ADA reportChallenging the future: Impact of information technology on dietetics practice, education, and research
Section snippets
WHAT IS INFOTECH?
In a recent article, Simon (1) described three major forces that are accelerating the advancement of the information age. First, the federal government supports the movement; it is a priority of the Clinton Administration. Simon quotes the administration's national goal from Putting People First, by Bill Clinton and Al Gore: “To create a door-to-door (high performance) information network to link every home, business, lab, classroom, and library by the year 2015 [and] to put public records,
HOW WILL INFOTECH AFFECT DIETETICS PROFESSIONALS?
Infotech will affect members of our profession in two important ways. First, it will be a major tool to enhance the level at which we practice our profession. Personal computers, expert systems, and robots will eliminate many of the routine functions we currently perform, such as recording care plans. When we no longer have to spend so much time on routine functions, we will have more opportunities to become full partners on medical, executive, and consumer teams.
Second, infotech will be
TRENDS SUPPORTING THE INFOTECH MOVEMENT
A number of trends will accelerate the movement of our society into the information age. Five trends in particular will have a major impact on reshaping the dietetics profession: information generation and management; a multicultural, global economy; the demographic profile of our client base; career transitions and workplace changes; and the convergence of work, home, school, and leisure activities.
IMPLICATIONS
Clearly, the enormous expansion of infotech will have a profound impact on our personal and professional lives. Abraham Lincoln once said, “If we could first know where we are and whither we are tending, we could better judge what to do and how to do it.” A look at how infotech will affect specific areas of our profession—practice, education, and research—will show us where we are, what is important in shaping our profession's future role, and how to address the leadership challenges of the
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