Healthcare Analyst Health Informatics & Technology Flashcards

What is the primary purpose of an Electronic Health Record (EHR) system in a clinical setting?

Answer: To digitally store and manage comprehensive patient health information across providers

EHRs provide a longitudinal digital record of patient health information accessible to authorized providers to support coordinated care.

Which federal law established the framework for EHR adoption incentives and meaningful use requirements?

Answer: Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act

The HITECH Act of 2009 created Medicare and Medicaid incentive programs to promote meaningful use of certified EHR technology.

In health informatics, what does 'interoperability' mean?

Answer: The ability of different health IT systems to exchange and use patient data seamlessly

Interoperability enables disparate health IT systems and organizations to exchange, interpret, and use shared health data effectively.

Which standard messaging protocol is most commonly used for exchanging clinical and administrative data between healthcare systems?

Answer: HL7 (Health Level Seven)

HL7 is the predominant standard for defining the structure and format of messages exchanged between clinical and administrative healthcare systems.

What is the role of a 'data dictionary' in a healthcare information system?

Answer: It defines the structure, format, and meaning of each data element in the system

A data dictionary documents metadata about each field—its name, type, allowable values, and definition—ensuring consistent data interpretation.

Which imaging standard governs the storage, transmission, and display of medical images such as X-rays and MRIs?

Answer: DICOM (Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine)

DICOM is the international standard for handling, storing, printing, and transmitting medical imaging information across devices and systems.