbursements decline, and health care organizations prefere ntially recruit primary care physicians over specialists. These change s may represent a potential shift in responsibilities and duties for m any infectious disease practitioners. The primary role of the infectio us disease physician has traditionally been consultative, although man y practitioners have organized programs in infection control, hospital epidemiology, and antibiotic management. These programs have become m ore important as managed care organizations understand the implication s of their potential cost savings. The value of these programs will al so be significantly enhanced by the ongoing revolution in medical info rmation management that is being driven by computerization. This paper outlines the enlarging role of computerized information management in clinical patient care and its impact on infectious disease practition ers who are increasingly involved in infection control, hospital epide miology, and antibiotic management programs, as well as in the develop ment of computerized clinical information systems.