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* Information systems in pathology provide opportunities for pathologists and clinical laboratory scientists to impact both clinical care and modern research agendas. The paradigm shift in health care from individualized care to population-based and standardized delivery systems has created both of these opportunities. In research, pathology information systems can provide key databases for health services research and new informatics-based approaches to database research. The latter is characterized by utilization of pathology databases for data mining to discover new patterns that provide new knowledge. The multidisciplinary knowledge discovery and data mining program at the University of Alabama at Birmingham focuses on this health care application, which has the potential to make a major impact on health care research and delivery.
(Arch Pathol Lab Med. 1998;122:409-411 )
Pathology information systems represent an area in which the discipline of pathology has an opportunity to add real value to the health care system, both at local and national levels. In addition to adding value in the delivery of quality health care, pathology as a discipline has the opportunity to use information systems for targeted high-impact research. Numerous authors have promoted and documented various aspects of how this can and should occur.1-3 At the Association of Pathology Chairs meeting in July 1996, a break-out discussion group identified challenges and opportunities for laboratory medicine. Included among the eight major points were many components that focused on information systems and informatics, such as managing clinical research databases, on-line interactive clinical resource utilization management, creation of laboratory-based alerts at order entry, general application of medical informatics, and involvement in telemedicine.
The new health care era, which is dominated by managed care and is focused on cost-effective delivery systems, has led a major paradigm shift in medical care that places patient information systems and databases at the core of the activity. This paradigm shift, from individual patient disease management to population-based disease management, is being accompanied by a shift from highto low-cost centers and providers (eg, from inpatients to outpatients and from MD providers to health care team providers, often nurse specialists and physician assistants).
The need for making the required changes is obvious. We have entered an era of evidence-based medicine. That is, clinical decisions must be based on scientific evidence that...