“Informatics” section: Does this add value to our journal?

Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine 24(4): 286, 1999

Editorial

"Informatics" Section: D o e s This A d d V a l u e to Our J o u r n a l ? We are introducing a n o t h e r change to w h a t our readers will find in most issues of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine. Recently we introduced a section on Translational Vignettes, and n o w this n e w section on Informatics. Again y o u m a y ask, w h y are t h e y doing this? The answer is that the sharing of medical information is increasingly being "pushed" by advances in the Internet and other informatics learning technologies. We are fortunate that one of the leaders in the area of informatics in our specialty is a willing contributor to our journal. Mike Smith, M.D., a faculty m e m b e r at the Cleveland Clinic and a true expert in computer-based technology, has agreed to lead the team creating the n e w informatics section in our journal. It is our hope that the material shared will help us better u n d e r s t a n d h o w to use these technologic advances, rather t h a n be used by them. It is b o t h Dr. Smith's and m y hope that y o u will forward ideas for "Informatics" topics to him t h r o u g h our editorial office by p h o n e or e-mail as y o u consider y o u r o w n needs in this expanding area of our medical practices. David L. Brown, M.D.

Editor-in-Chief Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine Accepted for publication February 3, 1999.

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