module 8.2 Health Informatics, HIPAA, and Laboratory Information Systems

Vocabulary flashcards covering the key regulations, software architectures, interfaces, and record-keeping systems used in healthcare and clinical laboratories, including HIPAA, LIS, HIS, and EMR.

Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)

Federal legislation aimed at making it easier to detect and prosecute fraud and abuse, enabling workers of all professions to change jobs without losing health insurance (even with pre-existing conditions), and safeguarding patient privacy.

"Need to know" basis

The privacy guideline under HIPAA that restricts access to a patient's protected health information solely to what is required to carry out specific duties.

Laboratory Information System (LIS)

A class of software functioning within the framework of a computer network that is used to manage and handle information produced by laboratory testing.

Hospital Information System (HIS)

An integrated system formed by hospital computers networked together, connected to servers, and linked via an interface to a mainframe computer.

Interface Software

Software used to establish a connection between laboratory instrumentation and the Laboratory Information System (LIS).

Definition Tables

Spreadsheets that contain all possible information used for laboratory testing—such as test names, patient info, reference ranges, and specimen requirements—around which an LIS is structured.

Departmental Modules

Customized sections of LIS definition tables tailored to specific laboratory disciplines, including Microbiology, Hematology, and Chemistry.

Electronic Medical Records (EMR)

Digital patient medical records that replace paper copies, consolidating all items pertinent to treating a patient so they are accessible at the click of a mouse or stroke of a finger.

Disease Surveillance Data

Information utilized by Public Health Laboratories to track outbreaks and reportable conditions, historically submitted manually but made more accessible through EMRs.

Auto-verify Mode

An LIS setting where test results that satisfy laboratory-defined criteria are automatically transmitted to the patient's EMR without manual review by a medical technologist.

Request for Proposal (RFP)

A formal document solicited during LIS acquisition after system requirements are defined, preceding vendor demonstrations and staff role assignments.