AIMS AND TASKS OF MEDICAL INFORMATICS

Ten major long-term aims and tasks, so to speak 'grand challenges', fo r research in the field of medical informatics, including health infor matics, are proposed and described, These are the further development of methods and tools of information processing for: (1) diagnostics (' the visible body'); (2) therapy ('medical intervention with as little strain on the patient as possible'); (3) therapy simulation; (4) early recognition and prevention; (5) compensating physical handicaps; (6) health consulting ('the informed patient'); (7) health reporting; (8) health care information systems; (9) medical documentation and (10) co mprehensive documentation of medical knowledge and knowledge-based dec ision support. Work is, in part, already in progress. To all these aim s and tasks medical informatics can and maybe should make substantial contributions. Prior to outlining the above aims and tasks, an account is given of the meaning of medical informatics, of the objective it p ursues in general and of its achievements so far. The present paper in tends to contribute to a broad public discussion of the aims and tasks for research in the field of medical informatics. (C) 1997 Elsevier S cience Ireland Ltd.