The role of informatics in paramedic practice

Health informatics has a key role to play in paramedic practice, and indeed all clinical practice. There is considerable momentum being gained in this area following the publication of the information strategy The power of information: Putting all of us in control of the health and care information we need (Department of Health, 2012).

Paramedics cannot ignore informatics, and instead have to embrace it and recognise with confidence that the use of information and technology to support clinical practice is not only something paramedics are already highly accomplished at in many areas, but which can also lead the agenda on.

The following sections are adapted from a series of articles written the Department of Health's Chief Health Professions Officer AHP Bulletin by members of the National AHP informatics strategic taskforce.

So, what has informatics got to do with patient safety? The Department of Health says that:

‘Improving patient safety involves assessing how patients could be harmed, preventing or managing risks, reporting and analysing incidents, learning from such incidents and implementing solutions to minimise the likelihood of them reoccurring.’