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SIXTH EDITION
••
Content VII

Public Health Informatics 422 Appendix A: Hardware and Software 435


Athena Fernandes
Public Policy Driving Informatics Change 425
Appendix B: The Internet
Current Public Health Informatics and the Worldwide Web 439
Systems 426 Athena Fernandes
New Technological Sources of Public Appendix C: An Overview of Tools
Health Information 428 for the Informatics Nurse 441
Carolyn Sipes
Future Directions 430
Glossary 446
Summary 432 Index 454
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he idea for Handbook of Informatics for Nurses & • New! Content on ethical use of information lays
Healthcare Professionals first came from the realiza- encompasses appropriate and inappropriate behav-
tion that there were few resources that provided iour and actions, and of right and wrong.
practical information about computer applications and • New! Information on analytics and data science that
information systems in healthcare. From its inception, explains how Big Data applies to healthcare
this book served as a guide for nurses and other health-
• New! Cutting-edge content on wearable and mobile
care professionals who needed to learn how to adapt and
technology security, and its impact on nursing and
use computer applications and informatics in the work-
patient care
place. Over time, this text became a reliable resource
for students in a variety of healthcare professions who • New! Academic electronic health record resources and
needed to develop informatics competencies. This book the role they play in educating the next generation of
serves undergraduates who need a basic understanding, healthcare providers on documentation principles
as well as those who require more depth, such as infor- • New! Hardware and software appendix (appendix A)
matics nurse specialists, clinical nurse leaders, doctoral • New! Guide to the Internet (appendix B)
students, and other healthcare professionals.
• New! An Overview of Tools for the Informatics
After a thorough revision in response to reviewers
Nurse (appendix C)
and users of the book, the sixth edition reflects the rapid
changes in healthcare information technology (HIT)
and informatics. The authors endeavour to provide an Changes to This Edition
understanding of the concepts, skills, and tasks that • The sixth edition streamlines content by combining
are needed for healthcare professionals today and to chapters with topics that fit together, and shifting
achieve the federal government's national information hardware, software, and information on the Inter-
technology goals to help transform healthcare delivery. net to new appendices.
The sixth edition builds upon the expertise pro-
• This edition reworks previous content on informa-
vided by contributors currently involved in day-to-day
tion systems training and presents it within the
informatics practice, education, and research. Both the
context of workforce development. The content still
primary editors and the contributors share an avid inter-
retains the emphasis upon privacy and confidential-
est and involvement in HIT and informatics, as well
ity, introduction of information policies, educational
as experience in the field, involvement in informatics
methods and resources. New content on evaluation
groups, and a legacy of national and international pre-
models and training on backup procedures has also
sentations and scholarly publications.
been added.
• Former content on integration, interoperability
New to This Edition and health information exchange is now presented
• New! All chapters thoroughly revised to reflect the within the context of information networks and
current and evolving practice of health information information exchange.
technology and informatics • Moves from defining evidence-based practice to a
• New! Chapter on informatics theory and prac- discussion of levels of evidence and using informat-
tice connects theoretical concepts to applications ics to support evidence-based practice and research.
(chapter 2) • Separate chapters on policy, legislation, regulatory,
• New! Coverage of technology and caring and their reimbursement, and accreditation issues were com-
symbiotic relationship bined to better show the connection among these

IX
x Preface

areas and the relationship between them and infor- Organization


mation system design and use.
The book is divided into three sections: Information and
• Experts from various health disciplines cover the
Informatics, Information Systems Development Life
latest on the interprofessional aspects of infor-
Cycle, and Specialty Applications. The major themes
matics with more emphasis on interdisciplinary
of privacy, confidentiality, and information security are
approaches.
woven throughout the book. Likewise, project manage-
• Increases focus on current electronic health record ment is a concept introduced in the strategic planning
issues while decreasing coverage of the historical chapter and carried through other chapters. Chapters
evolution of EHRs. include content on the role of the informatics profes-
• Highlights strategic planning and project sional, future directions relative to the topic, summary
management. bullet points, and a case study.
• Underscores the importance of patient engagement
and shared decision making. Section I: Information and Informatics
• Expands content on simulation and virtual learning This section provides a foundation for why information
environments. and informatics are important to healthcare. It details
the relationship between policy, legislation, regulation
and accreditation and reimbursement and information
Hallmark Features system use.
Leaming Objectives Learning Objectives • Chapter 1: Provides a definition of informatics and
appear at the beginning of each chapter and its significance for healthcare, discusses healthcare
identify what readers can expect to learn in the professionals as knowledge workers, addresses the
chapter. need for uniform data and the relationship between
Future Directions As the last section in each data, big data, and evidence. This chapter also
chapter, Future Directions forecasts how the addresses the increased prevalence of information
topic covered in the chapter might evolve in the technology in healthcare, major issues in healthcare

upcoming years. that are driving the adoption of information tech-
Case Study Exercises Case studies at the end nology, what is necessary to create an informatics
of each chapter discuss common, real-life appli- culture, and includes a special section on caring and
cations, which review and reinforce the concepts technology.
presented in the chapter. • Chapter 2: Provides information on informatics
Summary The Summary at the end of each theory and practice, and nursing informatics as a
chapter highlights the key concepts and discipline.
information from the chapter to assist in the • Chapter 3: Emphasizes effective and ethical use of

review. data and information, and includes a discussion of
References Resources used in the chapter big data challenges and issues. Data characteristics,
appear at the end. types, integrity, and management are covered. Cli-
nician and informaticist roles pertaining to this area
Glossary The glossary familiarizes read-
are discussed.
ers with the vocabulary used in this book and
in healthcare informatics. We recognize that • Chapter 4: Addresses electronic resources for
healthcare professionals have varying degrees healthcare professionals, basic concepts and appli-
of computer and informatics knowledge. This cations of the Internet, including criteria for evalu-
book does not assume that the reader has prior ating the quality of online information.
knowledge of computers. All computer terms • Chapter 5: Discusses informatics to support
are defined in the chapter, in the glossary at evidence-based practice and research. Concepts
the end of the book, and on the Online Student include levels of evidence, information literacy,
Resources Web site. managing research data and information, creating

Preface XI

and maintaining the infrastructure needed to sup- • Chapter 14: Provides detailed information about
port research, dissemination of evidence, and effect- health information exchanges.
ing practice change. • Chapter 15: Provides an overview of the role of
• Chapter 6: Examines the relationship between pol- standardized terminology and language in infor-
icy, legislation, accreditation, reimbursement and matics. Also includes an outline of individual lan-
HIT design and use. guages and classifications used in healthcare.
• Chapter 7: Provides information on electronic • Chapter 16: Discusses the relationship between
health records including definition, components, strategic planning for the organization and the sig-
incentives for adoption, benefits, current status, nificance of maintaining uninterrupted operations
selection criteria, implications for collection of for patient care. Also touches on legal requirements
meaningful data and big data, current issues, and to maintain and restore information. Much of this
future directions. chapter is geared for the professional working in
• Chapter 8: Provides an overview of types of health- information services.
care information systems, including clinical infor-
mation systems and administrative information Section III: Specialty Applications
systems, as well as decision support, knowledge
This section covers specialty applications of informatics.
representation, and smart data.
• Chapter 17: Details ways that information tech-
Section II: Information Systems nology and informatics can support education of
Development Life Cycle healthcare professionals, including sections on sim-
ulation and virtual learning environments.
This section covers information and issues related to the
information systems development life cycle. • Chapter 18: Emphasizes the relationship between
health and information literacy, patient engage-
• Chapter 9 This chapter discusses the importance ment, shared decision-making, changing healthcare
of strategic planning for information management, delivery models, patient satisfaction, outcomes, and
HIT acquisition and use and provides an overview healthcare reform. Discusses applications of con-
of project management and information system sumer health informatics.
selection considerations. The role of informatics
• Chapter 19: Examines telehealth and connected
professionals, particularly informatics nurse spe-
healthcare applications, starting with a historical
cialists, in the planning process and project manage-
perspective and including driving forces, appli-
ment are addressed, as is the process to introduce
cations, and implications for providers as well as
change.
informatics professionals.
• Chapter 10: Addresses the concepts of usability
• Chapter 20: Explores public health informatics and
and health informatics applications inclusive of the
its use to maintain and improve population health.
role that usability plays in the system life cycle and
methods of usability assessment. Three appendices are included. Appendix A pro-
• Chapter 11: Covers information system implemen- vides basic information on hardware and software for
tation, maintenance, and evaluation. the reader who needs a better understanding of this
area. Appendix B provides information on the Internet.
• Chapter 12: Provides a comprehensive look at
Appendix C provides an overview of some tools for the
workforce development in relation to health infor-
informatics nurse.
mation technology use.
• Chapter 13: Discusses information security and
Instructor Resources
confidentiality, including practical information on
ways to protect information housed in informa- Lecture PowerPoint showcases key points for
tion systems and on mobile devices and addresses each chapter.
security for wearable and implantable information Test Generator offers question items, making
technology. test creation quick and simple.
••
XII Preface

Student Resources Notice Care has been taken to confirm the accuracy of information pre-
sented in this book. The authors, editors, and the publisher, however,
New! eText offers a rich and engaging experi- cannot accept any responsibility for errors or omissions or for conse-
ence with interactive exercises. Readers can ac- quences from application of the information in this book and make no
warrant~ express or implied, with respect to its contents.
cess online or via the Pearson eText app. Note:
Faculty can opt to package an eText access code
card with the print textbook, or students can
purchase access to the eText online.
pecial thanks to Kathy Hunter, who agreed to join me on this 6th edition,
lending her knowledge, insights, and support when I most needed it and
never said ''no'' despite her many other commitments.
A special thanks to Patricia Czar, RN, without whom there would be no
Handbook of Informatics for Nurses & Healthcare Professionals today. Pat actively
contributed to the book from the original outline through to the present, provid-
ing her knowledge, insights, organizational skills, support, and friendship. Pat
was active in informatics for more than 25 years, serving as manager of clini-
cal systems at a major medical center where she was responsible for planning,
design, implementation, and ongoing support for all of the clinical information
systems. Pat was also active in several informatics groups, presented nationally
and internationally, and served as a mentor for many nursing and health infor-
matics students. She is now fully retired and enjoying time with her family.
We acknowledge our gratitude to our loved ones for their support as we
wrote and revised this book. We are grateful and excited to have work from our
contributors who graciously shared their knowledge and expertise for this edi-
tion. We are grateful to our co-workers and professional colleagues who provided
encouragement and support throughout the process of conceiving and writing
this book. We appreciate the many helpful comments offered by our reviewers.
Finally, we thank Lisa Rahn, Michael Giacobbe, Susan Hannahs, Daniel Knott,
Taylor Scuglik, and all of the persons who worked on the production of this edi-
tion for their encouragement, suggestions, and support.

his edition brings in work from multiple contributors for a robust coverage
of topics throughout the book. We thank them for their time and expertise.
We would also like to thank all of the reviewers who carefully looked at
the entire manuscript. You have helped shape this book to become a more useful
text for everyone.

• ••
XIII
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Contri utors

Diane A. Anderson, DNP, MSN, RN, CNE Athena Fernandes DNP, MSN, RN-BC
Chapter 17: Using Informatics to Educate Appendix A: H ardware and Software
Associate Professor, MSN Specialty Tracks - Nurse Appendix B: A Guide to the Internet and World Wide Web
Educator, Chamberlain College, Downers Grove, IL Senior Physician Systems Analyst, Penn Medicine
Chester County Hospital, West Chester, PA
Ami Bhatt, DNP, MBA, RN, CHPN, CHCI
Chapter 13: Information Security and Confidentiality Carolyn S. Harmon, DNP, RN-BC
Dr. Bhatt is currently enrolled in the DNP to PhD program Chapter 16: Continuity Planning and Management
at University of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV Clinical Assistant Professor and Program Director for
the Masters of Nursing Informatics and the Masters
Sunny Biddle, MSN, RN
of Nursing Administration at University of South
Chapter 6: Policy, Legislation, and Regulation Issues
Carolina, Columbia, SC
for Informatics Practice
Circulating Nurse in the Operating Room at Genesis Toni Hebda, PhD, RN-BC, MSIS, CNE
Healthcare in Zanesville, OH and Clinical Instructor for Chapter 3: Effective and Ethical Use of Data and
Central Ohio Technical College in Newark, OH Information
Chapter 18: Consumer Health Informatics
Jane M. Brokel, PhD, RN, FNI
Professor, Chamberlain College of Nursing MSN
Chapter 8: Healthcare Information Systems
Program, Downers Grove, IL
Chapter 14: Information Networks and Information
Exchange Taryn Hill, PhD, RN
Section Instructor at Simmons College, Boston, MA Caring for the Patient Not the Computer in Chapter 1:
Adjunct faculty for the University of Iowa College of An Overview of Informatics in Healthcare
Nursing, Iowa, City, IA Dean of Academic Affairs for Chamberlain College of
Nursing, Columbus, OH
Jennifer A. Brown, MSN, RN, HNB-BC
Chapter 1: An Overview of Informatics in Diane Humbrecht, DNP, RN
Healthcare Chapter 12: Workforce Development
Faculty, Bronson School of Nursing at Western Chief Nursing Informatics Officer, Abington Jefferson
Michigan University in Kalamazoo, Michigan in the H ealth, Abington, PA
undergraduate and RN-BSN programs.
Kathleen Hunter, PhD, RN-BC, CNE
Lisa Eisele, MSN, RN Chapter 3: Effective and Ethical Use of Data and
Chapter 19: Connected Healthcare (Telehealth and Information
Technology-enabled healthcare) Chapter 7: Electronic Health Record Systems
Chief - Quality, Performance & Risk Management Professor, Chamberlain College of Nursing MSN
Manchester VA Medical Center, Manchester VA Program, Downers Grove, IL

Sue Evans, MSN RN-BC Brenda Kulhanek, PhD, MSN, MS, RN-BC
Chapter 11: System Implementation, Maintenance, Chapter 4: Electronic Resources for Healthcare
and Evaluation Professionals
Informatics Nurse II University of Pittsburgh Medical Chapter 12: Workforce Development
Center East, Monroeville, PA AVP of Clinical Education for HCA in Nashville, TN

xv
xvi Contributors

Susan Matney, PhD, RN-C, FAAN Rebecca J Sisk, PhD, RN, CNE
Chapter 15: The Role of Standardized Terminology Virtual Learning Environment in Chapter 17: Using
and Language in Informatics Informatics to Educate
Senior Medical Informaticist, Intermountain Professor, Chamberlain College Downers Grove, IL
Healthcare, Murray, UT
Rayne Soriano, PhD, RN
Julie McAfooes, MS, RN-BC, CNE, ANEF, FAAN Chapter 7: Electronic Health Record Systems
High-fidelity simulation, software, support, and Regional Director for Medicare Operations and Clinical
certification in Chapter 17: Using Informatics to Educate Effectiveness. Kaiser Permanente, San Francisco, CA
Web Development Manager for the online
Nancy Staggers, PhD, RN, FAAN
RN-to-BSN Option at the Chamberlain of Nursing,
Chapter 10: Improving the Usability of Health
Downers Grove, IL
Informatics Applications
Jeri A. Milstead, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN President, Summit Health Informatics and adjunct
Chapter 6: Policy, Legislation, and Regulation Issues professor, Biomedical Informatics and College of Nurs-
for Informatics Practice ing University of Utah College, Salt Lake City, UT
Professor and Dean Emerita, University of
Maxim Topaz PhD, MA, RN
Toledo College of Nursing, Toledo, OH
Chapter 2: Informatics Theory and Practice
Patricia Mulberger, MSN, RN-BC Harvard Medical School & Brigham Women's Health
Special Considerations with Mobile Computing in Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
Chapter 13: Information Security and Confidentiality
Marisa L. Wilson DNSc MHSc RN-BC CPHIMS FAAN
Clinical Informatics Quality Supervisor, Kalispell
Chapter 20: Public Health Informatics
Regional Healthcare, Kalispell MT
Associate Professor and Specialty Track coordinator
Melody Rose, DNP, RN for the MSN Nursing Informatics program at the Uni-
Chapter 5: Using Informatics to Support versity of Alabama at Birmingham School of Nursing.
Evidence-based Practice and Research
Chapter 18: Consumer Health Informatics
Assistant Professor of Nursing. Cumberland University
Jeanette C. Rudy School of Nursing, Lebanon, TN
Carolyn Sipes, PhD, CNS, APN, PM~ RN-BC
Chapter 8: Healthcare Information Systems
Chapter 9: Strategic Planning, Project Management,
and Health Information Technology (IT) Selection
Appendix C: An Overview of Tools for the
Informatics Nurse
Professor, Chamberlain College, Downers Grove, IL

ev1e ers

Janet Baker DNP, APRN, ACNS-BC, CPHQ, CNE


Associate Dean Graduate Nursing Programs
Ursuline College, The Breen School of Nursing
Pepper Pike, Ohio

Theresa L. Calderone, EdD, MEd, MSN, RN-BC


Assistant Professor of Nursing
Indiana University of Pennsylvania
Indiana, PA

Vicki Evans, MSN, RN, CEN, CNE


Assistant Professor of Nursing
University of Mary-Hardin Baylor
Belton, TX
Kathleen Hirthler DNP, CRNP, FNP-BC
Chair, Graduate Nursing; Associate Professor
Wilkes University, Passan School of Nursing
Wilkes Barre, PA

Arpad Kelemen, Ph.D.


Associate Professor of Informatics
University of Maryland School of Nursing
Baltimore, MD

Michelle Rogers, PhD, MS, MA, BS


Associate Professor of Information Science
Drexel University
Philadelphia, PA

Charlotte Seckman, PhD, RN-BC, CNE, FAAN


Associate Professor, Nursing Informatics Program
University of Maryland School of Nursing
Baltimore, MD

Nadia Sultana, DNP, MBA, RN-BC


Program Director and Clinical Assistant Professor, Nursing Informatics
Program
New York University
NewYork,NY

••
XVII
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outt eAut ors

Toni Hebda, PhD, RN-C, CNE, is a professor with the Chamberlain College of
Nursing. MSN Program teaching in the nursing informatics track. She has held
several academic and clinical positions over the years and worked as a system
analyst. Her interest in informatics provided a focus for her dissertation, subse-
quently led her to help establish a regional nursing informatics group, obtain a
graduate degree in information science, and conduct research related to informat-
ics. She is a reviewer for the Online Journal of Nursing Informatics. She is a member
of informatics groups and has presented and published in the field.

Kathy Hunter, PhD, FAAN, RN-BC, CNE, is a professor with the Chamberlain
College of Nursing MSN Program, teaching in the nursing informatics track.
She has more than 40 years of experience in the fields of nursing informatics,
healthcare informatics, and nursing education. After conducting clinical prac-
tice in critical care and trauma nursing for several years, she began practicing
nursing informatics (NI), working with end users and w ith information systems
design, development, testing, implementation and evaluation. She has presented
nursing-informatics research in national and international meetings as well as
publishing numerous articles in peer-reviewed journals. Collaborating in a com-
munity of practice w ith nursing-informatics faculty at Chamberlain, Dr. Hunter
led the work resulting in the development of the TIGER-based Assessment of
Nursing Informatics Competencies (TANIC) tool.


XIX
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Chapter 1

n verv1ew o n ormatics

In eat care
Jennifer A. Brown, MSN, RN, HNB-BC
Taryn Hill, PhD1 RN
Toni Hebda, PhD, RN-C

Learning Objectives
After completing this chapter, you should be able to:
• Provide an overview of the current state of healthcare delivery.
• Discuss the role that technology plays in healthcare.
• Provide a definition for informatics.
• Discuss the significance of informatics for healthcare.
• Describe the process required to create an informatics culture.
• Examine the relationship between technology, informatics, and caring.

The healthcare delivery system today is a complex system faced with multiple, competing
demands. Among these demands are: calls for increased quality, safety, and transparency;
evolving roles for practitioners; a shift in consumer-provider relationships; eliminating dis-
parities in care; adopting new models of care; the development of a learning health sys-
tem (LHS); advanced technology as a means to support healthcare processes and treatment
options; and providing a workforce with the skills needed to work in a highly technology-
laden environment that is reliant upon data and information to function.
Technology is a pervasive part of every aspect of society including healthcare delivery.
Many suggest that health information technology (HIT) provides the tools to enable the
delivery of safe, quality care in an effective, efficient manner while improving communication
and decreasing costs (Institute of Medicine, 2012). HIT was named as one of nine levers that
stakeholders could use to align their efforts with the National Strategy for Quality Improve-
ment in Health Care, a collaborative effort also known as the National Quality Strategy, a
mandate of the 2010 Affordable Care Act (ACA). The National Quality Strategy, published in
2011, represented input from more than 300 groups and organizations from various sectors of

1
2 Chapter 1

healthcare industry and the public (Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, 2017). Yet,
the healthcare sector has been slow to adopt and use technology to its full potential. Lucero
(2017) noted that the failure for technology in healthcare to live up to its full promise to the
present is not surprising given the complexity of healthcare delivery. So, what is information
technology? Information technology (IT) is a broad term referring to the process of search-
ing, organizing, and managing data supported by the use of computers. It has also come to
include electronic communication. IT represents only a portion of the technology found in
healthcare today, but is significant because data leads to information, which in tum provides
knowledge. This chapter and the book as a whole will discuss the role that informatics plays
to help address the multiple challenges facing healthcare today.

Informatics
Before we can discuss the role of informatics in healthcare, infomatics must first be defined.
The American Medical Informatics Association (AMIA) (2017, Para. 1) states that informatics
is an interdisciplinary field that draws from, as well as contributes to, ''computer science,
decision science, information science, management science, cognitive science, and organi-
zational theory." Informatics drives innovation in how information and knowledge man-
agement are approached. Its broad scope encompasses natural language processing, data
mining, research, decision support, and genomics. Health informatics encompasses several
fields that include:
• Translational bioinformatics. This area deals with the storage, analysis, and interpretation of
large volumes of data. It includes research into ways to integrate findings into the work
of scientists, clinicians, and healthcare consumers.
• Clinical research informatics. This area concentrates on discovery and management of
new knowledge pertinent to health and disease from clinical trials and via secondary
data use.
• Clinical informatics. The concentration here is on the delivery of timely, safe, efficient,
effective, evidence-based and patient-centered care (Levy, 2015). Examples include
nursing informatics and medical informatics. Nursing informatics has its own scope
and standards for practice as set forth by the American Nurses Association (ANA) as
well as certification established by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)
(American Nurses Association, 2015a). AMIA began the process, in 2007, of defining clini-
cal informatics and its competencies, to lay the foundation for a credentialing process to
recognize competence of clinical informaticists (Shortliffe, 2011). There is also discussion
at a global level on specialty-board certification for physicians in clinical informatics
(Gundlapall et al., 2015).
• Consumer health informatics. The focus here is the consumer, or patient, view and the
str11ctures and processes that enable consumers to manager their own health.
• Public health informatics. Efforts here include surveillance, prevention, health promotion,
and preparedness.
As might be surmised from a review of the above list, there are areas of overlap among the
fields.
Informatics and its subspecialties-including nursing informatics-continue to
evolve as has the terminology used to discuss this field. For example, medical informatics
was previously used as the umbrella term under which the subspecialties of health
informatics fell.
An Overview of Informatics in Healthcare 3

The Relevance of Informatics for Healthcare


Informatics is an essential component of healthcare today. The Institute of Medicine (2013a)
noted its vision for the development of a continuously learning health system in which sci-
ence, informatics, incentives, and culture are aligned for continuous improvement and inno-
vation, and new knowledge is captured as a by-product of care processes. Together, HIT
and informatics have been hailed as tools that can streamline processes, improve the quality
of care delivered, reduce mortality, cut costs, and collect data to support learning (Institute
of Medicine, 2012, 2015; Kohli & Tan, 2016; Lucero, 2017; Luo, Min, Gopukumar, & Yiqing,
2016; McCullough, Parente, & Town, 2016; Pinsonneault, Addas, Qian, Dakshinamoorthy, &
Tamblyn, 2017). In fact, the Institute of Medicine (2013b, p. 1) stated that ''digital health data
are the lifeblood of a continuous learning health system.'' Achieving this learning health
system will require the work of many individuals and organizations.
There are several factors to consider on the journey to a learning healthcare system.
These include:
• Healthcare professionals are knowledge workers.
• Structures must be in place to support the collection, interpretation, and reuse of data in
a meaningful way.
• Evidence-based practices are a pre-requisite to achieving optimal outcomes.
• Big data and data analytics are quickly becoming a major source of evidence, augment-
ing, and even replacing, other traditional forms of evidence such as clinical trials.
• HIT and all forms of technology are present but best use is inconsistent.
• Healthcare reform and a learning healthcare system are intricately linked.
• Patient safety and the need to improve quality of care are drivers for healthcare reform.
Each of these will be discussed briefly.

Knowledge Work
Nurses and other healthcare professionals have a long tradition of gathering data, which is
then used to create information and knowledge. When previous knowledge and experience
are applied appropriately to take action or intervene in some fashion, it is known as wisdom.
These processes constitute a major part of the clinician's day and, when done well, yield good
outcomes. As an example, a piece of data without context has no meaning. The number 68 in
isolation conveys nothing. It could be an age, a pulse rate, or even a room number, but in and
of itself, there is no way to know what it means. However, if 68 is determined to be a pulse
rate, the nurse can make the determination that this falls within the normal range, indicating
that the patient is in no distress and requires no intervention. On the other hand, if that same
number represents the rate of respirations per minute, the patient is in respiratory distress
and immediate intervention is required.
Gaberson and Langston (2017) noted that changes in the healthcare system, inclusive of
demands for safe, accessible, quality care, have increased both the awareness of and demand
for well-prepared knowledge workers. Gaberson and Langston also cited the assertion of the
landmark 2010 Institute of Medicine report, The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing
Health, that nursing is an appropriate profession to play a major role in transforming the
healthcare system; yet, nursing education has not adequately prepared its graduates for
this role. As a consequence, there is a need to better prepare nurses and other healthcare
professionals during their basic education for this role and to provide better options to aid
4 Chapter 1

the new professional to assume the knowledge-worker role and to maintain essential com-
petencies in this area.

Structures to Support Meaningful Use of Data


To be useful, data and information must be available when needed, to whom it is needed,
and in a form that can be analyzed or used. Historically, the healthcare delivery system
has collected huge amounts of data and information from different sources and in different
formats, creating data silos within departments and facilities. Without organization, this
data and information has limited value, even at its collection site, and is not amenable to
sharing for learning purposes. The use of electronic health records (EHRs) moved data and
information to a digital format, which is conducive to organization, analysis, and sharing,
but differences in format still make analysis difficult. Data exists in raw and processed
states and unstructured and structured forms. Examples of unstructured data include docu-
ments, email, and multimedia. Structured data fits into predetermined classifications such
as that seen with a list of selectable options that can easily be quantified. Even before the
widespread adoption of EHRs, there was a growing recognition that improved commu-
nication among professionals required the adoption of standardized languages and ter-
minologies to ensure that a concept had the same meaning in all settings; this also makes
generalization of research findings possible. One example of a standardized language that
is familiar to most nurses is NANDA, which was created by the North American Nursing
Diagnosis Association to provide standardized terms for nursing diagnoses. Standardized
languages and terminologies can be integrated into EHRs. A lack of data standardization
jeopardizes opportunities for learning because important data may not be available for
analysis (Auffray et al., 2016). Standardization of data and its collection in a digital format in
databases facilitate collecting, sorting, retrieval, selection, and aggregation of data to a degree
never before possible. Aggregate data can be analyzed to discover trends and, subsequently,
to inform and educate.
Researchers use both qualitative and quantitative methods to analyze data. Qualitative
methods focus on numbers and frequencies, with the goal of finding relationships or vari-
ables specific to an outcome. Qualitative methods are variable and not focused on counting.
These methods can include any data captured. This data can be in the form of questionnaires,
surveys including web surveys, interviews, list serves, and email. Electronic data collection
tools include personal digital assistants or laptop computers.
Another important facet of information access is related to the electronic literature data-
bases for the health sciences, business, history, government, law, and ethics that healthcare
professionals and administrators use to keep up-to-date and inform their practices. Libraries
purchase electronic literature databases that users can easily search using keywords, Boolean
search operators, title, author, or date to find relevant information. Literature databases use
key terms to index collections. Medical subject headings (MeSH) are used by the controlled
vocabulary thesaurus of the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to index articles in PubMed,
a free search engine maintained by the NLM. PubMed is used to access the MEDLINE biblio-
graphic database. Some other examples of literature databases relevant for healthcare include
EBSCO, Ovid, ProQuest, CINAHL, and Cochrane Library. Becoming familiar with the data-
bases most relevant to one's purpose or focus is important. Adept use requires time and
practice. When searching a database, one should define the subject and the question; then,
search for the evidence in multiple components of the literature: for example, use evidence
from multiple studies (not just one random study), incorporate what was learned into prac-
tice, and evaluate the impact of what was implemented.
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