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 Health Informatics is ... the
use of computer technologies in
healthcare to store, share,
transmit and analyse clinical
knowledge and data.
 Informatics provides tools to help
process , store, retrieve and analyze
data and information that have been
collected for the purpose of
documenting and improving patient
care, as well as the creation and
support of knowledge that contributes
to the scientific foundation of nursing.
 Õhe foundation of nursing informatics
is based on the concepts of
ata,
information an
knowle
e.
Because information and knowledge
are essential for nurses when
interpreting data and making decisions,
it is important to know the difference
between these concepts.
 6

are collection of numbers,
characters or facts that are
gathered according to some
perceived need for analysis and
possibly action at a later point in
time.
 Ê amples of 6ata
client·s vital signs
length of hospital stay
client·s race
marital status
employment status
ëome types of data maybe given a numeric
or alphabetic code.
 INFORM
ION
is
ata that have been
interprete
.
 Ê ample of Information

÷ndividual temperature readings are

data. When they are plotted onto a
graph, the client·s change in
temperature over time and comparison
with normal values become evident,
thus becoming information.

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12 NOON 38.9 96 24

4 PM 38 84 22

8 PM 3¢.2 83 20
 Õhe values in the table above
represent data: a client·s vital signs
over the course of a day. Each
individual value is limited in meaning.
Õhe pattern of the values represents
information, which is more useful to
the health care provider.
nowle
e is a more comple
concept. nowle
e is the
synthesis of information

erive
from several sources
to pro
uce a sin le concept
or i
ea.
÷t is based on a logical process of
analysis and provides order to
thoughts and ideas and decreases
uncertainty.Validation of
information provides knowledge
that can be useful again.
An example of knowledge can be
seen in the determination of the
most effective nursing
interventions for the prevention
of skin breakdown. ÷f a research
study produces data related to
the prevention of skin breakdown
achieved through specific
interventions,
Õhese data can be collected and analyzed.
Õhe trends or patters depicted by the
data provide information regarding
which treatment is more effective than
others in preventing skin breakdown.
Õhe validation of this information
through repeated studies provides
knowledge that nurses can use to
prevent skin breakdown in their clients.
arge-ëcale use of data , information, and
knowledge requires that it is accessible.
Õraditionally, client data and information
have been handwritten in an
unstructured format on paper and
placed in the patient record. Õhis
process makes the location, abstraction,
and comparison of information slow and
difficult , limiting the creation of
knowledge.
Recent
eman
s for improvements
in health care call for the ability to
use information for health care

elivery as well as the quality
measurement an
improvement,
research an
e
ucation.

his can be achieve
only
throu h the use of
information technolo y as
a means to automate an

share information.