Technology and Health Information Systems Review

Flashcards covering key technology, computer hardware, network, and electronic record concepts from Chapter 6.

What is an input device?

Any peripheral hardware that allows the user to provide data to the computer.

What is software?

A set of electronic instructions to operate and perform different computer tasks.

What is a stylus?

A pen-shaped device with a variety of tips that is used on touchscreens to write, draw, or enter commands.

What is an Electronic Health Record (EHR)?

An electronic record that conforms to nationally recognized standards and contains health-related information about a specific patient; can be created, managed, and consulted by authorized clinicians and staff from more than one healthcare organization.

What is an output device?

Computer hardware that displays the processed data from the computer (e.g., monitors and printers).

What is telemedicine?

The remote diagnosis and treatment of patients using technology.

What is a patient portal?

A secure online website that gives patients 24-hour access to personal health information using a username and password.

What is optical character recognition?

A process through which scanners convert images to digital text.

What is a secondary storage device?

Media (e.g., jump drive, flash drive, hard drive) capable of permanently storing data until they are replaced or deleted by the user.

What is computer hardware?

Physical equipment of the computer system required for communication and data processing functions.

What is Practice Management Software (PMS)?

A computer application that allows the user to enter demographic information, schedule appointments, maintain lists of insurance payers, perform billing tasks, and generate reports.

What is a computer network?

A system that links personal computers and peripheral devices to share information and resources.

What is a modem?

Peripheral computer hardware that connects to the router to provide internet access to the network or computer.

What is a dumb terminal?

A personal computer that doesn't contain a hard drive and allows the user only limited functions including access to software, the network, or the internet.

What is redundancy in data management?

A setup where files are copied onto many servers in various locations.

What is a data server?

Computer hardware and software that perform data analysis, storage, and archiving; also called a database server.

What is an intranet?

A private computer network that can only be accessed by authorized people.

What is a router?

Hardware used to allow multiple devices to be on the same network to send and receive information.

What is ethernet?

A communication system for connecting several computers so information can be shared.

What is an Electronic Medical Record (EMR)?

An electronic record of health-related information about an individual that can be created, gathered, managed, and accessed by authorized clinicians and staff members within a single healthcare organization.

What is downtime?

The interval of time during which something, such as hardware or software, is not functioning.

What is protected health information (PHI)?

Individually identifiable health information stored or transmitted by covered entities or business associates, including verbal, paper, or electronic information.

What do the abbreviations ADF, LCD, and DSL stand for?

ADF stands for Automatic document feeder, LCD stands for Liquid crystal display, and DSL stands for Digital Subscriber Line.

What do the abbreviations LAN, WAN, and ISP stand for?

LAN stands for Local area network, WAN stands for Wide area network, and ISP stands for Internet Service Provider.

What is a mainframe computer?

Large tower computers that are used by large organizations to store large quantities of information.

What is a supercomputer?

Expensive, very large computers that have incredibly fast processing speeds.

What is a minicomputer?

Large multiprocessing machines that support about 200 users at a time; a server can also be a minicomputer.

What device must be plugged into a USB drive for a radiofrequency connection to work?

A dongle.

What technology uses shortwave radio frequencies to interconnect wireless electronic devices?

Bluetooth.

What is a digital pen or smart pen?

A battery-operated device that looks like and functions like a regular pen but can also digitally capture handwriting or drawing.

How are images created on computer monitors?

Using pixels, where a higher number results in a sharper image.

How does a laser printer produce images on paper?

By using a laser and toner.

What internal component is considered the 'brain' of the computer and where does it sit?

The central processing unit (CPU), which sits on the motherboard.

What internal computer component contains the operating system and related system files?

The hard drive.

What is Random Access Memory (RAM)?

Main working memory that provides temporary use of information, contains data and instructions for opened programs, is used for loading and running programs, and is lost if power is turned off.

What is Read-Only Memory (ROM)?

Memory containing hardwired instructions that is not lost if power is cut because a small long-life battery supports it, used to boot a computer or start system diagnostic checks.

What is the function of cache memory?

It allows programs to operate more quickly and efficiently.

What is a byte?

A unit usually considered a character, such as a number, letter, or symbol.

What is the correct order of data storage capacities from smallest to largest?

KB, MB, GB, TB.

What is cloud storage?

Also called file sharing or online storage; it allows computer files to be stored using the internet and a third-party service.