Glossary

Artificial intelligence (AI) is the intelligence of machines or software, as opposed to the intelligence of human beings or animals.

Wikipedia. (2023, July, 29). Artificial intelligence. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artificial_intelligence

Artificial intelligence (AI) is the intelligence of machines or software, as opposed to the intelligence of human beings or animals.

Also known as “store-and-forward." Providers review information asynchronously to diagnose or treat an issue.

A system used by computers, a numeric system that uses two symbols, 0 and 1.

Smallest piece of data memory.

A portion of memory (8 bits) that is used to indicate computer memory or storage capacity.

ChatGPT (Chat Generative Pre-Trained Transformer) is a large language model-based chatbot developed by OpenAI and launched on November 30, 2022, notable for enabling users to refine and steer a conversation towards a desired length, format, style, level of detail, and language used.

Wikipedia. (2023 July, 27). ChatGPT. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ChatGPT

A technology tool that provides healthcare providers with knowledge and person-specific information to enhance decision-making.

Broad term that includes all medical and health specialties and addresses the ways health information technology are used in the day-to-day operations of patient care (Alexander, Frith, & Hoy, 2019).

Storing and accessing data and programs over the internet instead of using a computer's hard drive.

A type of psychotherapy that helps individuals identify and change negative thinking patterns and behaviors to improve their mental health.

Study of the theory, design, implementation, and performance of computer software and computer systems.

Individual facts, values, and measurements (a single pulse rate).

Process of collecting, processing, and implementing research findings to improve clinical practice, the work environment, or patient outcomes.

Health information technology that attempts to mimic human "wisdom" through the use of advanced technology like artificial intelligence and machine learning.

Provides the capability to electronically move clinical information among disparate healthcare information systems and maintain the meaning of the information being exchanged.

Health IT is a term that is used for the electronic health systems that healthcare professionals and patients use to store, share, and analyze health information.

The degree to which individuals have the ability to find, understand, and use information and services to inform health-related decisions and actions for themselves and others.

At its core, informatics is the science of information and all its aspects – how it’s stored, processed, communicated, and used. It is mainly thought of today as computerized information, but can also apply to information stored, communicated and used on paper, audio tape, or even in someone’s brain.

Though a current informatics definition is now usually linked with a scientific discipline such as medical informatics or healthcare informatics, the term also can apply to more diverse areas such as library informatics, financial, or even sports.

With the increase of electronic health records, the healthcare field has become one of the dominant users of informatics. As today’s seemingly infinite amount of data continues growing, informatics is used to help process, analyze, and communicate large chunks of data while seeking clues to support and sustain public health and enhance the quality of care in the field of biomedical informatics.

Saba, V. K., & McCormick, K.A. (2015). Essentials of nursing informatics (6th ed). McGraw Hill.

Organized, structured, and condensed data.

A set of skills that allow you to “recognize when information is needed and have the ability to locate, evaluate, and use effectively the needed information"

A .process consisting of collecting data, processing the data, and presenting and communicating the processed data as information or knowledge

Field that revolves around the management of information in any form.

refers to the use of mobile computing, medical sensors, and cloud computing to monitor patients' vital signs in real-time and the use of communication technologies to relay data to a Cloud computing framework (Schneider & Xhafa, 2022). 

The ability of different Health IT systems and software applications to exchange health information and use the information once it is received.

Information that has been synthesized by a provider.

A network that connects devices in a single building.

"Machine learning is a branch of artificial intelligence (AI) and computer science which focuses on the use of data and algorithms to imitate the way that humans learn, gradually improving its accuracy" (IBM, n.d.)

IBM. (n.d.). What is machine learning? Retrieved: October 31, 2023. https://www.ibm.com/topics/machine-learning

A wider area, like a large organization or geographic area. Physical connections over or between several existing LAN structures.

A software program you access using your smartphone, tablet, or other mobile device.

Transmission of health information and services via mobile technology.

A licensed nurse who manages and implements healthcare technologies in an effort to advance patient care, safety, and improve outcomes.

A nursing specialty that integrates nursing science, computer science, and information science to manage and use data, information, knowledge, and wisdom in nursing practice.

The ethical application of nursing knowledge acquired through education, research, and practice to provide services and interventions to patients to maintain, enhance, or restore their health and to acquire, process, generate, and disseminate nursing knowledge to advance the nursing profession.

A comprehensive software solution designed to manage and organize patient-related data within healthcare facilities.

process that supports a patient's active participation in making informed healthcare decisions to improve their quality of life

A patient’s willingness and ability to actively participate in their care by engaging and collaborating with healthcare providers.

Digital tools that allow individuals to store and manage their health information, such as medical history, medications, and test results, in one accessible place.

Individually identifiable health information that is transmitted or maintained in any form or medium (electronic, oral, or paper) by a covered entity or its business associates, excluding certain educational and employment records (National Institutes of Health, 2007b)

Temporary storage for data.

Storage of data that is permanent.

The transmission of an individual's personal health and medical data to the healthcare provider in a different location for diagnosis and treatment.

The practice of healthcare providers who empower patients to make healthcare decisions and state their needs and limitations.

The use of web-based and mobile technologies to turn communication into interactive dialogues.

An application program developed to help the end user accomplish functions.

The use of telecommunication and information technology to provide access to health assessment, diagnosis, intervention, consultation, supervision, and information across distance.

The delivery of synchronous healthcare services between the patient and the healthcare provider remotely.

The practice of monitoring aspects of a patient’s health from a remote location.

This can provide experiences with technology necessary for human sensory elements such as vision, sound, and manipulation as well.

Wikipedia. (2023). Telepresence. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telepresence

A network that provides secure connectivity between networks and remote computers/devices using encryption.

Devices worn on the body to monitor and track various health parameters in real-time.

The largest and most far-reaching network of computers in a country, continent, or the internet.

Use of knowledge and experience applied to complex problems, specifically, the appropriate application of knowledge (knowing when and how to apply knowledge).