WGU C790 – Healthcare Informatics & Information
Systems | Complete OA Prep Guide Questions Verified and
Provided with A+ Graded Rationales Latest Updated 2026
Interoperability
the capability of two or more computer systems to share data and resources, even though
they are made by different manufacturers
AHRQ
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality: clearinghouse of 1500 CPGs with standardized
medical terminology that optimize patient outcomes
CCC
Clinical Care Classification, classification system of nursing diagnoses and interventions for
home health
Change Theory
The study of change in individuals or social systems such as organizations.
Channel
A physical element that carries a message between a sender and a receiver. Examples of
channels are radio waves, fiber optic lines, and paper.
Chaos Theory
The qualitative study of unstable aperiodic behavior in deterministic, nonlinear dynamical
systems
Clinical Informatics
The application of informatics and information technology to deliver healthcare services.
Closed System
A system that is enclosed in an impermeable boundary and does not interact with the
environment.
QI
quality improvement
Complex Adaptive Systems (CAS)
,An entity consisting of many diverse and autonomous parts that are interrelated,
interdependent, linked through many interconnections, and behave as a unified whole in
learning from experience and in adjusting to changes in the environment
Complexity Theory
Complexity theory builds on chaos theory using a qualitative approach to the study of
dynamic nonlinear social systems that change with time and demonstrate complex
relationships.
CPOE (Computerized provider order entry)
A system that automates the way that orders have traditionally been initiated for patients.
Clinicians place orders within these systems instead of using traditional handwritten
transcription onto paper. These systems provide major safeguards by ensuring that physician
orders are legible and complete, thereby providing a level of patient safety that was
historically missing with paper-based orders. They provide decision support and automated
alert functionality that was previously unavailable with paper-based orders.
Computer science
The "systematic study of algorithmic methods for representing and transforming information,
including their theory, design, implementation, application, and efficiency.... The roots of
computer science extend deeply into mathematics and engineering. Mathematics imparts
analysis to the field; engineering imparts design" (University at Buffalo School of Engineering
and Applied Sciences;
Needs Assessment
An assessment of needs of a department or organization using different methods such as
surveys, interviews and report gathering.
Conceptual Framework
A description and explanation of concepts and their relationships and interactions related to a
specific phenomenon. Conceptual frameworks can be used to propose theories and generate
research questions. A conceptual framework can also be used to develop a conceptual model.
Data
Uninterpreted elements such as a person's name, weight, or age. Because they are
uninterpreted, they do not have meaning. Discrete entities that are described objectively
without interpretation
Data integrity
, The accuracy and consistency of stored and transmitted data. Data integrity can be
compromised when information is entered incorrectly or deliberately altered or when the
system protections are not working correctly or suddenly fail.
Data Mining
A step in the knowledge discovery process of finding correlations or patterns among dozens of
fields in large relational databases.
Data Science
The science of extracting knowledge or insights from data in various forms, either structured
or unstructured.
Gap Analysis
A measurement of where a condition, situation or metric is currently and where it needs to
be.
Digital Literacy
The ability to operate and understand digital devices of all types, including the technical skills
to operate these devices, the conceptual knowledge to understand their functionality, and the
ability to creatively and critically use these devices to access, manipulate, evaluate, and apply
data, information, knowledge, and wisdom in activities of daily living.
Information
comes from providing context to data. It is data that has been endowed with meaning and
purpose. Have been interpreted, organized or structured
Information System
The manual and/or automated components of a system of users or people, recorded data,
and actions used to process the data into information for a user, group of users, or an
organization.
Health Information Technology (HIT)
Hardware, software, integrated technologies or related licenses, intellectual property,
upgrades, or packaged solutions sold as services that are designed for or support the use by
health care entities or patients for the electronic creation, maintenance, access, or exchange
of health information.
Electronic Health Record
Systems | Complete OA Prep Guide Questions Verified and
Provided with A+ Graded Rationales Latest Updated 2026
Interoperability
the capability of two or more computer systems to share data and resources, even though
they are made by different manufacturers
AHRQ
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality: clearinghouse of 1500 CPGs with standardized
medical terminology that optimize patient outcomes
CCC
Clinical Care Classification, classification system of nursing diagnoses and interventions for
home health
Change Theory
The study of change in individuals or social systems such as organizations.
Channel
A physical element that carries a message between a sender and a receiver. Examples of
channels are radio waves, fiber optic lines, and paper.
Chaos Theory
The qualitative study of unstable aperiodic behavior in deterministic, nonlinear dynamical
systems
Clinical Informatics
The application of informatics and information technology to deliver healthcare services.
Closed System
A system that is enclosed in an impermeable boundary and does not interact with the
environment.
QI
quality improvement
Complex Adaptive Systems (CAS)
,An entity consisting of many diverse and autonomous parts that are interrelated,
interdependent, linked through many interconnections, and behave as a unified whole in
learning from experience and in adjusting to changes in the environment
Complexity Theory
Complexity theory builds on chaos theory using a qualitative approach to the study of
dynamic nonlinear social systems that change with time and demonstrate complex
relationships.
CPOE (Computerized provider order entry)
A system that automates the way that orders have traditionally been initiated for patients.
Clinicians place orders within these systems instead of using traditional handwritten
transcription onto paper. These systems provide major safeguards by ensuring that physician
orders are legible and complete, thereby providing a level of patient safety that was
historically missing with paper-based orders. They provide decision support and automated
alert functionality that was previously unavailable with paper-based orders.
Computer science
The "systematic study of algorithmic methods for representing and transforming information,
including their theory, design, implementation, application, and efficiency.... The roots of
computer science extend deeply into mathematics and engineering. Mathematics imparts
analysis to the field; engineering imparts design" (University at Buffalo School of Engineering
and Applied Sciences;
Needs Assessment
An assessment of needs of a department or organization using different methods such as
surveys, interviews and report gathering.
Conceptual Framework
A description and explanation of concepts and their relationships and interactions related to a
specific phenomenon. Conceptual frameworks can be used to propose theories and generate
research questions. A conceptual framework can also be used to develop a conceptual model.
Data
Uninterpreted elements such as a person's name, weight, or age. Because they are
uninterpreted, they do not have meaning. Discrete entities that are described objectively
without interpretation
Data integrity
, The accuracy and consistency of stored and transmitted data. Data integrity can be
compromised when information is entered incorrectly or deliberately altered or when the
system protections are not working correctly or suddenly fail.
Data Mining
A step in the knowledge discovery process of finding correlations or patterns among dozens of
fields in large relational databases.
Data Science
The science of extracting knowledge or insights from data in various forms, either structured
or unstructured.
Gap Analysis
A measurement of where a condition, situation or metric is currently and where it needs to
be.
Digital Literacy
The ability to operate and understand digital devices of all types, including the technical skills
to operate these devices, the conceptual knowledge to understand their functionality, and the
ability to creatively and critically use these devices to access, manipulate, evaluate, and apply
data, information, knowledge, and wisdom in activities of daily living.
Information
comes from providing context to data. It is data that has been endowed with meaning and
purpose. Have been interpreted, organized or structured
Information System
The manual and/or automated components of a system of users or people, recorded data,
and actions used to process the data into information for a user, group of users, or an
organization.
Health Information Technology (HIT)
Hardware, software, integrated technologies or related licenses, intellectual property,
upgrades, or packaged solutions sold as services that are designed for or support the use by
health care entities or patients for the electronic creation, maintenance, access, or exchange
of health information.
Electronic Health Record
