In the bustling city of New York lived a young woman named Emily. Emily wasn’t a health care provider or even remotely associated with the medical field. She worked as a graphic designer, spending her days creating stunning visuals for advertising campaigns.

One evening, while browsing the internet, Emily stumbled upon an article titled “Why Everyone Should Care About Health Care Informatics, Even if You’re Not in the Medical Field.” Curiosity piqued, she began to read.

The article explained that health care informatics is the intersection of health care, technology, and data. It’s about using information technology to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of health care delivery. Emily was intrigued. She had never considered how technology could impact something as essential as health care.

As she delved deeper into the article, Emily learned about the various ways health care informatics could benefit society as a whole. It wasn’t just about making life easier for doctors and nurses—it was about improving patient outcomes, reducing medical errors, and ultimately, saving lives.

Emily realized that health care informatics wasn’t just a concern for those directly involved in the medical field—it affected everyone. Whether it’s accessing electronic health records, utilizing telemedicine for remote consultations, or analyzing big data to identify health trends, health care informatics touches every aspect of health care delivery.

The more Emily learned, the more passionate she became about the topic. She shared the article with her friends and family, sparking discussions about the importance of health care informatics in today’s world.

One day, while visiting her grandmother in the hospital, Emily witnessed firsthand the impact of health care informatics. Thanks to electronic health records, her grandmother’s medical history was easily accessible to the doctors, enabling them to provide personalized and timely care.

Moved by the experience, Emily decided to use her graphic design skills to raise awareness about health care informatics. She created infographics, social media campaigns, and even workshops to educate others about the significance of technology in health care.

Over time, Emily’s efforts paid off. More people began to recognize the importance of health care informatics, advocating for its integration into health care systems worldwide.

Thanks to Emily’s curiosity, the world came to understand that health care informatics isn’t just for the medical field—it’s for everyone. When we prioritize the integration of technology and data in health care, we create a healthier, more efficient, and more equitable world for all.

If you’re ready to start leveraging health care informatics to improve your outcomes, I welcome a discussion. Like Emily, this is my passion, and I’m driven to help.

Afua Aning is a physician informaticist.