Homer R. Warner facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Homer Richards Warner
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| Born | April 18, 1922 Salt Lake City, United States
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| Died | November 30, 2012 (aged 90) Salt Lake City, United States
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| Education | University of Utah (B.S., M.D.) University of Minnesota (Ph.D.) |
| Known for | Medical informatics |
| Spouse(s) | Katherine Anne Romney (died 2007) Jean Okland (died 2011) June Okland |
| Children | 6 |
Homer Richards Warner (born April 18, 1922 – died November 30, 2012) was an American heart doctor. He was one of the first people to use computers in medicine. This field is now called medical informatics. He helped create many ways computers could be used to improve healthcare.
He wrote a book called Computer-Assisted Medical Decision-Making in 1979. He was also in charge of computer systems for the University of Utah Health Sciences Center. He led the American College of Medical Informatics, where an award is now named after him. He also worked closely with the National Institutes of Health.
Dr. Warner was the first head of the Department of Medical Informatics at the University of Utah School of Medicine. This was the first medical program in America to offer a degree in this new field. He was also a senior member of the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences.
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About Homer Warner
Homer Warner was born in Salt Lake City on April 18, 1922. During World War II, he joined the United States Navy. He trained as a pilot but did not see combat.
He earned his first degree, a B.S., from the University of Utah in 1946. He then received his medical degree, an M.D., also from the University of Utah, in 1949. By 1953, he had worked at hospitals in Texas and Minnesota. He also earned a Ph.D. in physiology from the University of Minnesota.
Computers in Medicine
In the mid-1950s, Dr. Warner started using computers to help doctors make decisions. He focused on heart conditions at LDS Hospital in Salt Lake City. This important work helped create a new area of study called medical informatics.
In the 1970s, Dr. Warner and his team at LDS Hospital created one of the first electronic medical records. This system, called HELP, helped doctors make better choices for patients. It was used for almost 40 years.
His Work at the University of Utah
Dr. Warner and his team taught about using computers in medicine at the University of Utah. In 1964, the Department of Biophysics and Bioengineering was officially started.
Over the years, the department changed names several times. In 1985, it became the Department of Medical Informatics. In 2006, it was renamed the Department of Biomedical Informatics. Dr. Warner led this department until 1996. It was the first program in the world to offer a degree in this field.
During his time at the University of Utah, Dr. Warner helped over 200 students earn their PhDs. He was known for being helpful and encouraging to his students. He also directed the cardiovascular laboratory at LDS Hospital from 1954 to 1970. In 1985, he was honored as Physician of the Year.
In 1988, he was chosen to be a senior member of the Institute of Medicine. New members are picked for their big contributions to health and medicine.
His Passing
Homer Warner passed away on November 30, 2012, in Salt Lake City. He died from problems related to pancreatitis.
Awards and Recognition
Dr. Warner received the Morris F. Collen Award.
- Homer Warner wing of the IHC Medical Center in Utah
Homer Warner Center for Research
On February 16, 2011, Intermountain Healthcare opened a new center. It supports computer systems used in patient care. This center, located in Salt Lake City, is named the Homer Warner Center for Informatics Research. It honors Dr. Warner as one of the key people who started using computers in healthcare.
Advanced computer systems help caregivers improve medical care. They make routine tasks easier and help doctors talk to each other. These systems also help with decision-making and allow for studies to improve care.
Intermountain Healthcare has been a leader in using computers in medicine for many years. This is thanks to the hard work and vision of Dr. Homer Warner and his team. Their early work in the 1950s and 1970s created a strong foundation. The HELP system, one of the first electronic medical records, was used for almost 40 years.
Homer R. Warner Award
The Object Management Group (OMG) created an award named after Homer Warner. OMG is an international group that works on computer industry standards.
The award includes a $1000 prize. It is given out every year at the American Medical Informatics Association (AMIA) meeting. It honors the best paper that describes ways to improve how computers get and use medical information. It also looks for papers that show how these methods help patients.
Award Winners
- Dr. Jessica S. Ancker in 2016 for her work on making health information easier to understand.
- Dr. Kensaku Kawamoto in 2012.
- Dr. Per H. Gesteland in 2011.
- Dr. Milos Hauskrecht in 2010.
- Dr. Hua Xu in 2009.
- Dr. Joshua C. Denny in 2008.
- Dr. Charlene R. Weir in 2007.
- Dr. Hamish S. F. Fraser in 2006.
- Dr. Paul D. Clayton in 2005.
- Drs. Paul Biondich and David Taylor jointly in 2003.
- Dr. Randolph A. Miller and David Sanders in 2001.
- Dr. Marcelo Fiszman in 2000.
- Dr. Peter Elkin for his great work in Medical Informatics.
