NURSING INFORMATICS IN SOUTH AMERICA

WHAT IS THE OBJECTIVE OF THIS CHAPTER? To present an overview of the development of Nursing Informatics in South America. To identify some initiatives in the field, including discussion on the current user of terminologies. To identify imitative to disseminate nursing informatics resources in the region.

INTRODUCTION Nursing Informatics in 13 South America countries has been based more on ACTIVITIES of INDIVIDUALS than on a policy established by governments or national efforts. Each country has varied levels of development and deployment of technological resources.

Technology is visible tendency in: 1. Health 2. Nursing Education 3. Nursing Practice 4. Nursing research 5. Administration Computers are considered an important tool to help nurses take care of patients and to organize nursing service and nursing education. The growth of information technology in Latin America and the Caribbean has been consistently

The worlds highest for 20 years. Most developed parts of the country have better access and ability to implement services and applications in nursing. Health institutes and universities are exploring ways to introduce news resources on order to facilitate the process of the patient care and promote quality and safety. BACKGROUND Nursing has been identified around the world as an emerging profession for over a 100 years. Nurses were considered as the primary users of technology in healthcare (Safran, Slack, and Bleich 1989) Historically nurses are used to facing challenges, adapting new tools in to the practice to improve their performance.

 Creating new models to enhance patient care. Technology can represent a unique instrument to help nurses to face further challenges and discover how to use its resources to involve and maybe to design their way taking care of the people (Marin, 1996). Information is the key element for decision- making process in the health care area.

The more specific information in place to support clinical decisions, the better care can be delivered to the patient. Technology plays an important role in facilitating access to the information because for the information to be useful and meaningful, it has to be timely. There is a clear trend in the direction of the computerization of health records.

People are able to connect to the internet that is a telecommunication resource with no parallel to fast exchange data and information. In result we can expect to see better- informed healthcare providers and consumers. The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has published guidelines and protocols to orient the development and deployment of information and communication technology in Latin America and the Caribbean. Latin America and the Caribbean region rank third in information technology expenditure. A study performed by the PAN America health Organization/ World Health organization information, computer and social infrastructure is evolving rapidly.

NURSING INFORMATICS INITIATIVES In South America countries: The initial motivation to develop computer systems in the healthcare area was driven by financial and administrative concerns.

The hospital sector can be considered the area better served by information systems. Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Colombia, Chile, and Paraguay have clinical information systems in hospitals or health institutes. Patient data that are also used for nursing administration are integrated in the systems or nurses have to collect and analyze nursing data separately. Hospitals have been working to design their own systems in order to attend to specific needs and policies. National and International software industry become more represented in South America health care worker.

They provide a broader range of solutions with systems that address patient are documentation. Most of the computer systems implemented is intended to control administration data. National and International software industry become more represented in South America health care worker. They provide a broader range of solutions with systems that address patient are documentation. Most of the computer systems implemented is intended to control administration data. Congresses, conferences, workshops, education, and training programs are being organized in the countries to share experiences and information in nursing informatics searching for solutions that could enhance the delivery of patient care.

Distance Learning and the educational Perspectives in Nursing Informatics Technology is transferring not only nursing practice but also nursing training and education models. Nurses became the PRIMARY USERS, responsible for data input. They become computer- Literate in order to use computer technology in an efficient manner.