Domain 5: Information Technologies

Terms and Concepts to Know

Administrative information system

A type of information system that is used to manage departments

Autonumbering

A type of data field that issues numbers sequentially

Central data repository (CDR)

Provide a common pool of data that all applications can access

Clinical information system

Maintains patient care data and makes it available to health care providers

Clinical provider order entry

A type of information system that is used by physicians to document physician orders. It utilizes reminders and alerts

Cloud computing

Strategy used to utilize information systems and databases that are located at a remote site

Consumer health informatics

A type of informatics that deals with the use of technology by patients

Continuity care record

A subset of the health record that contains health information needed to provide continued care to the patient

Continuity of care document

Standard used to create a summary of the patient’s care

Data (Information Systems)

Raw characters with no specific meaning

Data cleansing

Process of reviewing data to identify and correct missing data, illogical data, and so forth

Data dictionary (Information Systems)

Descriptive list of the names, definitions, and attributes of data elements to be collected in an information system or database whose purpose is to standardize definitions and ensure consistent use

Data flow diagram

A pictorial image of how data moves throughout the healthcare organization

Data mapping

Linking terminology between a target and a source for a given purpose

Data mart

A subset of a data warehouse, limited to one process or function (e.g., emergency department in a hospital)

Data model

Representation of exactly what a database should provide to an end user

Data mining

The exploration of data to identify patterns that may be hidden

Data repository

Electronic storage of data and information from numerous systems about one specific topic (e.g, one patient)

Data warehouse (Information Systems)

Large databases to store historical and current information from may sources; optimized for fast query responses (e.g., entire hospital)

Database (Information Systems)

A system that collects and organizes information in a specified manner for easy retrieval

Decision support system

A central respository for aggregating data and compiling reports for data-driven decisions. In a hospital, it assists in bringing transparency and visibility to clinical, financial, and operational decisions

Deterministic algorithm

Type of algorithm that looks for exact matches

Executive information system

A type of decision support system that is used by to leadership; allows easy access to information, internal as well as external, pertinent to organizational goals

Extranet

The use in Internet technologies that allow customers to access your information system

Foreign key

A primary key from another entity

Fuzzy algorithm

An algorithm that looks for near matches

Health information exchange (HIE)

State-wide, regional, or nation-wide electronic systems for the exchange of patient information when more than one provider is involved in care

Hot spot

Help message in an information system that appears when you hover over the field

Information (Information Systems)

Data with applied meaning

Input (Information Systems)

Input equipment facilities entering data into the computer

Integrated system

Typically uses one vendor to supply the entire facility with a single database from which to operate

Integrity control

Comparison of entries to find inconsistencies

Internet

The technologies that allow users to connect to websites across the world

Intranet

The use of Internet technologies that allow internal users to access information such as policies, menus, phone numbers, etc.

Natural language query

A mathod of retrieval that relies on using common terms

Query by example

Retrieval technique that uses point and click to retrieve the data

Output (Information Systems)

Mechanisms that facilitate exporting data from the computer’s memory

Patient portal

Technology that allows patients to access health information, make appointments, request medication refills, etc.

Probabilistic algorithm

Type of algorithm that looks for transpositions, name changes, and other near matches

Project management

The process of controlling the overall project including the steps, the budget, etc.

Public health informatics

A type of informatics that addresses how technology is used to protect the health of the public

Software

Programs that tell the computer how to function in specific ways

Structured query language

Type of the retrieval method that uses a special language to manipulate and retrieve data

System implementation

The process of preparing an information system for use in a healthcare organization

System selection

Investigating information systems to determine the one that best meets the needs of the healthcare organization

Telehealth

Technologies that can be used to care for patients remotely such as telemedicine, heart monitoring and much more

Unstructured data

Data that is not defined or organized in a specific manner, such as free text

Web-based system

Architecture allows access from any location. It uses the Internet to store data.