UNIT 2

• Advantages of Cloud Technology

  • Integrated and efficient patient care
  • Better Management
• Integrated and efficient patient care

  Cloud technology offers a single access point for patient information, which allows multiple doctors to review laboratory results or notes on patients. Physicians can spend more time deciding and performing patient treatment instead of waiting for data from different departments.
• Better Management


  The accumulation of electronic health records will allow more meaningful data mining that can better assess the health of the general public. More data can mean more opportunities to identify trends in diseases and crises.
• Disadvantages of Cloud Technology

  • Potential Risks to Personal Information
  • Cloud Setup Seems Cumbersome
• Potential Risks to Personal Information

  The strength of cloud technology is also the very same characteristic that makes it vulnerable to data breaches. The information contained within medical records may be subjected to theft or other violations of privacy and confidentiality. Fortunately, safeguards may put in place to minimize such threats, such as encryption, proper data disposal, and other security features.
• Cloud Setup Seems Cumbersome


  The transition from a traditional to an automated system might be difficult for some members of health care organizations that may not be familiar with cloud technology. This technology, however, will be adopted by more institutions in the future. With proper education and illustration of its function, hesitant practitioners may be able to see its advantages.
• Health informatics is the application of both technology and systems in a health care setting. It has been loosely practiced in the Philippines since the 1980s.
• Practitioners who had access to IBM (International Business Machines Corporation) compatible machines used word processors to store patient information.
• Significant milestones in health informatics have occurred over the years, one of which is the Community Health Information Tracking System (CHITS), a Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP-based system released under the general public license (GPL). CHITS was named a finalist at the Stockholm Challenge 2006 and one of the top three e-government projects in the Philippines by the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Digital Opportunity Center (ADOC) (Nuevo, 2019).
• Data


  Raw facts that have no meaning until grouped or organized
• Information


  Data organized and grouped to increase a user's knowledge
• Informatics


  Science of information, the practice of processing information, and the development of information systems
• Health informatics


  Application of both technology and systems in a health care setting
• Laboratory informatics


  Use of computers and information systems to process and communicate information generated in the clinical laboratory
• Electronic health record (EHR) or electronic medical record (EMR)


  Computerized medical record. A digital patient record that can include demographics, test results, medical history and examination, images, etc. Can be accessed via computer over a network.
• Computerized Provider Order Entry (CPOE)

  A method of digital entry of instructions for the diagnosis and treatment of patients by a medical practitioner
• Information System


  System of hardware, software, connections, and communication protocols to handle all informational needs of an organization
• Hospital Information System (HIS)


  An information system to handle all informational needs of a hospital, both clinical and administrative. A powerful computer system that includes hardware and software responsible for storing patient, business, and employee data. An HIS is often linked to other digital information systems (e.g., laboratory information system).
• Laboratory Information System (LIS)


  System of hardware, software, connections, and communication protocols to handle all informational needs of a lab, from the intake of requests to delivery of results. Can provide patient information, test information, collection lists, work lists, test results, financial functions, productivity/workload monitoring, quality management, and interface with other computer systems.
• Interface


  Hardware and software that allow for electronic communication between two computer systems, even if they use different programming languages. The LIS is typically interfaced to HIS and automated analyzers.
• Unidirectional Interface


  An interface that transmits electronic information in one direction, e.g., a point-of-care analyzer downloads test results to LIS
• Bidirectional Interface


  An interface that transmits electronic information in 2 directions, e.g., the LIS downloads orders from the HIS and uploads results to the HIS
• Middleware


  The interface between an analyzer and LIS. Can apply rules to automate processes, auto verification (automatic release of results without tech review when certain criteria are met).
• System Validation


  Documentation that LIS functions as expected. Required by regulatory agencies.
• Personal Computer (PC)


  Also referred to as a microcomputer or desktop computer, it is a stand-alone computer that contains a central processing unit (CPU), monitor, hard drive, etc., and can be used for processing data.
• Server


  A computer with a large amount of memory and storage capacity that stores data accessed by other computers, called clients or workstations. Programs (applications) can also be stored on servers.
• Mainframe


  A large-capacity computer designed to support many users at once with little or no downtime. The term can have different meanings, but today it often refers to computers compatible with the IBM System/360 series of computers (IBM = International Business Machines).
• Supercomputers


  Computers that, at the time of their production, are on the forefront of processing speed since they contain hundreds of CPUs.
• Hardware


  Physical parts of the computer
• Central Processing Unit (CPU)


  Executes software instructions. It runs the operating system and applications, constantly receiving input from the user or active software programs. It processes the data and produces output, which may be stored by an application or displayed on the screen.
• Random Access Memory (RAM)

  Working memory used for the temporary storage of programs and data. Content is lost each time computer is turned off.
• Read-only Memory (ROM)


  Part of memory that is permanently protected from being modified, erased, or written over. Not affected by power loss. Used for boot-level and other system instructions.
• Hard Drive


  The magnetic-coated metal plate inside the CPU for storing data
• Disk Drive


  A device that reads data stored on magnetic or optical disk and writes data onto disk for storage
• Optical Disks


  Compact disks (CDs), Digital Versatile Disks (DVDs). Store data.
• Peripheral Devices


  Input/output and information storage components
• Input Devices


  Devices that deliver data to a computer, e.g., keyboards, barcode readers, computer links or interfaces
• Output Devices


  Devices by which computer delivers data, e.g., printers, monitors
• Modem


  Input/output device that allows computers to communicate over telephone lines
• Software


  Programs that tell a computer what to do