NUR 351: Introduction to Health Informatics

Lesson 1: Introduction of Health Informatics and Its Importance

• This lesson introduces the concept of Health Informatics (NUR 351)
• The course is taught by Dr. Sally M. Farghaly
• Objectives of the lesson include defining health informatics related concepts, determining the nursing informatics framework, recognizing the application of health informatics in nursing, identifying benefits of health informatics in nursing and determining the role of nurse informatics according to the American Nurses Association (ANA).

Objectives

• Students will be able to define health informatics related concepts.
• Students will be able to determine the nursing informatics framework.
• Students will be able to recognize the application of health informatics in nursing.
• Students will be able to identify the benefits of health informatics in nursing.
• Students will be able to determine the role of nurse informatics according to the ANA.

Introduction to Health Informatics and its Importance

• Computers are fast, accurate but also are considered stupid.
• Human beings are slow, inaccurate but are brilliant
• Combined, computers and humans are powerful beyond imagination

Introduction

• Informatics has become a significant focus of research and theory development over the past four decades.
• It aims to address visible and hidden aspects of informatics in nursing.

Informatics—Science that Combines

• Domain science
• Information science
• Computer science
• Cognitive science
• Informatics is the application of computer science and information science to the management and processing of data, information and knowledge in a specific field.

Nursing Informatics Defined

• Nursing informatics integrates nursing science, computer science and information science.
• It manages and communicates data, information, knowledge and wisdom in nursing practice.

Nursing Informatics

• Supports consumers, patients, nurses and other providers in decision-making.
• This support is made possible through information structures, information processes and information technology.

Health Informatics

• Utilizes information technology (software) and information management methods to support healthcare delivery.
• Includes several subfields like medical, nursing, dental and pharmacy informatics.

Healthcare Information System (HIS)

• A system for managing and updating patient-related information (clinically and administratively).
• Stores and manages health information from various sources (hospitals, clinics, doctors, etc.)

HIS Functions and Aspects

• Creates, sends, receives, processes and stores patient information.
• Healthcare workers input data, which is processed for useful information.
• This information improves medical service quality and effectiveness.
• Utilizes the internet to connect healthcare organizations.
• Based on cataloging, maintaining, transmitting and comparing significant data and information.
• Uses electronic medical records (EMRs) to ensure secure access to a centralized database.

Nursing Informatics Conceptual Framework

• Data: A single observation or discrete entity, objectively described without interpretation.

• Examples include numerical values assigned to variables.

• Information: Organized and interpreted data, reflecting processing, organization or structuring.

• For example: a child's height & weight recorded, allows interpretation of growth patterns (normal or abnormal).

• Measures to ensure data integrity include personnel education, system checks and data verification techniques, all aimed at minimizing fraudulent information entry.

Characteristics of Quality Information

• Complete and clear descriptions
• Accurate
• Measurable (preferably by objective means, like numbers)
• Verifiable (by independent observers)
• Promptly entered
• Quickly and readily available when needed

Nursing Informatics Conceptual Framework - cont.

• Knowledge: Synthesis of information from multiple sources to form a single concept or idea.

• Foundation for logical decision-making.

• Wisdom: Appropriate use of knowledge to solve human problems or address specific human needs.

Nursing Informatics Conceptual Framework - cont.

• Data Management: Control, retrieval and use of data.

• Includes organizing data to maximize usefulness and ensure accuracy and integrity.

• Processing: Transformation of data from one form to another.

• At a more complex level of meaning (gathering, interpretation, synthesis leading to knowledge and decision-making).

• Data is transformed into information and information into knowledge.

Relationship of Data, Information, Knowledge, and Wisdom

• A diagram illustrates the relationships of data, information, knowledge, and wisdom.
• The relationship is shown through the upward direction and increasing complexity.

Goal of Nursing Informatics

• Nurses must understand technology benefits, problems and how it affects their practice.
• Make nursing practice visible in local, national and international healthcare settings.
• Empower nurses in informatics to influence policy.
• Information is vital for effective decision-making and to achieve high quality nursing care.

Why Informatics is Important to Nursing

• Increases awareness and understanding of nursing and healthcare issues.
• Maintains a clinical perspective.
• Advances research directly improving patient care.

Application of Nursing Informatics

• Clinical practice: patient assessment data in EHR, computer-generated nursing care plans, automated billing.

• Administration: staff scheduling, improved communication, cost analysis, quality assurance, outcome analysis.

• Education: computerized record keeping, computer-assisted instruction, interactive video technology, distance learning and presentation software.

• Research: Statistical software analysis of aggregate data trends.

Benefits of Nursing Informatics

• Improves access to medical records.
• Decreases data entry redundancy and documentation time.
• Facilitates data collection for research.
• Improves provider communication.
• Improves care outcomes by using aggregated data to avoid errors.
• Makes storage and retrieval of healthcare records easier.

Roles of a Nurse Informaticist (according to ANA)

• designs for stored information, analyzing information to identify patient progress and aid decision-making.
• becomes a specialist with many opportunities.
• responsible for hospital center or informatics systems guiding staff, supporting nursing work processes through technology.
• Re-engineers clinical workflows and manages change.
• Analyzes clinical and financial data, promoting and facilitating access to resources and references, providing nursing content in standardized formats, enhancing continuity of care, improving relationships between providers, enabling cost savings and productivity goals, monitoring patient outcomes via automated pathways, providing knowledge about diabetic care, using technology for reduced errors in medication orders.