High performance computers and communications and telemedicine: from home care to privacy and security of health care data

The 21st Century will be the Information Age. Implementation and support of the strategic plan for a national/global information infrastructure will occur through the utilization of high-performance computing and communications (HPCC). HPCC technology provides a potentially huge payoff in health care. From teleconsultations to the availability of health-related databases, the effect of using HPCC will enhance patient care, improve drug design and broaden access to medical information. Geographic distance, time to accomplish tasks, separation of people from resources, and outdated organizational structures are impediments that inhibit the ultimate achievement of all these goals. Information technology has a pervasive and unprecedented ability to remove these barriers to progress. As part of the strategic planning process, three broad classes of user-driven applications have been identified: (1) high-performance applications; (2) high-confidence applications-improving the integration, privacy, security and reliability of information flows within and across enterprises; and (3) high-capability applications for the individual-empowering individuals with universal, easy-to-use access information, and providing customization and support of their information space