Information Literacy There is a phenomenal amount of information available to us every day, which is generally not difficult to acquire: although time-consuming in some instances. We now live in an era where information is all around us, available in various forms and from various sources and relatively inexpensive, and, often at no cost. When an issue requires researching one can gain the knowledge from resources such as: text books, journals, local and national newspapers, television, radio, and the never-ending World Wide Web. To be most effective in utilizing these areas of information gathering, it is important to know how to locate, search, obtain, access, and evaluate the information. This allows for an efficient use of resources. I am pleased to learn of the Information Literacy Competency Standards for Higher Education, which provides a framework for assessing the information by a literate individual. Developing information literacy within an individual is critical to their journey throughout their life. I find it extremely beneficial these standards extend the opportunity to articulate its information literacy competencies within K-12 grades, in order for a continuum of expectations to develop for students at all levels. How fabulous it is to see that information literacy is becoming more of a requirement than a nice-to-know subject in many areas. Additionally, I applaud the regulatory agencies for identifying the need for information literacy to be part of their criteria, this proves how valuable information literacy truly is in the world we live in today. Information Systems is yet another fascinating topic to understand the depths of its function. Basically, this is the “heart beat” of many organizations today. Information systems provide information to the users, which will facilitate the work of the organization. Many times it seems as though Information Systems departments drive an organization and until they say “yes,” to a particular project affecting the company’s infrastructure, it doesn’t happen. This tends to be frustrating for most individuals within an organization. However, understanding the needs, analysis, infrastructure, and resources involved is a critical factor in determining the necessity of implementation of a project request. Unfortunately, moving an organization to another level of automation can be very time-consuming and expensive; however, many times the outcomes can improve workflow processes, increase productivity, and improve data integrity. As I learned, the basic information system consists of 4 elements: people, procedures, communication, and data. As I reflected on these elements, I realized it is an awesome way to identify any “information system” whether manual or automated. For an organization to be successful each element plays a vital role in handling information.
Tags: Healthcare Informatics, Healthcare Informatics Resources, Health Care Information Systems, Health Care Information Literacy
