Week 2 - Health Informatics Lecture Notes

Learning Outcomes

  • By the end of the lecture and laboratory hours and activities, students will be able to:

    • Integrate relevant principles of social, physical, natural and health sciences and humanities in Nursing Informatics.

Computer Systems

  1. Computer Hardware

  2. Computer Software System

  3. Open Source and Free Software

  4. Data Assessment

  5. Personal, Professional and Educational Informatics

Computers

  • Definition of a Computer: A computer is defined as a machine capable of performing a sequence of arithmetic and logic operations with the following characteristics:

    • It is a machine.

    • It is electronic.

    • It is automatic.

    • It can manipulate data.

    • It has memory.

    • It has logic functions.

Computer Systems

  • Capability: A computer system can perform certain logical operations, provide a new time dimension, store and retrieve information, control errors, and check itself.

  • Limitations: A computer depends on prepared instructions and cannot derive meaning from objects or correct wrong instructions, supporting the concept of "GIGO" (garbage in, garbage out).

Basic Computer Components

  • Personal Computer System:

    • Computer tower

    • Monitor

    • External devices (speakers, keyboard, mouse)

    • Inkjet printer

    • Laser printer

  • Internal Layout: Includes hard drive.

History of Computers

  1. First Generation Computers:

    • Timeline: 1943 - 1946.

    • Examples: "Harvard Mk I", "Colossus", "ENIAC".

    • Features: Wired circuits with vacuum valves, used punched cards for storage.

    • ENIAC: Weighed 30 tonnes, contained 18,000 electronic valves, consumed 25KW, performed 100,000 calculations per second.

  2. Second Generation Computers (Late 1950s):

    • Components: Transistors replaced vacuum tubes, more reliable and smaller.

    • Features: Bulky and mainly used by universities and governments.

  3. Third Generation Computers (Mid 1960s):

    • Introduction of Integrated Circuits (Microchips).

    • Examples: IBM 360 and IBM 370.

    • Allowed miniaturization and increased capabilities in various businesses.

  4. Fourth Generation Computers (Modern):

    • Introduction of microprocessors.

    • First commercial microprocessor: Intel 4004 (1971).

    • Processing power significantly increased; introduction of personal computers (e.g., Apple I, IBM PC).

    • Legacy: Computers remain fundamentally fourth generation due to the microchip technology built on LSI or VLSI.

Basic Components of a Computer System

  1. Central Processing Unit (CPU): The brain of the computer.

    • Arithmetic and Logic Unit (ALU): Controls mathematical functions and logic conditions.

    • Control Unit: Executes machine language functions (fetch, execute, decode, store).

  2. Memory:

    • Registers (high-speed storage), RAM (volatile), ROM (permanent), and Cache (fast access memory).

Computer Hardware Fundamentals

  • Fetching: Process of obtaining program instructions or data from RAM.

  • Decoding: Translating instructions into signals the computer can execute.

  • Executing: Carrying out the command.

  • Storing: Writing the result back to memory.

Input Devices

  • Definition: Devices that allow information input into the computer.

  • Examples: Keyboard, mouse, touch screen, scanners, biometric devices (fingerprint scanners).

Output Devices

  • Definition: Devices that present output from the computer to the user.

  • Examples: Monitors, printers, speakers, data projectors.

Storage Devices

  1. Hard Drives: Primary storage device, high speed, high density.

  2. USB Flash Drives: Portable storage devices, similar to removable hard drives.

  3. Optical Media: CDs and DVDs used for storage, read by lasers.

  4. Data Lakes & Data Warehouses: Data organization methods for structured and unstructured data.

Data and Data Processing

Definition

  • Data: Raw facts without meaning.

  • Information: Data organized and presented contextually (e.g., vital signs).

Data States

  1. At Rest: Stored data on devices.

  2. In Motion: Data moving between locations.

  3. In Use: Data currently being processed.

Big Data

  • Estimated patient data generation: 80 MB/year.

  • Defined by the "4 Vs": Volume, Variety, Velocity, Veracity, with additional Value and Variability.

Data Management and Analytics

  • Relational Database Management (RDBMS): Structure data into tables.

  • NoSQL : Supports unstructured/specialized data.

Uses of Data in Healthcare

  1. Predictive Analytics: Anticipating patient health outcomes.

  2. Decision Support Systems: Supplementing clinical decision-making.

  3. Expert Systems: Automated decision-making based on AI.

Nursing Informatics Roles

  • Required education: At least a BSN, mastery of technology, clinical experience, strong analytical skills.

Personal Informatics

  • Tools for self-reflection and behavior monitoring.

Educational Informatics

  • Application of technology for educational purposes to improve patient care.

Conclusion

  • The integration of technology in healthcare through informatics is crucial for improved patient outcomes and efficient data management.