РефератыИностранный языкInInformation Technology Essay Research Paper Information technology

Information Technology Essay Research Paper Information technology

Information Technology Essay, Research Paper


Information technology is a rapidly growing


part of today’s society. It affects everyone’s life in many aspects.


Every human endeavor is influenced by information technology and the increasing


rate at which what it can perform includes. One area of human endeavor


that information technology has greatly influenced is the practice of medicine,


specifically veterinary medicine. Not only has veterinary medicine


been influenced by information technology, it has also been enhanced by


it. The degree to which the practice of veterinary medicine includes


information technology is observable at the Animal Emergency Clinic of


Central New York on Erie Blvd. in Syracuse, New York.


Section I: veterinary medicine.


Doctors of veterinary medicine are the


people who engage in the human endeavor of practicing veterinary medicine.


The activities that are included in this endeavor are the prevention, diagnosis


and treatment of animal diseases. The best way to handle a disease


is to prevent acquiring it altogether. To accomplish this animals


are given the available vaccinations for the most likely diseases they


would get according to what type of animal they are and where they live.


Unfortunately not every disease has a vaccination and not every animal


has the opportunity to receive the available vaccinations. When an


animal gets sick it is the duty of the veterinarian to determine the cause


of the sickness and the best possible course of treatment for it.


Veterinarians have many other responsibilities as well. These range


from, but are not limited to, treating wounded animals and spaying or neutering


them to preventing the spread of diseases from animals to humans through


agriculture.


The first school of veterinary medicine


was in France. It opened in 1761. Veterinary medicine schools


started to open in the United States of America during the civil war.


(www.encyclopedia.com)


To become a doctor of veterinary medicine,


DVM, one must complete veterinary school. To get accepted into a


school of veterinary medicine, a student has to meet the requirements of


that particular vet school. Most of the requirements can be satisfied


through undergraduate course work. The hard part is to have done a better


job at meeting these requirements than the competition has.


As an undergraduate, the student


must demonstrate not only academic excellence and dedication to service


and helping others, but also a vast repertoire of experience in the field.


To prove that he/she is truly dedicated to the service of others, community


service must be done and documented. Working, volunteering


and interning are all acceptable ways to gain experience in the field of


veterinary medicine. The reason behind schools requiring experience


is to ensure that the student knows what they are getting into before they


spend thousands of dollars (approx. $20,000/yr.) and at least four


years of their life in an extremely intensive academic environment.


Many people have an altered idea of what being a vet is about. A


lot of physical and emotion endurance is necessary to be a successful veterinarian.


Many people are unaware of that.


The specific undergraduate course requirements


to get into a school of veterinary medicine vary between the schools.


All of them are science intensive. Most require a well-rounded education.


The University of California at Davis school of veterinary medicine requires


one year of general biology, one year of general chemistry, one year of


organic chemistry, and one year of physics as far as lower division requirements.


Upper division requirements include a semester of biochemistry, a semester


of systemic physiology, a semester of vertebrate embryology, and a semester


of genetics. On top of that they want their applicants to have taken


courses in English composition, humanities, social sciences as well as


statistics. Simply taking these courses is not enough, they need


to be completed with a GPA above a 2.5. However, the competition


has an average GPA of 3.45. The GRE must also be taken and a competitive


score must be achieved for consideration. Tuskegee University requires


two semesters of English, two of math, two of chemistry (Enough to include


organic. Which really means four), two of physics, three of biology,


two of animal science, one of animal nutrition, and then courses in humanities,


social sciences and electives. They add that grades less than a c


are not acceptable.


Once a student has meet all of the undergraduate


requirements and has been accepted into a school of veterinary medicine


he/she still has the hard part to look forward too. It has been said


many times that vet. School is harder than med. School. The course


work is extremely intensive and demanding. Not everybody makes it


through. Nobody becomes a vet. for the money because what one must


go through to become and be a vet. is not worth it. That is why veterinarians


are so dedicated to what they do.


In order to keep up with new findings


veterinarians must continue to take courses so they can learn new findings


that have occurred since they were in vet. School. To keep up with


the competition veterinarians must stay current when it comes to technology.


This also allows them to be aware of the most efficient and effective ways


available to treat their patients. Short courses are offered to veterinarians


on such changes. Since medical discoveries have been and still are


constantly being made, and technology is always advancing, veterinarians


have always had to continue their learning of information. The only


difference over time is the actual material that they are learning.


Section II: Information uses and needs


in the practice of veterinary medicine.


There is a lot of information that doctors


of veterinary medicine need and use in the process of preventing, diagnosing


and treating animals. The courses they are required to take account


for a lot of the information they know and bring to work with them every


day. They have to know the anatomy of the normal canine


locomotor system and a normal canine head. The structure and function


of the cardiorespiratory system as well as the urinary system is imperative


information. So are parisitology, epidemiology, virology, bacteriology,


and mycology. Principals of nutrition and behavior come in very handy


when trying to determine the cause of distress in an animal. Immunology


is necessary when it comes to routine vaccinations, auto immune reactions


and pathogenic responses. Even veterinarians who do not perform surgery


must retain information on anesthesiology since it is sometimes necessary


for other procedures. In order to correctly prescribe medicines they


must have information on pharmacology and toxicology. Physiological


chemistry and correct pH balance of body fluids is another must.


So are many other areas that cannot be seen by the naked eye like cell


and tissue structure and function, endocrinology, metabolism. Then


there are other specific areas that all veterinarians must know information


about such as oncology and neurology. Much of this information is


gained through traditional textbooks and lectures. A great deal of


it, however, is made tangible through advances in technology. Cornell’s


school of veterinary medicine has modular research centers, MRC, which


greatly enhance what a vet. Student reads in a book. Cornell also has computer


labs that simulate a variety of systems and processes that go along with


what a student hears in class or reads in a text.


Fortunately for the clients veterinarians


are required to study ethics and issues in veterinary medicine. Veterinarians


must also know how to properly handle animals in order to prevent injury


to them and the animal. The rest of the information that veterinarians


need in preparing to practice comes from in-clinic experience. This


is a required part of vet school. These experiences may be gained


in small animal practices, on farm, in an equine practice facility, a zoo,


or even in a wildlife rehabilitation center. Many veterinarians learn


information on food animal practice to prevent disease spread to humans.


The information a veterinarian gains cannot be summed up in any paper.


All of the knowledge they have prepares them to practice veterinary medicine.


As they continue in the field they must continue to update their knowledge


with new findings as well as procedures that change as a result of the


change in technology.


When it comes to performing a diagnosis


and treatment of disease in an animal, a vet. needs to have all of the


above information understood, but he/she also needs information on the


patient. A lot of this information is gained from simply asking the


caretaker of the animal questions regarding the behavior and diet of the


animal. The majority of it comes from the vet’s own investigating.


This usually includes looking at the animal’s medical past, weighing the


animal and when necessary performing the tests relative to the symptoms


of the animal. These tests may include, but are certainly not limited


to blood tests, urine tests and even radiology. The use of an idexx


machine helps a great deal with blood testing. An IV pump machine


does a lot of the work when it comes to monitoring and maintaining an animal.


The office at which all of this takes place


must be set up in a very specific manner in order to accommodate all of


the needs of practicing veterinary medicine. It must be equipped


with the necessary testing equipment as well as the obvious, phone fax,


voice mail. And, of course, a way to keep track of the patients and


clients information, such as, names addresses, medical past and services


rendered to ensure proper charging.


Section III: Modern information technology


and the use of information.


Walking into one of the MRC’s is similar


to walking into a zoo in the sense that such a wide variety of animals


in different states can be found there. None still alive, but most


preserved in such a way that they can be touch

and handled for examination


and comparison without deteriorating. One specimen, for example,


is a dog’s head sliced vertically from the ear to the neck. This


allows students to see and feel what it is like inside of a dog’s head


and what a normal brain appears like. The next specimen looked similar


except for minor differences in the brain. A student who studies


this now knows, thanks to technology, what a to expect if a dog comes into


their clinic with the same condition. This MRC also contained healthy,


injured, diseased and deformed skeletons of many species. Before


these labs came about vet. students really were unable to gain such experience


before they began their practice.


Another lab, which contains computers,


hasa station for different aspects of studies ranging from metabolism to


oncology to cell physiology. On each computer was a simulation relative


to the area of study it specialized in. These computers are a great


resource for trying to understand systems and processes that cannot otherwise


be seen such as a cancerous tumor dividing or the immune system at work.


They can show, in detail, what is actually happening. During the


simulation the student can stop and rewind at anytime to get another look.


He/she can also point and click on anything pictured on the screen to get


a definition or explanation of what is going on. There is always


the option of seeking out a professor or textbook if anything remains unclear.


When these computer programs were unavailable, there was really no way


for vet students or even vets to observe these micro systems.


This idexx machine tests the levels of


twenty one substances in the blood such as glucose, potassium, calcium,


and other elements. It also checks the number of platelets, white


blood cells and red blood cells to give the doctor a better idea of what


is going on inside the patient. All the doctor has to do is put a


drop of blood into the Idexx and it does the rest. It even prints


out a receipt looking report that contains not only the animals blood levels,


but includes a column of what a normal reading is for each part that is


off. This report is species-specific. If it is normal it simply


reads normal next to that element. Traditionally the doctor would


have to put the blood under a microscope to determine the cell count.


Finding the level of a certain element would require a lot more blood and


materials resembling a chemistry kit. Not to mention a lot more time.


The IV pump machine regulates the flow


of the intravenous fluids into the bloodstream of the animal. Some of them


come equipped with ways to monitor the animal’s heart rate. It also alerts


the vet. with a beep or ring when something is not right with the animal.


This could be the animal’s heart rate or it could signify that the fluid


is not getting into the animal correctly.


After school is completed and actual practice


is taking place, the place in which the practice is occurring must meet


the needs of veterinary medicine. Many of them have to do with information


technology. Overlooking the obvious would be easy, mostly because


these information technologies are highly taken for granted. A thermostat


to keep a constant temperature throughout the facility is extremely important


chilling or overheating a sick or wounded animal stresses it and can be


devastating. Keeping the doctors and clients comfortable is important


as well. A phone, preferably one with more than one line, is important


for many reasons. One reason being for clients to call up, make appointments,


discuss the situation of their animal and also for them to be able to check


up on hospitalized animals. Another reason is for the doctors to


be able to call out. They may need to call out to gain the permission


of their clients on courses of treatments, to notify them of the condition


of their animals and even to tell them that ’scruffy’ is ready to go home.


Doctors also need, occasionally, to confer with other doctors or pharmacists.


The fax machine is another bit of information


technology that facilitates running a vet practice. In the case of


the Animal Emergency Clinic of CNY, the fax machine is the primary source


of contact with the share holding facilities when it comes to common patients.


The medical charts of an animals are faxed to their regular veterinary


facility to ensure proper follow-up care. It is also used to send


out memos about available shifts and periods of no coverage. This


keeps vets from referring their clients to the AEC of CNY when no doctor


is on duty. The fax is also used to order supplies and medicines.


Without a fax machine most of this information would have to be mailed,


lengthening the time of notification in all of the above situations.


Keeping track of patients, clients and


the services they received is a task that was once tedious, but now, thanks


to technology, is easy, reliable and quick. In the case of the AEC


of CNY, AVImark is the software employed that gets the job done.


This software is a system of veterinary information management that is


capable of handling a wide range of information both on the client and


the patient. It makes appointments and follow-ups. It stores


a file for each patient, which links it to its owner, the client.


This file holds information such as the name, address, home and work phone


number and even chart number of the client. For the patient it holds


the same as well as, the species, breed, weight, color, regular vet, and


even the date of the last entry as well as all services received during


the current and past visits. AVImark has a catalog of all of the


possible services a patient may receive along with the price of that service.


These services are categorized for easy findings under maintenance, treatments,


and applications. And then are further broken down into sub groups


such as laboratory, radiology, injections, pharmacy, etc. Another


time saving feature AVImark has to offer is estimates. These estimates


save time because they contain the routine treatments and medications for


cases that are seen frequently such as hit by car, urinary track infection,


the Parvo. virus, and many other common situations animals are in upon


entering the AEC of CNY. When an estimate is clicked on the expected


treatments are brought up along with the charges for each. The estimate


also includes a variance column so the vet can customize the estimate for


the severity of the patient’s condition. An example of this is the


standard hit by a car dog would need to be hospitalized over night receive


a certain number of injections and IV bags. A dog may come in that


was hit by a car, but is not in as bad shape as would be expected.


The doctor would then reduce the number of injections, IV bags and hours


of hospitalization predicted for the dog. The price on the estimate


would change accordingly to give a more accurate expectation to the client.


After the estimate is complete it is printed to and brought out the client


for review. This saves the doctor time by eliminating having


to write this all out and look up the prices. Before software like


this was made available for use by veterinarians all of this had to be


done by hand and recorded on paper. Storing the files of all of the


patients who received care in a facility took up a lot of room and time


to organize.


Technology has changed greatly what a vet


has to do. The above information technologies play an important role


in the practice of veterinary medicine. Over the years, however,


technology has changed. What has been available to veterinarians


has changed as a result. Thus technology has allowed veterinary facilities


to accommodate more patients at once and accept more animals as patients


in their practice. This is because the time it takes to treat an


animal is shortened thanks to technology.


Section IV:


It is hard to single out the most important


aspects of the role of information technology in the practice of veterinary


medicine. Primarily because know one knows where veterinary medicine


would be to today if any or all of the technology that is a part of it


had not been applied to this science. Any information technology


that increases the chance of a veterinarian being able to save the life


of an animal would be considered important in this field. The list


of these would be never ending. The ones that facilitate vets. the


most are the ones that increase the speed and accuracy of the vets. procedure.


Examples of these information technologies are the idexx machine and the


IV pump.


Technology of veterinary medicine has already


had an influence on human medicine. An example of this are the use


of vaccinations which are now used both on humans and animals. Vaccinations


were originally developed for animals, but were found to be effective in


humans. The use of live-virus vaccines has been used on humans since


WWII. (www.encyclopedia.com) The use of certain information technologies


in the field of human medicine are sure to have an influence in the practice


of veterinary medicine. Antibiotics are another example of veterinary


technology influencing human medicine. It is expected that


advances in human medicine will affect veterinary medicine. The use


of information technology to enable surgeons to perform surgery off site


is sure to carry over to veterinary medicine. This will have a great


affect on the way doctors perform in this field.


To prepare oneself for success in veterinary


medicine all of the required graduate and undergraduate courses must be


completed. However, the best preparation for success is exposure


to the field. In order to be completely ready for the practice of


veterinary medicine knowing how to use the relevant information technologies


is a necessity. The best way to accomplish this is through additional


courses or observation. According to Tamela, a licensed veterinary


technician who works at the AEC of CNY, watching another vet. at work,


and seeing how he/she uses the technology to his/her advantage is an invaluable


way to prepare for success in this field.”

Сохранить в соц. сетях:
Обсуждение:
comments powered by Disqus

Название реферата: Information Technology Essay Research Paper Information technology

Слов:3649
Символов:24286
Размер:47.43 Кб.