Chapter 26: Nursing Informatics
Health informatics
o The application of computer and information science in all basic
and applied biomedical sciences to facilitate the acquisition,
processing, interpretation, optimal use, and communication of
health-related data.
Driven by the health information technology for economic and clinical
health act (HITECH)
The government offers incentive payments to health care agencies and
providers’ offices that adopt EHRs and use data meaningfully from the
EHR to promote safe, high-quality patient care resulting in positive
patient outcomes.
Penalties will be assessed to health care facilities that do not adopt EHRs
or show meaningful use of data generated from EHRs
Health informatics allows management to gather and analyze large
amounts of data into useful information
o It includes a wide range of topics form clinical documentation to
provider order entry systems. From system design to system
implementation and adoption issues.
o Many related areas such as clinical research informatics,
consumer health informatics, and public health informatics
Each discipline (nursing vs. pharmacy) has specific needs.
Health information technology
o Refers to the technical roles that process health data and records
such as classification, abstracting, and retrieval
, Hardware, software, integrated technologies, packaged
solutions, etc. sold services that are designed for
healthcare entities for health care information
o Top priority in the US
o Standards and interoperability (ability to work with other
products/systems) are key
o The use of technology to electronically use and exchange health
information securely between healthcare stakeholders will
improve that overall quality, safety, and efficiency of health care
delivery.
Electronic Health Record (EHR): is an electronic record of patient health
information generated whenever a patient access medical care in any
healthcare delivery setting
Electronic Medical Record (EMR): contains patient data gathered in a
healthcare setting at a specific time and place. It is a part of the EHR
o EHRs and EMRs are often used interchangeably, but have two
different meanings
The use of information and computer technology to support all aspects
of nursing practice, including direct delivery of care, administration,
education, and research
Nursing informatics is also recognized as a specialty area of nursing
practice. Nursing informatics allows for improved management and
communication of data, information, and knowledge in nursing practice.
o It is important that you know how to record, interpret, and
report data and critically think and apply knowledge when
providing patient care. Data include numbers, characters or facts
that you collect according to a perceived need for analysis and
possible action.
o Informatics nurses have advanced preparation in information
management and demonstrate proficiency with informatics to
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Health informatics
o The application of computer and information science in all basic
and applied biomedical sciences to facilitate the acquisition,
processing, interpretation, optimal use, and communication of
health-related data.
Driven by the health information technology for economic and clinical
health act (HITECH)
The government offers incentive payments to health care agencies and
providers’ offices that adopt EHRs and use data meaningfully from the
EHR to promote safe, high-quality patient care resulting in positive
patient outcomes.
Penalties will be assessed to health care facilities that do not adopt EHRs
or show meaningful use of data generated from EHRs
Health informatics allows management to gather and analyze large
amounts of data into useful information
o It includes a wide range of topics form clinical documentation to
provider order entry systems. From system design to system
implementation and adoption issues.
o Many related areas such as clinical research informatics,
consumer health informatics, and public health informatics
Each discipline (nursing vs. pharmacy) has specific needs.
Health information technology
o Refers to the technical roles that process health data and records
such as classification, abstracting, and retrieval
, Hardware, software, integrated technologies, packaged
solutions, etc. sold services that are designed for
healthcare entities for health care information
o Top priority in the US
o Standards and interoperability (ability to work with other
products/systems) are key
o The use of technology to electronically use and exchange health
information securely between healthcare stakeholders will
improve that overall quality, safety, and efficiency of health care
delivery.
Electronic Health Record (EHR): is an electronic record of patient health
information generated whenever a patient access medical care in any
healthcare delivery setting
Electronic Medical Record (EMR): contains patient data gathered in a
healthcare setting at a specific time and place. It is a part of the EHR
o EHRs and EMRs are often used interchangeably, but have two
different meanings
The use of information and computer technology to support all aspects
of nursing practice, including direct delivery of care, administration,
education, and research
Nursing informatics is also recognized as a specialty area of nursing
practice. Nursing informatics allows for improved management and
communication of data, information, and knowledge in nursing practice.
o It is important that you know how to record, interpret, and
report data and critically think and apply knowledge when
providing patient care. Data include numbers, characters or facts
that you collect according to a perceived need for analysis and
possible action.
o Informatics nurses have advanced preparation in information
management and demonstrate proficiency with informatics to
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