System Development Life Cycle in Health Information Systems

Flashcards covering key concepts from the AHIC Review Course notes on System Development Life Cycle (SDLC) in Health Information Systems.

What is an Information System?

Interrelated components that collect, process, store, and disseminate information to support decision making, coordination, control, analysis, and visualization in an organization.

What is Information Systems Science?

The field that studies the components of information systems and addresses strategic, managerial, and operational activities involved in implementing and using information systems in society and organizations.

What are Health Information Systems (HIS)?

Information systems used in healthcare; HIS is the application of information systems principles specifically in health care.

What is System Development Life Cycle (SDLC)?

A process of developing an information system or models used to develop the information system.

When and why was the SDLC developed?

First developed in the 1960s to manage large software development projects; later found to fit HIS implementation and optimization in healthcare.

What are the traditional SDLC phases?

Preliminary analysis, Feasibility study, System analysis, System design, System build, System testing, Implementation and maintenance.

What is Preliminary Analysis?

The first and most crucial phase; involves determining critical business needs/problems.

What is Feasibility Study?

Investigation to determine whether an initiative should be launched and whether to develop/adopt a new system (can be combined with preliminary analysis).

What is System Analysis?

Detailed collection and analysis to answer what, how, who, when, and why.

What is System Design?

Translating business requirements into technical specifications, including user interaction, input/output data, and report needs.

What is System Build?

Phase when system programs and configuration changes are created or modified.

What is System Testing?

Testing the new system or changed parts through rounds to ensure they meet requirements; ends with user approval.

What is Implementation and Maintenance?

Implementation involves training and data conversion; Maintenance involves ongoing fixes and updates; sometimes treated as separate phases.

Which option is NOT a SDLC phase?

Create Project Team (not a separate SDLC phase; it may occur within other phases).

What makes SDLC unique in healthcare?

Numerous human-system interaction points; integration of human factors with technology; IOM four-layer health care system model guiding adoption.

What are the four layers in the IOM health care system model?

Individual patient; Care team; Organization; Political and economic environment (regulatory/financial environment and markets).

What alternative SDLC models are used in HIS?

Rapid Application Development (RAD); Agile (iterative); Lean.

What is Rapid Application Development (RAD)?

Rapidly builds a working model; may not meet full requirements initially; final version delivered after several iterations.

What is Agile methodology?

An iterative approach with constant review, feedback, modification, and potential discard of building blocks.

What is Lean methodology?

Focuses on developing a Minimal Viable Product (MVP) with iterative feedback until final product.

What is an Application Service Provider (ASP)?

A company that deploys, hosts, and manages one or more clinical or administrative information systems via centrally located servers (often via the Internet).

What are the benefits of SDLC in HIS implementation?

Provides a deliberate, structured roadmap; enables repeatable, well-documented projects; supports gathering requirements, configuring systems, user testing, training, piloting, and continuous improvement.

What is the role of maintenance in healthcare HIS?

Beyond keeping the system operational, maintenance begins ongoing optimizations and iterative improvements.

Which team should be considered when applying software engineering principles to healthcare and HIS implementations?

Care Team.