For freshman/sophomore-level courses in Computers in Health Care. Information Technology for the Health Professions provides a brief, general introduction to computer literacy and information technology--at a level appropriate for health care students. This is the only comprehensive survey of the interconnections of information technology (IT) and health care. It is the only up-to-date text that teaches computer literacy AND introduces students to the uses of information technology in health care delivery. It includes discussions of hardware and software, communications and networking, ethical issues, and privacy concerns. In addition, it discusses how IT is transforming every aspect of health care--from administrative applications (such as the electronic medical record), to clinical systems involved in direct patient care, to special-purpose applications (such as simulation software used in the education of health care professionals). The text examines the impact of IT on health care--specifically in the fields of radiology, telemedicine, surgery, medical devices, pharmacy, dentistry, and informational resources.