Health Informatics Test 1
MPEG-1 Audio Layer-3
Digital/electronic audio programming format.
Compact disk--read-only memory (CD-ROM)
Disk that can hold approx 700 MB of data accessible by a computer.
Knowledge dissemination
Distribution and sharing of knowledge.
Report
Documents that contain data or information based on a query or investigation designed to yield customized content in relation to a situation and a user, a group of users, or an organization. Designed to inform, reports may include recommendations or suggestions based on programming and other embedded parameters.
Conferencing software
Electronic communications system/software that supports and facilitates two or more people meeting for discussion. High-end systems offer telepresence (a lifelike experience allowing people to feel as if they were present in person - it would be as though the health care professional were physically there with the patient - so people can work, learn, and play in person over the internet or have an effect at a remote location.
Electronic mail. To compose, send, receive, and store messages in electronic communication systems.
Arithmetic logic unit (ALU)
Essential building block of the central processing unit of a computer that digitally performs arithmetic and local functions.
Read-only memory (ROM)
Essential permanent or semipermanent, nonvolatile memory that stores saved data and is critical in the working of the computer's operating system and other activities. ROM is stored primarily in the motherboard but may also be available through the graphics card, other expansion cards, and peripherals.
Mainframes
Extremely high-performance computers that are smaller than a supercomputer, used for high-volume, processor-intensive computing. Computers used by some large businesses and/or for scientific processing purposes.
Columns
Fields or attributes of an entity in a database.
Patient centered
Focused on the patient as the essential element in an interaction.
Programmable read-only memory (PROM)
Form of digital memory where the setting of each bit is locked on a chip by a fuse or antifuse. PROM is used to store programs permanently, so it is useful in applications where the programming needs to be permanent. The device cannot be erased, so it must be replaced if changes are deemed necessary in the system.
Instant message (IM)
Form of real-time communication between 2 or more people based on typed text conveyed via computers connected over a network.
Structured Query Language (SQL)
(Pronounced "sequel.") A database querying language rather than a programming language. SQL is a standard language for accessing and manipulating databases. It simplifies the process of retrieving information from a database in a functional or usable form while facilitating the reorganization of data within the database.
Firmware
Hardware and software programs or data written onto ROM, PROM, and EPROM.
Modem
Hardware that allows a user to send and receive information over the phone or cable lines, for example, with a computer. It enables Internet connectivity via a telephone line or cable connection through network adapters situated within the computer apparatus.
Video adapter card
A board or card that is inserted or plugged into a computer to provide display capabilities.
Graphics card
A board that plugs into a personal computer to give it display capabilities.
Consolidated Health Informatics
A collaborative effort to adopt health information interoperability standards, particularly health vocabulary and messaging standards, for implementation in federal government systems.
Clinical database
A collection of related patient records stored in a computer system using software that permits a person or program to query the data to extract needed patient information.
Tables
A collection of related records in a database.
Databases
A collection of related records stored in a computer system using software that permits a person or program to query the data so as to extract needed information; it may consist of one or more related data files or tables.
Data files
A collection of related records.
Sound card
A computer expansion card that facilitates the input and output of audio signals to and from a computer under control of computer programs. Also known as an audio card.
Main memory
A computer's internal memory.
Electronic Health Record
A computer-based data warehouse or repository of information regarding the health status of a client that is replacing the former paper-based medical record; it is the systematic documentation of a client's health status and health care in a secured digital format, meaning that it can be processed, stored, transmitted, and accessed by authorized interdisciplinary professionals for the purpose of supporting efficient, high-quality health care across the client's health care continuum. Also known as electronic medical record.
Electronic health record (EHR)
A computer-based data warehouse or repository of information regarding the health status of a client that is replacing the former paper-based medical record; it is the systematic documentation of a client's health status and health care in a secured digital format, meaning that it can be processed, stored, transmitted, and accessed by authorized interdisciplinary professionals for the purpose of supporting efficient, high-quality health care across the client's health care continuum. Also known as electronic medical record.
Summaries
A condensed version of the original designed to highlight its major points.
Massachusetts Health Data Consortium (MHDC)
A consortium of regional health care organizations that collects data, publishes comparative information, supports and promotes electronic standards, educates, and researches.
Relational database
A database that can store and retrieve data very rapidly. "Relational" refers to how the data are stored in the database and how they are organized.
Power supply
A device that supplies electrical energy or power; the device that provides the electrical energy or power to the computer. A battery can be a source of energy or power.
Touchscreen
A display used as an input device for interacting with or relating to the display's materials or content. The user can touch or press on the designated display area to respond, execute, or request information or output.
Federal Health Information Exchange
A federal information technology health care initiative that enables the secure electronic one-way exchange of patient medical information from the Department of Defense's legacy health information system, the Composite Health Care System, for all separated service members to the Veterans Affairs VistA Computerized Patient Record System. The point of care in veterans' affairs.
Informatics
A field that integrates a specialty's science, computer science, cognitive science, and information science to manage and communicate data, information, knowledge, and wisdom in a specialty's practice.
Primary key
A field within a record (also known as the key field) that contains a code, name, number, or other bit of information that acts as a unique identifier for that record. In a health care system, for example, a patient is assigned a patient number or ID that is unique for that patient.
Query
A form of questioning. A request for information; an example would be a database query.
Next-Generation Internet (NGI)
A government project to develop new, faster technologies to enhance research and communication.
Personal digital assistant (PDA)
A handheld device, miniature or small computer, or palmtop that uses a pen for inputting data instead of a keyboard. Also called a handheld computer. Also known as personal digital assistive.
Entity
A health care provider that conducts certain transactions in electronic form (a "covered health care provider"), a health care clearinghouse, or a health plan that electronically transmits any health information in connection with transactions (billing and payment for services or insurance coverage) for which the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has adopted standards; identified in the Administrative Simplification regulations.
Motherboard
A key foundational computer component. All other components are connected to it in some way (either via local sockets, attached directly to it, or connected via cables). The essential structures of the motherboard include the major chipset, super I/O chip, BIOS, read-only memory, bus communications pathways, and a variety of sockets that allow components to plug into it.
Computer
A machine that stores and executes programs; a machine with peripheral hardware and software to carry out selected programming.
Universal serial bus (USB)
A means of connecting myriad plug-in devices, such as portable flash drives, digital cameras, MP3 players, graphics tablets, light pens, and so on, using a plug-and-play connection without rebooting the computer.
Drill-down
A means of viewing data warehouse information by going down to lower levels of the database to focus on information that is pertinent to the user's needs at the moment.
Terabyte (TB)
A measurement term for data storage capacity. One terabyte equals 1,024 gigabytes.
Foundation of Knowledge model
A model proposing that humans are organic information systems constantly acquiring, processing, generating, and disseminating information or knowledge in both their professional and their personal lives. The organizing framework of this text.
Internet2
A nonprofit consortium that develops and deploys advanced network applications and technologies for education and high-speed data transfer purposes. Led by 212 universities, it is also known as University Corporation for Advanced Internet Development.
Electronically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM)
A nonvolatile storage chip used in computers and other devices to store small amounts of volatile data (e.g., calibration tables/device configuration)
Standardized plan of care
A plan that presents clinicians with treatment protocols to maximize their outcomes and support best practices.
Data mining
A process of utilizing software to sort through data so as to discover patterns and ascertain or establish relationships. This process may help to discover or uncover previously unidentified relationships among the data in a database.
Tuple
A record in a database; also known as a row.
Rows
A record in a database; also known as a tuple.
Care plan
A set of guidelines that outline the course of treatment and the recommended interventions that will achieve optimal results.
Mouse
A small device that one can roll along or scroll to control the movement of the pointer or cursor on a display and click to search for and/or execute features.
Health informatics
A specialty that integrates concepts from a disciplinary science, computer science, information science, and cognitive science to manage and communicate data, information, knowledge, and wisdom in the delivery of health care.
Competency
A statement or description of goals, skills, or behaviors to be achieved.
Scheduling systems
A system designed to track resources within a facility while managing the frequency and distribution of those resources. For example, resource scheduling systems provide information about operating room utilization or availability of intensive care unit beds and other hospital beds.
Order entry systems
A system that automates the way that orders are initiated for patients. Clinicians place orders within these systems instead of using traditional handwritten transcription onto paper. Such systems provide major safeguards by ensuring that physician orders are legible and complete, thereby providing a level of patient safety that was historically missing with paper-based orders. They also provide decision support and automated alert functionality that was previously unavailable with paper-based orders.
Computerized physician (provider) order entry systems (CPOE)
A system that automates the way that orders have traditionally been initiated for patients. Clinicians place orders within these systems instead of using traditional handwritten transcription onto paper. These systems provide major safeguards by ensuring that physician orders are legible and complete, thereby providing a level of patient safety that was historically missing with paper-based orders. They provide decision support and automated alert functionality that was previously unavailable with paper-based orders.
Relational database management system (RDBMS)
A system that manages data using the relational model. A relational database could link a patient's table to a treatment table, for example, by a common field such as the patient ID number field.
Admission, discharge, and transfer systems
A system that provides the backbone structure for the other types of clinical and business systems; it contains the groundwork for the other types of health care information systems because it includes the patient's name, medical record number, visit or account number, and demographic information, such as age, sex, home address, and contact information. It is the central source for collecting this type of patient information and communicating it to the other types of health care information systems, including clinical and business systems.
Laboratory information systems
A system that reports on blood, body fluid, and tissue samples along with biological specimens that are collected at the bedside and received in a central laboratory. These systems provide clinicians with reference ranges for tests indicating high, low, or normal values so that they can make care decisions. Often the laboratory system provides result information directing clinicians toward the next course of action within a treatment regimen.
Dissemination
A thoughtful, intentional, goal-oriented communication of specific, useful information or knowledge.
Master patient index
A tool that identifies, compares, removes duplicate entries, combines, and cleans patient records so that they can be added to a master index; it provides a comprehensive and single view of a patient via that person's record while establishing a master index of all patients.
Portable operating system interface for Unix (POSIX)
A uniform set of standards adopted by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers and the International Standards Organization that define an interface between programs and operating systems. The standardization ensures that software can be easily ported to other POSIX-compliant operating systems.
Yottabyte
A unit of information or computer storage equal to 1 septillion bytes.
Zettabyte
A unit of information or computer storage equal to 1 sextillion bytes.
Microsoft Surface
A windows-based personal computing device. Its light weight and functionality make it especially attractive for point of care use.
Portability
Ability to be transported easily. For example, users can easily take handheld computers wherever they go.
Professional development
Acquisition of skills required for maintaining a specific career path or general skills offered through continuing education, including the more general skills area of personal development. It can be seen as training to keep current with changing technology and practices in a profession or as part of the concept of lifelong learning.
Presentation
Act of presenting or showing; typically uses presentation software in a slide show format. The most commonly used presentation software in the United States is Microsoft PowerPoint.
Processing
Acting on something by taking it through established procedures so as to convert it from one form to another. Examples include the processing of information into data and the processing of a credit application to get a loan.
Tiering
Also referred to as data tiering; the process of monitoring data usage to reveal where data should be stored or warehoused. The most frequently accessed data will be housed in robust technologies for easy retrieval, while the less frequently accessed data could be placed in low-cost storage systems.
Nationwide Health Information Network (NHIN)
An agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services charged with the development of a safe, secure, interoperable health information infrastructure.
New England Health EDI Network (NEHEN)
An example of an implementation model for building regional health information organizations that are functional, sustainable, and growing while reducing administrative costs.
Data warehouse (DW)
An extremely large database or repository that stores all of an organization's or institution's data and makes this data available for data mining. A combination of an institution's many different databases that provides management personnel flexible access to the data.
Stakeholder
An individual or group with the responsibility for completing a project and influencing the overall design and that is most impacted by success or failure of the system implementation.
Stakeholders
An individual or group with the responsibility for completing a project and influencing the overall design and that is most impacted by success or failure of the system implementation.
Managed care information systems
An information system that crosses organizational boundaries so that data can be obtained at any and all of the patient areas; these information systems make it possible for health care professionals to make clinical decisions while being mindful of their financial ramifications.
National Health Information Infrastructure (NHII)
An initiative intended to improve the effectiveness, efficiency, and overall quality of health and health care in the United States. A comprehensive knowledge-based network of interoperable systems of clinical, public health, and personal health information that would improve decision making by making health information available when and where it is needed. The set of technologies, standards, applications, systems, values, and laws that support all facets of individual health, health care, and public health. The infrastructure is voluntary and not a centralized database of medical records or a government regulation.
Library Science
An interdisciplinary science that integrates law, applied science, and the humanities to study issues and topics related to libraries (collection, organization, preservation, archiving, and dissemination of information resources).
Serial port
An interface for connecting an external device that is capable of receiving only 1 bit at a time, such as a mouse, a modem, and some printers.
World Wide Web (WWW)
An international network of computers and servers that offers access to stored documents written in HTML code and access to graphics, audio, and video files.
International Organization for Standardization (ISO)
An international network supporting collaboration among the standards-developing agencies of numerous countries for the development of consistent standards in a multitude of industries to support a global economy. ISO is best known in the technology industries for the ISO 9000 standards. See International Standards Organization.
American National Standards Institute (ANSI)
An organization dedicated to promoting consensus on norms and guidelines related to the assessment of health agencies.
Software
Anything that can be stored electronically. Software is divided into two types: system software (includes the operating system and other software necessary for the computer to function) and application software (allows users to complete specific tasks, such as word processors, spreadsheet software, presentation software, database managers, and media players).
FireWire
Apple Computer's version of a high-performance serial bus used to connect devices to a computer.
Communication Science
Area of concentration or discipline that studies human communication.
How does wisdom differ from knowledge?
Arises from a synthesis of experience, insight and reflection.
Clinical documentation systems/clinical information systems (CIS)
Array or collection of applications and functionality; an amalgamation of systems, medical equipment, and technologies working together that are committed or dedicated to collecting, storing, and manipulating health care data and information and providing secure access to interdisciplinary clinicians navigating the continuum of client care. Designed to collect patient data in realtime and to enhance care by putting data at the clinician's fingertips and enabling decision making where it needs to occur—at the bedside. Also known as clinical information system (CIS).
Evidence
Artifacts, productions, attestations, or other examples that demonstrate an individual's knowledge, skills, or valued attributes.
Computer science
Branch of engineering (application of science) that studies the theoretical foundations of information and computation and their implementation and application in computer systems; the study of storage/memory, conversion and transformation, and transfer or transmission of information in machines - that is computers, - through both algorithms and practical implementation problems. Algorithms are detailed, unambiguous action sequences in the design, efficiency, and application of computer systems, whereas practical implementation problems deal with the software and hardware.
Computer Science
Branch of engineering (application of science) that studies the theoretical foundations of information and computation and their implementation and application in computer systems; the study of storage/memory, conversion and transformation, and transfer or transmission of information in machines— that is, computers—through both algorithms and practical implementation problems. Algorithms are detailed, unambiguous action sequences in the design, efficiency, and application of computer systems, whereas practical implementation problems deal with the software and hardware.
Telecommunications
Broadcasting or transmitting signals over a distance from one person to another person or from one location to another location for the purpose of communication.
Compact-disk rewritable (CD-RW)
CD that can be recorded onto many times.
Compact disk--recordable (CD-R)
CD that can be used once for recording.
Repository
Central place where data are collected, stored, and maintained. Central location for multiple databases or files that can be distributed over a network or directly accessible to the user. Location for files and databases so that the data can be reused, analyzed, explored, or repurposed.
Output
Changes that exit a system and that can activate or modify processing.
Outcome
Changes, results, and/or impacts from inputting and processing.
Who has primary responsibility for the information technology infrastructure?
Chief Information Officer (CIO)
Who focuses the technical and scientific IT issues in an organization?
Chief Technical Officer (CTO)
Microprocessor
Chip that integrates the processor onto one circuit, incorporating the functions of the computer's central processing unit. Microprocessors continue to evolve in terms of their processing capacity.
Social Sciences
Collection of academic and scientific fields or disciplines concerned with the study of the human aspects of our world and environment.
Data mart
Collection of data focusing on a specific topic or organizational unit or department created to facilitate management personnel making strategic business decisions. Could be as small as one database or larger, such as a compilation of databases; generally smaller than a data warehouse.
Communication systems
Collection of individual communications networks and transmission systems. In health care, it includes call light systems, wireless phones, pagers, e-mail, instant messaging, and any other devices or networks that clinicians use to communicate with patients, families, other professionals, and internal and external resources.
Databases
Collections of related records stored in a computer system using software that permits a person/program to query the data so as to extract needed information; it may consist of one or more related data files or tables.
Fields
Column or attribute of an entity in a database.
Computer-Based Information System
Combinations of hardware, software, and telecommunications networks that people build and use to collect, create, and distribute useful data, typically in organizational settings.
Synthesis
Combining parts of existing material or ideas into a new entity or concept.
Monitor
Computer display that allows the user to view text and graphic images.
Personal computer (PC)
Computer made for individual use or directly used by an end user.
Case management information system (CMIS)
Computer programs and information management tools that interact to support and facilitate the practice of case managers.
Open-source software (OSS)
Computer software where the source code is made available for use and/or modification without charge. The developers share code in the hopes that the software will evolve as others modify and improve on the base.
Desktop
Computer's interface that resembles the top of a desk, where the user keeps things he wants to access quickly, such as paper clips, pens, and paper. On the computer's desktop, the user can customize the look and feel to have easy access to the programs, folders, and files on the hard drive that the individual uses the most.
Networks
Connection of computers that can be local and/or organizationally based, joined together into a local area network, on a wider area scope (such as a city or district) using a metropolitan area network, or from an even greater distance (e.g., a whole country or continent or the Internet in general) using a wide area network configuration.
What is a collaborative effort to adopt health information operability standards?
Consolidated Health Informatics
Word processing
Creating documents using a word processing software package, such as Microsoft Word.
Digital video disk-rewritable (DVD-RW)
DVD on which a user can record many times.
Digital video disk-recordable (DVD-R)
DVD on which a user can record once.
Input
Data and information entered into a computer system.
Memory
Data stored in digital format; generally refers to random-access memory.
Information
Data that are interpreted, organized, or structured. Data processed using knowledge or data made functional through the application of knowledge.
Information
Data that are interpreted, organized, or structured. Data processed using knowledge/data made functional through the application of knowledge.
Wearable technology
Devices that a person can don or put on such as articles of clothing or watches, jewelry, and other accessories. Wearable devices are being used to provide remote monitoring of physiologic parameters in care settings, including patients' own homes. The study or practice of inventing, designing, building, or using miniature body-borne computational and sensory devices.
Entity-relationship diagram (ERD)
Diagram that specifies the relationships among the entities in the database. Sometimes the implied relationships are apparent based on the entities' definitions; however, all relationships should be specified as to how items relate to one another. There are typically three relationships: one to one, one to many, and many to many.
Clinical practice guideline
Informal or formal rules or guiding principles that a health care provider uses when determining diagnostic tests and treatment strategies for individual patients. In the electronic health record, they are included in a variety of ways such as prompts, pop-ups, and text messages.
What is data with meaning?
Information
Radiology information system (RIS)
Information system designed to schedule, report, and store information as it relates to diagnostic radiology procedures. One common feature found in most radiology systems is a picture archiving and communication system (PACS). The benefit of RISs and PACSs is their ability to assist in diagnosing complex cases and storing vital patient care support data.
Pharmacy information systems
Information system that facilitates the ordering, managing, and dispensing of medications for a facility. It also commonly incorporates allergy and height/weight information for effective medication management; it streamlines the order entry, dispensing, verification, and authorization process for medication administration while often interfacing with clinical documentation and order entry systems so that clinicians can order and document the administration of medications and prescriptions to patients while having the benefits of decision support alerting and interaction checking.
Feedback
Input in the form of opinions about or reactions to something such as shared knowledge. In an information system, feedback refers to information from the system that is used to make modifications in the input, processing actions, or outputs.
Cognitive Science
Interdisciplinary field that studies the mind, intelligence, and behavior from an information-processing perspective.
Port
Interface between a computer and other devices or other computers.
Parallel port
Interface for connecting an external device that is capable of receiving more than 1 bit at a time.
What describes the process of applying clinical practice guidelines?
Knowledge Application
What process creates new knowledge by altering knowledge through the input of others?
Knowledge Generation
Wisdom
Knowledge applied in a practical way or translated into actions; the use of knowledge and experience to heighten common sense and insight so as to exercise sound judgment in practical matters. Sometimes thought of as the highest form of common sense, resulting from accumulated knowledge or erudition (deep, thorough learning) or enlightenment (education that results in understanding and the dissemination of knowledge). Wisdom is the ability to apply valuable and viable knowledge, experience, understanding, and insight while being prudent and sensible. It is focused on our own minds; it is the synthesis of our experience, insight, understanding, and knowledge. Wisdom is the appropriate use of knowledge to solve human problems. It is knowing when and how to apply knowledge.
Degradation
Loss of quality; for example, in telecommunications, it is the loss of quality in the electronic signal.
Hard disk
Magnetic disk that stores electronic data.
Peripheral component interconnection (PCI)
Mechanism for attaching peripheral devices to a motherboard via computer bus, expansion slots, or integrated circuits.
Interface
Mechanism or a system used by separate things to interact. For example, if one wants to change a CD in a CD player, one could use a remote; the human user is not related to the CD player but can interact with it using the remote control. Therefore, the remote control becomes the interface that enables that person to tell the CD player which CD to play.
User interface
Mechanisms or systems used by people to interact with programs.
Technology
Method by which people use knowledge and tools. Knowledge used to solve problems, control and adapt to our environment, and extend human potential. Generally people use technology to refer to machines or devices such as computers and the infrastructure that supports them. For example, cell phones and planes are technologies that are tangible—one can see and touch them—but cannot see and touch the vast infrastructures supporting them, such as the wireless communications between the device (cell phone) and the cell towers and the electronic guidance used by the device (plane) to navigate the skies.
Palm computers
Miniature or small computer that fits in the palm of the hand.
QWERTY
Name given to the typical computer keyboard layout, derived from the six letters in the first row below the numeric or number row.
Which one of the following is a form of numeric data?
Numbers
Exabyte (EB)
One quintillion bytes of computer memory.
Data-information-knowledge-wisdom paradigm
One relies on data and information and refers to previously learned knowledge to act with wisdom.
Knowledge worker
One who works with information and generate information and knowledge as a product.
Digital video disk (DVD)
Optical disk storage format that can generally hold/store more than 6 times the amount of data that a CD can.
Patient care information system (PCIS)
Patient-centered information systems focused on collecting data and disseminating information related to direct care. Several of these systems have become mainstream types of systems used in health care. The four types of systems most commonly found in health care organizations include (1) clinical documentation systems, (2) pharmacy information systems, (3) laboratory information systems, and (4) radiology information systems.
Information Age
Period at the end of the 20th century, when information was easily accessible using computers, networks, and the Internet.
Hard drive
Permanent data storage area that holds the data, information, documents, and programs saved on the computer, even when the computer is shut off. The actual physical body of the computer and its components.
Chief Technical Officer
Person focused on organizationally based scientific and technical issues and responsible for technological research and development as part of the organization's products and services.
Chief Technology Officer
Person focused on organizationally based scientific and technical issues and responsible for technological research and development as part of the organization's products and services.
Chief Information Officer
Person involved with the information technology infrastructure of an organization. This role is sometimes called chief knowledge officer.
Hardware
Physical or tangible parts of the computer. Computer parts that one can touch and that are involved in the performance or function of the computer, such as the keyboard and monitor
Laptop
Portable battery-powered computer that the user can take with him. Also known as a notebook.
Application programming interface (API)
Processes used for building software applications.
Central processing unit (CPU)
Processors that execute computer programs, thought of as the brain controlling the functioning of the computer; the computer component that actually executes, calculates, and processes the binary computer code instigated by the operating system and other applications on the computer. It serves as the command center that directs the actions of all other components of the computer and manages both incoming and outgoing data.
E-mail client
Program that manages e-mail functions.
User-friendly
Programs and peripherals that make it easy to interact or use computers. Design of a program to enhance the ease with which the user can utilize and maximize the productivity from computer programs.
Productivity software
Programs or software that help us compose, create, or develop. An example is the Microsoft Office suite of productivity tools, which offers word processing, spreadsheet, database, presentation, and Web tools to help us complete both professional and personal tasks.
Security
Protection from danger or loss. In informatics, one must protect against unauthorized access, malicious damage, and incidental and accidental damage and enforce secure behavior and maintain security of computing, data, applications, information, and networks.
Attribute
Quality or characteristic; field or element of an entity in a database.
Data
Raw facts that lack meaning.
Decision support
Recommendations for interventions based on computerized care protocols. The decision support recommendations may include such items as additional screenings, medication interactions, or drug and dosage monitoring.
Records
Row in a relational database representing one patient, for example; also called a tuple. Group of related fields in a database. To record or capture audio and video using specific devices.
Analysis
Separating a whole into its elements or component parts; examination of a concept or phenomena, its elements, and their relations.
Keyboard
Set of keys resembling an actual typewriter that permits the user to input data into a computer.
Small Computer System Interface (SCSI)
Set of standards for physically connecting and transferring data between computers and peripheral devices. The SCSI standards define commands, protocols, and electrical and optical interfaces. Standardization among commercial products helps to ensure that devices will interface with many different systems.
Cache memory
Smaller and faster memory storage used by a computer's central processing unit to store copies of frequently used data in main memory.
Data management system (DBMS)
Software programs and the hardware used to create and manage data.
Data dictionary
Software that contains a listing of tables and their details, including field names, validation settings, and data types.
Office suite
Software that is generally distributed together with a consistent user interface that is designed for knowledge workers and clerical personnel. These software packages can interact with each other to enhance productivity and ease of use.
Graphical user interface (GUI)
Software that provides a user-friendly desktop metaphor interface that is made up of the input and output devices as well as icons that represent files, programs, actions, and processes.
Internet browser
Software used to locate and display webpages. Also known as Web browser or browser.
Flash memory
Special type of EEPROM that can be erased and reprogrammed in blocks instead of one byte at a time. Many Modern PCs have their BIOS stored on a flash memory chip so that it can easily be updated if necessary.
Bus
Subsystem that transfers data between a computer's internal components or between computers.
Extensibility
System design feature that allows for future expansion without the need for changes to the basic infrastructure.
Patient care support system
System of components that make up each of the specialty disciplines within health care and their associated patient care information systems. The four types of systems most commonly found in health care organizations include (1) clinical documentation systems, (2) pharmacy information systems, (3) laboratory information systems, and (4) radiology information systems.
Acuity systems
System that calculates the care requirements for individual patients based on severity of illness, specialized equipment and technology needed, and intensity of clinical interventions.
Core business systems
System that enhances administrative tasks within health care organizations. Unlike clinical information systems, whose aim is to provide direct patient care, these systems support the management of health care within an organization. They provide the framework for reimbursement, support of best practices, quality control, and resource allocation. There are four common types of core business systems: (1) admission, discharge, and transfer; (2) financial; (3) acuity; and (4) scheduling systems.
Picture and archiving communication system (PACS)
System that is designed to collect, store, and distribute medical images such as computed tomography scans, magnetic resonance images, and X-rays; it replaces traditional hard-copy films with digital media that are easy to store, retrieve, and present to clinicians. This system may be a stand-alone system, separate from the main radiology system, or it can be integrated with a radiology information system and a computer information system. The benefit of such systems is their ability to assist in diagnosis and to store vital patient care support data.
Binary system
System used by computers; a numeric system that uses two symbols: 0 and 1.
Financial systems
System used to manage the expenses and revenues accrued while providing health care. The finance, auditing, and accounting departments within an organization most commonly use financial systems. These systems determine the direction for maintenance and growth for a given facility. Financial systems often interface to share information with materials management, staffing, and billing systems to balance the financial impact of these resources within an organization. These systems report the fiscal outcomes so that these outcomes can be tracked against the organizational goals of an institution. Financial systems are one of the major decision-making factors as health care institutions prepare their fiscal budgets. They often play a pivotal role in determining the strategic direction for an organization.
Rapid Syndromic Validation Project (RSVP)
System where local health care professionals report cases such as influenza. Data are analyzed centrally, and the resulting information is shared with appropriate local authorities in an attempt to identify outbreaks early and prevent the spread of contagious diseases.
Communication software
Technology programs used to transmit message via e-mail, telephonically, paging, broadcast (such as MP3), and Internet (such as instant messaging, Voice-over-Internet Protocol, or listservs).
Integrated drive electronics
Technology where the drive controller is located on the drive itself instead of being a separate controller connected to the motherboard of a computer.
Spreadsheet
Text and numbers located in cells on a grid and the software necessary to process formulas and other computations, such as creating graphs and charts.
Nonsynchronous
That which is not in realtime or does not occur or exist at the same time, having the same period or time frame. Occurring anywhere and anytime using Internet and World Wide Web software tools (e.g., course management systems, e-mail, electroinc bulletin boards, and webpages) as the principal delivery mechanisms.
Plug and play
The ability to add new devices to a computer easily without having to manually install and reconfigure the computer to accept the device.
Compatability
The ability to work with each other or other devices or systems, such as software that works with a computer.
Acquisition
The act of acquiring; to locate and hold. We acquire data and information.
Knowledge acquisition
The act of getting knowledge.
Knowledge processing
The activity or process of gathering or collecting, perceiving, analyzing, synthesizing, saving or storing, manipulating, conveying, and transmitting knowledge.
Throughput
The amount of work a computer can do in a given time period; a measure of computer performance that can be used for system comparison.
Knowledge
The awareness and understanding of a set of information and ways that information can be made useful to support a specific task or arrive at a decision; abounds with others' thoughts and information. Information that is synthesized so that relationships are identified and formalized. Understanding that comes through a process of interaction or experience with the world around us. Information that has judgment applied to it or meaning extracted from it. Processed information that helps to clarify or explain some portion of our environment or world that we can use as a basis for action or on which we can act. Internal process of thinking or cognition. External process of testing, senses, observation, and interacting.
Knowledge generation
The creation of new knowledge by changing and evolving knowledge based on one's experience, education, and input from others.
Supercomputers
The fastest computers; designed to run special applications that require numerous calculations.
Information systems (IS)
The manual and/or automated components of a system of users or people, recorded data, and actions used to process the data into information for a user, group of users, or an organization.
Synchronous dynamic random-access memory (SDRAM)
The most common type of dynamic random-access memory found in personal computers.
Operating system (OS)
The most important software on any computer. It is the very first program to load on computer start-up and is fundamental for the operation of all other software as well as the computer's hardware.
Triage
The process of assessing patients who are ill or injured and determining the need for intervention based on the severity of the health issue. The practice of collecting, organizing, and prioritizing or ranking information to determine what is applicable or significant for scientific analyses, syntheses, and decision making.
Publishing
The process of production and dissemination of information.
Knowledge exchange
The product of collaboration when sharing an understanding of information promotes learning to make better decisions in the future.
Information Science
The science of information, studying the application and usage of information and knowledge in organizations and the interfacings or interaction between people, organizations, and information systems. An extensive, interdisciplinary science that integrates features from cognitive science, communication science, computer science, library science, and social sciences.
Collaboration
The sharing of ideas and experiences for the purposes of mutual understanding and learning.
Virtual memory
The use of hard disk space on a temporary basis when the user is running many programs simultaneously. This temporary use frees up RAM to allow programs to run simultaneously and seamlessly.
Basic input/output system (BIOS)
The use of voting and averaging in predictive data mining to synthesize the predictions from many models or methods or for using the same type of a model on different data; it deals with the unpredictability of results when complex models are used to data mine small data sets.
Knowledge Worker
Those who work with information and generate information and knowledge as a product.
Document
To capture and save information for later use.
Execute
To carry out software's or a program's instructions.
Dynamic random access memory (DRAM)
Type of RAM chip requiring less space to store the same amount on a similar static RAM (SRAM) chip; however, DRAM requires more power than SRAM because DRAM needs to keep its charge by constantly refreshing.
Gigabyte (GB)
Unit of measure used to express bytes of data storage and capability in computer systems; 1 GB = 1000 MB
Gigahertz (Ghz)
Unit of measure used to express speed and power of some components such as the microprocessor; 1 Ghz = 1000 Mhz
Megabyte (MB)
Unit of measure used to express the amount of data storage and capability in computer systems; 1 MB = 1000 KB
Megahertz (Mhz)
Unit of measure used to express the speed and power of some components such as the microprocessor.
Bit (b)
Unit of measurement that holds one binary digit: 0 or 1. The smallest possible chunk of data memory used in computer processing, making up the binary system of the computer.
Byte (b)
Unit of memory equal to 8 bits or eight informational storage units, which represents one keystroke. It's considered the best way to indicate computer memory/storage capacity.
Information Technology
Use of hardware, software, services, and supporting infrastructure to manage and deliver information using voice, data, and video or the use of technologies from computing, electronics, and telecommunications to process and distribute information in digital and other forms. Anything related to computing technology, such as networking, hardware, software, the Internet, or the people who work with these technologies. Many hospitals have such departments for managing the computers, networks, and other technical areas of the health care industry.
Information technology (IT)
Use of hardware, software, services, and supporting infrastructure to manage and deliver information using voice, data, and video or the use of technologies from computing, electronics, and telecommunications to process and distribute information in digital and other forms. Anything related to computing technology, such as networking, hardware, software, the Internet, or the people who work with these technologies. Many hospitals have such departments for managing the computers, networks, and other technical areas of the health care industry.
What is the meaning of knowledge transparency?
Using knowledge without conscious thought.
Random-access memory (RAM)
Volatile, temporary storage system that allows a computer's processor to access program codes and data while working on a task. RAM is lost once the system is rebooted, shut off, or loses power.
Alerts
Warnings or additional information provided to clinicians to help with decision making; the action of the clinician or system triggers the generation of an alert. Also known as triggers.
Cloud Computing
Web browser—based login-accessible data, software, and hardware; could link systems together and reduce costs.
Key field
Within each database record, one of the fields identified as the primary key. It contains a code, name, number, or other bit of information that acts as a unique identifier for that record. In a health care system, for example, a patient is assigned a patient number or ID that is unique for that patient.
Which of the following are characteristics of meaningful information?
a. Accuracy b. Veracity c. Security d. Reliability e. All the above are correct choices.
What does the study of health informatics provide to health care professionals?
a. Creates a core set of computer skills. b. Generates skills for managing health information systems. c. Establishes an understanding of how knowledge is generated. d. Both a. and c. are correct choices. e. All of the above are correct choices.
Which of the following serve as a basis for health informatics?
a. Information Science b. Computer Science c. Cognitive Science d. Discipline-Specific Science e. All of the above are correct choices.
Which of the following are issues associated with health care information?
a. Ownership b. Uses c. Disclosures d. Exchanges e. All the above are correct choices.
Which of the following represents a level in the EHR competency model?
a. Personal Effectiveness Competencies b. Academic Competencies c. Workplace Competencies d. Industrial-Sector Technical Competencies e. All of the above choices are correct.
Which of the following apply to a CTO?
a. Possesses visionary leadership capabilities. b. Reports to the CIO. c. Can be interchangeable with the CIO. d. Both a. and c. are correct choices. e. All the above are correct choices.
