Computer science provides humans with multiple useful tools to work with large amounts of information, and it is used in all spheres of human activity. Genomic medicine is a new discipline that can apply this technology to study human genetics and treat genetic diseases more efficiently. Clinicians can utilize information systems to store large amounts of information and to perform a wide range of calculations on clinical data.
The emerging field of genomic medicine can benefit from the ability to exchange and store information. As human DNA contains a large amount of information, studying it requires substantial storage capacity (Brown, Patrick, & Pasupathy, 2013). Databases allow keeping the information in well-organized and structured tables and help medical personal to accumulate a lot of data and be able to access and exchange it without losing efficiency. As electronic databases can, to a significant extent, substitute paper documents, using information systems will also mean less paperwork for medical personal.
The calculation capacity of modern hardware also can be beneficial in genomic medicine, as it allows processing information at a very high speed. Well-designed information systems will enable researchers to look for patterns in patients’ DNA and carry on correlational studies. Efficiently applying statistical methods to large amounts of data stored in databases, clinical researchers can further investigate the mechanisms behind the biochemical processes in the human body. Practitioners in hospitals will also benefit from such systems as they would enable doctors to improve the speed and accuracy of diagnoses and support decision-making.
Thus, utilizing new tools of computer science, clinicians will be able to exchange genetic information at a high rate, which would lead to much faster response and care. Performing complex manipulations with clinical data, practitioners can find patterns in patients’ genes, leading to more accurate diagnoses. These improvements will have a positive impact on the health outcomes of the patients and facilitate clinical research in the field.
Reference
Brown, G. D., Patrick, T. B., & Pasupathy, K. S. (2013). Health informatics: A systems perspective. Chicago, IL: Health Administration Press.