Why Is Biomedical Informatics Hard? A Fundamental Framework

Authors

Todd R Johnson
Elmer V Bernstam

Language

English

Publication Date

4-1-2023

Journal

Journal of Biomedical Informatics

PMID

36893995

PubMedCentral® Posted Date

June 2023

PubMedCentral® Full Text Version

Post-Print

Abstract

Building on previous work to define the scientific discipline of biomedical informatics, we present a framework that categorizes fundamental challenges into groups based on data, information, and knowledge, along with the transitions between these levels. We define each level and argue that the framework provides a basis for separating informatics problems from non-informatics problems, identifying fundamental challenges in biomedical informatics, and provides guidance regarding the search for general, reusable solutions to informatics problems. We distinguish between processing data (symbols) and processing meaning. Computational systems, that are the basis for modern information technology (IT), process data. In contrast, many important challenges in biomedicine, such as providing clinical decision support, require processing meaning, not data. Biomedical informatics is hard because of the fundamental mismatch between many biomedical problems and the capabilities of current technology.

Keywords

Biomedical informatics, Data, Definition, Information, Knowledge, Philosophy of information, Scientific discipline.

Published Open-Access

yes

Recommended Citation

Todd R Johnson and Elmer V Bernstam, "Why Is Biomedical Informatics Hard? A Fundamental Framework" (2023). Faculty, Staff and Student Publications. 110.
https://digitalcommons.library.tmc.edu/uthshis_docs/110