By Alejandro Bermudez-Del Villar

IT- standing for Information Technology.  The oldest of these concepts and as such one that many people wrongly use to refer to any kind of technology in an office environment. IT is basically the mother (and old IT the grandmother) of new digital technologies. Without her, the rest would not exist- as it provides the architecture and the physical means of communication.

*** Think of it as: the mere equipment (the computer itself).In telephone terms, it would be basically the actual telephone machine.  You may purchase and try using it, but unless it is connected to the network you cannot communicate with anyone through it.

If your telephone (computer) is  connected to an internal network (your office network) it can be used as an intercom (intranet) where you may  communicate with other departments as long as they are also connected to such network. If your telephone (computer) is connected to the external telephone network (Internet Service) you will be able to communicate and exchange information with other telephone (computer) users

ICTs- standing for Information and Communication Technologies.  There is a good reason why the C (for communication) was added, since--at some point--technologies (and their users) couldn't communicate with each other (they were incompatible). This new added language capabilities for Communicating makes them different to plain ITs.

***Think of them as: your telephones new capabilities to exchange data*.   The best example of these capabilities for a fixed phone would be when you interact with an automated system on the other line. You can (or should be able) to select the desired option and obtain the service you selected (according to the options, of course).

-OR- (*) The cell-phone example may be closer to the concept that we are looking for. Nowadays most cellular phones have the capacity of exchanging information in the form of image, text, video (in addition to voice).

The integrated solutions (in the form of software) enable your equipment to communicate with other equipment using a common network that speaks a new language.  The applications enabling you to do this are precisely the ICTs.

HITs- standing for Health Information Technologies.  Do not let any Techie bully you with the terminology. Contrary to general belief this is NOT a different animal. HITs are basically (the above explained ICT) applications that enable Health Practitioners to carry out specific Medical or Health-related operation using electronic technologies.

***Think of them as: using your new cell-phone (BlackBerry/IPhone) functions solely for the purpose of public and Medical services.

In this made up example, you will first store patients data in your contacts, save conversations in the form of text and e-mail, take and save images (pictures); voice and even video. Once information is stored, the (ICT) applications of your blackberry/IPhone will allow you to share it with one or all of your contacts. Your telephone will identify each one of your contacts and will assign specific details for him/her, should you instruct it to; so that every time you receive a call or need info about that contact (patient) you will have a full profile.

-OR- (*) A less comprehensive, but perhaps easier, example using a fixed telephone would be an automated 1-800 health/medical emergency line with options as to the kind of emergency taking place. The ICT application will store all the input (selected options) and will arrange it in a functional way for the live agent to help you in a customized manner.

Hence, HIT (ICT for Health) applications exist (and will be further developed) in all realms where health and health-related practitioners administrative, accounting, case management systems, etc. However, be aware that these are all applications allowing your Telephone (equipment) to perform a specific function just like your telephone or cell-phone do. One application allowing you to store, share and customize data is EHR (electronic Health Records). EHR  may or may not connect to another application allowing you to do  such things as Third Party Billing. While another will help you create statistical data, financial  projections, etc.,--all for the purpose of helping you manage  your health facility. A series of coordinated applications working together constitute an electronic Health Management System.

Tele Health or Tele-Medicine- Out of the four, this might be the easiest concept to understand.  Its literal meaning (healing from the distance) derives from the Greek words Telos and Meduri. This concept is broad enough to allow for a series of interpretations as there are many ways in which a patient can receive instructions or advice on how to achieve a healthy status. New technologies allow for creative and innovative ways to carry out tele-medicine operations, such as surgery directed by a doctor in a different location through the use of cameras or medical appointments through video-conference. For further detail on Tele-Medicine/Health visit: http://www.hrsa.gov/telehealth/

*** In telephone terms, Think of them as: a telephone conversation with your doctor (or health practitioner). That is, your doctor will assess and will provide diagnosis to you according to the input you provide him/her with.  If you had a video camera and a computer you would be able to see each other and have the added benefit of the visual communications.

Today, practically all technologies speak digital among each other. For us, users, to understand it they use a translator called software applications. Different software allow us to communicate with the computer and instruct her on what to do and when to do it  in different fields. For instance, instructions on how to do the accounting; when ( and where) to store data; when to play music or a video, or when to block instant messaging.

The flexibility of the digital language allows for communicating easily and even instantly with both US and foreign technologies 24/7!