Chapter 1 - Introduction to Computers in Health Information Management

Question 1

certified health data analyst (CHDA)

Answer 1

an advanced AHIMA certification that covers business needs assessment, data acquisition and management, data analysis, data interpretation and reporting, and data governance

Question 2

clinical pathway

Answer 2

a tool designed to coordinate multidisciplinary care planning for specific diagnoses and treatments. For example, if a patient has an acute myocardial infarction, the clinical pathways define the best practices for treatment

Question 3

clinical practice guidelines

Answer 3

detailed, step-by-step guides used by healthcare practitioners to make knowledge-based decisions related to patient care; the guides are issued by an authoritative organization such as a medical society

Question 4

cloud computing

Answer 4

the delivery of computational services (e.g., analytics, storage, and application sharing) by a vendor over the Internet

Question 5

computer on wheels (COW)

Answer 5

also called wireless on wheels (WOW); a wireless computer mounted on a mobile cart that can be moved from patient to patient; it improves documentation because the documentation is completed as soon as the care occurs

Question 6

dashboard

Answer 6

a type of graphical user interface which often provides at-a-glance views of key performance indicators relevant to a particular objective or business process

Question 7

descriptive analytics

Answer 7

a branch of data analytics that looks at the past to determine what has already occurred. For example, how has the patient volume changed over the past five years.

Question 8

descriptive statistics

Answer 8

numbers that are used to summarize and describe data

Question 9

diagnostic analytics

Answer 9

a branch of data analytics that helps a healthcare organization determine why something happened

Question 10

dumb terminal

Answer 10

a very simple monitor with very little processing power and features; all or most of the processing is performed at the server or mainframe

Question 11

evidence-based medicine

Answer 11

healthcare services based on clinical methods that have been thoroughly tested through controlled, peer-reviewed biomedical studies

Question 12

extranet

Answer 12

an intranet that can be partially accessed by authorized outside users, enabling businesses to exchange information over the internet securely

Question 13

inferential statistics

Answer 13

a set of statistical techniques that allows researchers to make generalizations about a population’s characteristics on the basis of a sample’s characteristics

Question 14

information system (IS)

Answer 14

an integrated set of components for collecting, storing, and processing data and for providing information, knowledge, and digital products

Question 15

internet

Answer 15

a global computer network providing a variety of information and communication facilities, consisting of interconnected networks using standardized communication protocols

Question 16

intranet

Answer 16

a private information network that is similar to the Internet in that it uses Internet technologies; however, its servers are located inside a firewall or security barrier so that the general public cannot gain access to information housed within the network, distinguishing it from the Internet

Question 17

local area network

Answer 17

a computer network that links devices within a building or group of adjacent buildings

Question 18

mainframe computers

Answer 18

very large computers that are used by the government and other organizations; the computers provide speed and the ability to process large amounts of data

Question 19

clinical provider order entry (CPOE) system

Answer 19

a system where the physician orders tests, medications, and other procedures; the physician is also prompted to provide all of the required information for the sake of creating better data

Question 20

communication protocol

Answer 20

a system of rules that allows two or more entities of a communications system to transmit information

Question 21

point of care (POC)

Answer 21

the place or location where the physician administers services to the patient, such as the patient’s bedside

Question 22

predictive analytics

Answer 22

a form of data analytics that analyzes historical data to make predictions

Question 23

predictive modelling

Answer 23

a process used to identify patterns that can be used to predict the odds of a particular outcome based on the observed data

Question 24

personal computer (PC)

Answer 24

a computer that has a central processing unit (CPU), computer memory, and data storage devices designed to support a single individual

Question 25

computerized provider order entry (CPOE)

Answer 25

the process of providers entering and sending treatment instructions – including medication, laboratory, and radiology orders – via a computer application rather than paper, fax, or telephone

Question 26

standard

Answer 26

a scientifically based statement of expected behavior against which structures, processes, and outcomes can be measured

Question 27

data

Answer 27

raw facts and figures

Question 28

information

Answer 28

data that have been manipulated into something meaningful

Question 29

prescriptive analytics

Answer 29

a form of data analytics that builds upon predictive analytics by suggesting possible courses of action the healthcare organization may take and what the implications may be for each

Question 30

key performance indicators (KPIs)

Answer 30

a set of quantifiable measurements used to gauge a company’s overall long-term performance

Question 31

inference

Answer 31

a conclusion reached on the basis of evidence and reasoning