INFORMATION SYSTEM BASIS
MODULE 1 :HEALTH INFORMATION SYSTEM
DATA
 Constitute reinterpretable representations of
information, or knowledge, in a formalized
manner suitable for communication,
interpretation, or processing by humans and
machines.
 “Data-plural”, “Datum-singular”.
 Single unit of information
INFORMATION
 refers to data that have been organized so that
they have meaning and value to the recipient.
 There is no unique definition of information.
Depending on the point of view, the definition
may deal with a syntactic aspect (the structure),
a semantic aspect (the meaning), or a pragmatic
aspect (the intention or goal of information).
We will simply define information as specific
determination about entities such as facts,
events, things, persons, processes, ideas, or
concepts.
 More meaningful than data
 Collection of data
KNOWLEDGE
 Knowledge is general information about
concepts in a certain (scientific or professional)
domain (e.g., about diseases, therapeutic
methods). Knowledge contrasts with specific
information about particular individuals of the
domain (e.g., patients). The knowledge of a
nurse, for example, comprises how to typically
deal with patients suffering from bedsores.
SYSTEM
 is a group of interrelated components, with a
clearly defined boundary, working toward the
attainment of a common goal by accepting
inputs and producing outputs in an organized
transformation process.
THREE BASIC FUNCTIONS OF SYSTEM:
INPUT
involves capturing and assembling elements that
enter the system to be processed. For example, raw
materials, energy, data, and human effort must be
secured and organized for processing.
J.F.B. GODOY
PROCESSING
involves transformation processes that convert input
into output. Examples are a manufacturing process,
the human breathing process, or mathematical
calculations.
OUTPUT
involves transferring elements that have been
produced by a transformation process to their
ultimate destination. For example, finished products,
human services, and management information must
be transmitted to their human users.
 The system concept becomes even more useful
by including two additional elements: feedback
and control.
 A system with feedback and control functions
is sometimes called a cybernetic system, that is,
a self-monitoring, self-regulating system.
FEEDBACK
is data about the performance of a system.
CONTROL
is the component that monitors and evaluates
feedback and makes any necessary adjustments to
the input and processing components to ensure that
proper output is produced.
OTHER SYSTEM CHARACTERISTICS
 A system does not exist in a vacuum; rather, it
exists and functions in an environment
containing other systems.
 If a system is one of the components of a larger
system, it is a subsystem, and the larger system
is its environment.
 Several systems may share the same
environment. Some of these systems may be
connected to one another by means of a shared
boundary, or interface.
 An open system, that is, a system that interacts
with other systems in its environment.
1
 INFORMATION SYSTEM BASIS
MODULE 1 :HEALTH INFORMATION SYSTEM
 A system that has the ability to change itself or
its environment in order to survive is an
adaptive system.
COMPONENTS OF INFORMATION SYSTEM:
 An enterprise function describes what acting
human or machines have to do in a certain
enterprise to contribute to its mission and goals.
For example, patient admission, medical and
nursing care planning, or financial accounting
describe typical enterprise functions. Enterprise
functions are ongoing and continuous.
 An activity is an instantiation of an enterprise
function. For example, "the physician admits
the patient Smith" is an activity of the
enterprise function patient admission. In
contrast to enterprise functions, activities have
a definite beginning and end.
 Business processes, the sequence of (sub-
)functions together with the conditions under
which they are performed can be described.
Business processes are usually denoted by
verbs, which can be followed by a noun (e.g.,
"admitting a patient," "planning care" or
"writing a discharge letter").
Example:
An enterprise function describes what acting human
or machines have to do in a certain enterprise to
contribute to its mission and goals. For example,
patient admission, medical and nursing care
planning, or financial accounting describe typical
enterprise functions. Enterprise functions are
ongoing and continuous. An activity is an
instantiation of an enterprise function. For example,
"the physician admits the patient Smith" is an
activity of the enterprise function patient admission.
In contrast to enterprise functions, activities have a
definite beginning and end. Business processes, the
sequence of (sub-)functions together with the
conditions under which they are performed can be
described. Business processes are usually denoted
by verbs, which can be followed by a noun (e.g.,
"admitting a patient," "planning care" or "writing a
discharge letter").
J.F.B. GODOY
INFORMATION SYSTEM AND THEIR
COMPONENTS:
 An information system is that part of an
institution that processes and stores data,
information, and knowledge.
 It can be defined as that socio-technical
subsystem of an institution, which comprises
all information processing as well as the
associated human or technical actors in their
respective information processing roles.
 This means that, for example, the computers,
printers, telephones, as well as the staff using
them to manage information are part of the
information system of an institution.
ARCHITECTURE AND INFASTRUCCTURE:
 The architecture of an information system
describes its fundamental organization,
represented by its components, their
relationships to each other and to the
environment, and by the principles guiding its
design and evolution.
 The architecture of an information system can
be described by the enterprise functions, the
business processes, the information processing
tools, and their relationships.
 When the focus is put onto the types, number,
and availability of information processing tools
used in a given enterprise, this is also called the
infrastructure of an information system.
INFORMATION MANAGEMENT:
 Information management (or management of
information systems) comprises those
management activities that deal with the
management of information processing in an
institution, for example, a hospital.
 The goal of information management is
systematic information processing that
contributes to the institution's strategic goals
(such as efficient patient care and high
satisfaction of patients and staff in a hospital).
 Information management therefore directly
contributes to the institution's success and
ability to compete.
 The general tasks of information management
are planning, directing, and monitoring.
2
 INFORMATION SYSTEM BASIS
MODULE 1 :HEALTH INFORMATION SYSTEM
In other words, this means
 planning the information system and its
architecture
 directing its establishment and its operation,
and
 monitoring its development and operation with
respect to the planned objectives.
APPLICATION COMPONENTS > SUPPORT
ENTERPRISE FUNCTIONS
COMPUTER BASED
APPLICATION
 Computer-based application components are
controlled by software products. A software
product is an acquired or self-developed piece
of software that can be installed on a computer
system. For example, the computer based
application component patient administration
system stands for the installation of a software
product to support enterprise functions such as
patient admission and administrative discharge
and billing.
NON-COMPUTER BASED
APPLICATION
 Non-computer-based application components
are controlled by working plans that describe
how people use certain physical data
processing systems. For example, a
noncomputer-based application component
called nursing management and documentation
system is controlled by rules regarding how, by
whom, and in which context given forms for
nursing documentation have to be used.
COMPUTER BASED
INFORMATION SYSTEM
 A computer-based information system (CBIS)
is an information system that uses computer
technology (information technology) to
perform some or all of its intended tasks to
process and disseminate information.
 People rely on modern information systems to
communicate with each other using a variety of
J.F.B. GODOY
physical devices (hardware), information
processing instructions and procedures
(software), communications channels
(networks), and stored data (data resources).
CAPABILITIES OF INFORMATION SYSTEM
 Perform high-speed, high-volume numerical
computations.
 Provide fast, accurate communication and
collaboration within and among organizations.
 Store huge amounts of information in small
spaces.
 Allow quick, inexpensive access to vast
amounts of information worldwide.
 Interpret vast amounts of data quickly and
efficiently.
 Increase the effectiveness and efficiency of
people working in groups in one place or
around the world.
 Automate the semiautomatic business process
and manual tasks.
ROLE OF INFORMATION SYSTEMS IN
ORGANIZATION
THERE ARE THREE VITAL ROLES THAT
INFORMATION SYSTEMS CAN PERFORM
FOR A BUSINESS ENTERPRISE:
 Support its business processes and operations.
 Support of decision-making by its employees
and managers.
 Support its strategies for competitive advantage.
HEALTH INFORMATION SYSTEM
3
 INFORMATION SYSTEM BASIS
MODULE 1 :HEALTH INFORMATION SYSTEM
 Health information systems (HIS) are dealing
with processing data, information, and
knowledge in health care environments.
Especially with regard to chronic diseases, it
becomes more and more important to organize
health care in a patient-centric way, such that
all participating in- or outpatient care
institutions cooperate very closely. This is also
denoted as integrated care.
 In integrated care it is necessary to provide
relevant information not only within a single
institution, but wherever and whenever it is
needed.
CHALLENGES FOR HEALTH INFORMATION
SYSTEM
 The challenge of user acceptance.
 The challenge of data redundancy.
 The challenge of transcription.
 The challenge of maintaining referential
integrity.
 The challenge of costs.
 The challenge of privacy and security.
 The challenge of terminology.
 The challenge of stability.
 The challenge of transinstitutional information
management.
HOSPITAL INFORMATION SYSTEM
 A hospital information system is the socio-
technical subsystem of a hospital, which
comprises all information processing as well as
the associated human or technical actors in
their respective information processing roles.
 Typical components of hospital information
systems are enterprise functions, business
processes, application components, and
physical data processing systems.
 Enterprise functions of a hospital is hospital
functions.
To support patient care and the associated
administration, the tasks of hospital information
systems are:
 To make information, primarily about patients,
available: current information should be
provided on time, at the right location, to
authorized staff, in an appropriate and usable
form. For this purpose, data must be correctly
collected, stored, processed, and systematically
J.F.B. GODOY
documented to ensure that correct, pertinent,
and up-to-date patient information can be
supplied, for instance, to the physician or a
nurse.
 To make knowledge, for example, about
diseases, side effects, and interactions of
medications available to support diagnostics
and therapy.
 To make information about the quality of
patient care and the performance and cost
situation within the hospital available.
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY IN
HEALTHCARE
 Information technology (IT) greatly enhances a
healthcare provider’s efficiency. It facilities the
handling of enormous amounts of information
comprising clinical, administrative, and
financial data. With the help of IT, all hospital
workflows can be precisely documented, which,
in turn, enables their review and optimization.
At the same time, IT facilitates the intelligent
delivery of patient care, e.g. through automatic
data evaluation and alerts. Modern IT systems
are thus a key factor for both patient safety and
a hospital’s competitiveness.
 The use of healthcare IT has been steadily
growing over recent years. Spending on
healthcare IT will continue to rise strongly in
the coming years.
THE ROLE OF IT DEPARTMENT
Healthcare IT professionals manage a hospital’s
complex information environment. Staff within the
IT department includes system administrators,
software engineers, and technicians. The chief
information officer (CIO) is responsible for the
hospital’s entire IT system.
HEALTH CARE DATA VS. HEALTH CARE
INFORMATION
HEALTH CARE DATA
 are raw healthcare facts, generally stored as
characters, words, symbols, measurements, or
statistics.
 Data in health care comprises a large variety of
information ranging from clinical data (e.g.
clinical images, lab results, and reports), to
administrative data (e.g. human resources and
4
 INFORMATION SYSTEM BASIS
MODULE 1 :HEALTH INFORMATION SYSTEM

purchasing) to financial data (e.g. costs and

income).
 Every day, a hospital produces huge amounts
of data.
HEALTH CARE INFORMATION
 is processed healthcare data.
 Information is an extremely valuable asset at
all levels of the healthcare organization.
 Healthcare data are the beginnings of
healthcare information. We cannot create
information without data. Then, the health care
information becomes the source of health care
knowledge.

J.F.B. GODOY 5