AHIC Information Systems 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which database model is most commonly used in modern EHR systems for storing structured clinical data?
- Hierarchical model
- Relational model (Correct answer)
- Network model
- Object-oriented model
Correct answer: Relational model
Relational databases using SQL are the dominant model in EHR systems due to their support for structured queries and ACID compliance.
Question 2: In health information systems, what does the term 'interoperability' primarily refer to?
- Encrypting patient data at rest
- The ability of different systems to exchange and use information (Correct answer)
- Storing data in a single centralized repository
- Restricting access to authorized personnel only
Correct answer: The ability of different systems to exchange and use information
Interoperability refers to the ability of different health IT systems to exchange, interpret, and use shared data effectively.
Question 3: A hospital wants to ensure that clinical decision support alerts are delivered at the point of care. Which system architecture best supports this?
- Batch processing system
- Real-time event-driven system (Correct answer)
- Offline data warehouse
- Manual paper-based workflow
Correct answer: Real-time event-driven system
Real-time event-driven architectures trigger alerts immediately when clinical conditions are met, enabling timely intervention.
Question 4: Which standard governs the messaging format for exchanging clinical documents between health information systems in the US?
- DICOM
- HL7 v2/v3 and FHIR (Correct answer)
- IEEE 802.11
- SNOMED CT
Correct answer: HL7 v2/v3 and FHIR
HL7 (Health Level Seven) standards including v2, v3, and FHIR define messaging formats for clinical data exchange.
Question 5: What is the primary purpose of a Master Patient Index (MPI) in a healthcare information system?
- To schedule physician appointments
- To uniquely identify and link patient records across systems (Correct answer)
- To store medication formulary data
- To manage billing and claims submission
Correct answer: To uniquely identify and link patient records across systems
An MPI maintains a unique identifier for each patient to prevent duplicate records and link data across disparate systems.
Question 6: Which layer of the OSI model handles end-to-end communication and reliability, commonly associated with TCP in healthcare networks?
- Network layer
- Data Link layer
- Transport layer (Correct answer)
- Session layer
Correct answer: Transport layer
The Transport layer (Layer 4) manages end-to-end data delivery and reliability, with TCP providing connection-oriented communication.
Question 7: A health system is evaluating a new EHR. Which factor is MOST critical for long-term information system sustainability?
- Vendor market share
- Scalability and standards compliance (Correct answer)
- Number of color themes in the UI
- Proximity of the vendor's headquarters
Correct answer: Scalability and standards compliance
Scalability and adherence to open standards ensure the system can grow with organizational needs and integrate with future technologies.
AHIC Information Systems 2
Which database model is most commonly used in modern EHR systems for storing structured clinical data?