How Does Technology Affect Our Ability to Address the Health Concerns of Our People?

Technology has the potential to impact Indian health in numerous ways if tribes can develop the necessary infrastructure and training programs. Field clinics and services, and the record-keeping that permits reimbursement of health care costs, would benefit from computerized patient records that do away with paper files -- but Public Health personnel must be able to access telephone lines from remote locations to log into the system. Telemedicine can allow people to consult with health care specialists often not available at Indian Health Service clinics to get better care. Teleconferencing can permit all tribes to monitor and participate in legislative processes that affect Indian health. We can no longer afford to be "information starved." Summer 2002, vol. 17, no. 3 Educational levels: High school, Undergraduate lower division, Undergraduate upper division, Graduate or professional, General public