The Second Century Initiative (2CI) is a Georgia State University investment in internationally recognized areas of research with national significance. Due to the unique challenges of the healthcare sector and tremendous opportunities for innovation and advancement through technology, Health Information Technology (HIT) was selected. This endeavor also has major workforce implications for Georgia, as Atlanta was recently recognized as the HIT capital of the world by the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce.
The Department of Computer Information Systems and the Institute of Health Administration in the J. Mack Robinson College of Business, along with the Georgia Health Policy Center in the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies have partnered to create the Center for Health Information Technology. The center will build upon the existing strengths of the nationally ranked Computer Information Systems and Health Administration programs - and their new Health Informatics specialization at the bachelor's, master's and doctoral levels - and the extensively funded research of the Georgia Health Policy Center by advancing research, improving education and building partnerships around HIT.
The unique problems of the healthcare sector provide tremendous opportunities to conduct cross-discipline, collaborative health informatics research. Many scholars have attributed the healthcare sector problems of costs, quality and access to the lack of effective use of information technology among doctors, nurses, patients, laboratories and insurance companies. Electronic health records (EHR), personal health records (PHR) and computerized provider order entry systems (CPOE) provide unparalleled opportunities to transform the healthcare sector.
This joint research project has major workforce implications for Georgia; for instance, Atlanta has recently been recognized as the HIT capital of the world by the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce. It is expected that this research will lead to increased HIT funding, top-tier journal publications, and enhanced national reputation for GSU and the departments involved.
Future work in this area will address the effective use of information technology in healthcare, which could transform the field, from areas like electronic health records to computerized provider order entry systems.
Since receiving the 2CI award in Health Information Technology in 2011, there has been considerable activity by the members of the departments involved. Learn more. »
2012 Georgia Health IT Leadership Summit
December 4, 2012
Historic Fox Theater
Atlanta, Georgia