introduction to healthcare information technology chapter three desktop it operations

Introduction to Healthcare Information Technology

Chapter ThreeDesktop IT Operations


Objectives

• List the different types of computing resources and computer languages

• Explain how to set up a desktop workstation• List the steps in troubleshooting hardware and

software• Describe how to configure devices

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Healthcare IT: Challenges and Opportunities

• Healthcare industry slow to embrace use of information technology

• Computers and handheld devices– Not pervasive today at local doctor’s offices

• Federal laws accelerating the shift to electronic health records– Target dates for widespread adoption

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Introduction to Healthcare Information Technology 4

IT Overview

• Electronic medical record (EMR)– Electronic version of patient’s paper chart– Contains medical and treatment history

• Advantages of EMRs over paper records– Easily track data over time– Identify patients due for preventive care– Monitor performance of large numbers of patients

• Disadvantage of paper health records– Handwritten format prone to transcription errors– Difficult to distribute information


IT Overview (cont’d.)

• Electronic health record (EHR)– Focuses on total health of the patient– Goes beyond data collected at a doctor’s office– Designed to be shared among a patient’s healthcare

providers• Advantages of EHRs

– Data collected by a primary care provider can inform an emergency department clinician

– Patient can log into own record through the Internet– Clinician’s notes from hospital stay can be used to

create accurate discharge instructions


Types of Computing Resources

• Mainframe computer– Large, powerful, expensive computer– Designed to process large amounts of data quickly– Can support hundreds of users simultaneously

• Dumb computer terminal used to connect to the mainframe

• Mainframes most frequently used in government, financial services, retail, and manufacturing industries

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Types of Computing Resources (cont’d.)

• Network– Anything that resembles a net in how it looks or

functions• Computer network

– Multiple interconnected computers and devices• Client-server computing

– Network controlled by a special high-powered server– Clients: individual computers on the network– Servers service the requests of client computers

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Figure 3-1 Client-server computing

© Cengage Learning 2013

Figure 3-2 Servers in a rack

© corepics/www.Shutterstock.com



• Traditionally, servers requiring different software would be separate physical computers

• New approach: virtualization– More than one server can run on a physical piece of

equipment• Advantage of virtualization

– Reduces cost of purchasing separate computing hardware

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Figure 3-3 Virtualization




• Terminal services– Variation of client-server computing– Software for applications installed on servers– Software accessed through client machines– Client machines do not contain software– Processing carried out on the server

• Advantage of terminal services– Older desktop computers can be used as terminals

• Reduces cost of purchasing high-performance desktop computers

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• Cloud computing– Pay-per-use model– Recent method of access computing resources

online– Accessed using the Internet– Example: storage or computing power accessed “in

the cloud”• Hosted services

– Servers, storage, and support shared by multiple “tenants” (users and organizations)

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Table 3-1 Cloud computing characteristics




• Cloud computing service models– Cloud Software as a Service (SaaS)

• Cloud computing vendor provides access to vendor’s software applications

– Cloud Platform as a Service (PaaS)• Customer can install and run own specialized

applications– Cloud Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)

• Customer can deploy and run customer’s own software, operating systems, and applications

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Programming Languages

• Language used to communicate instructions to computer hardware

• Application programming interface (API)– Instructions for two programs to communicate with

each other

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Programming Languages (cont’d.)

• Common programming languages for Web development– Hypertext Markup Language (HTML)– Extensible Markup Language (XML)– PHP– Active Server Pages (ASP)– Flash– Structured Query Language (SQL)

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Setting up a Desktop Workstation

• Desktop computer workstations– Computing workhorses in healthcare setting

• Healthcare IT professional:– Must understand hardware and software

components

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Parts of a Desktop System

• Desktop hardware– Processing hardware

• Central processing unit (CPU)– Input hardware

• Devices for data entry into the computer• Example: keyboards

– Output hardware• Often connects through a universal serial bus (USB)

connection• Examples: monitor, printer, speakers

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Figure 3-4 Standard desktop computer system

© Dmitry Melnikov/www.Shutterstock.com

Figure 3-5 Motherboard with CPU

© Norman Chan/www.Shutterstock.com


Parts of a Desktop System (cont’d.)

• Types of desktop software– Operating system (OS) software– Utility software– Application software

• OS software– Serves as intermediary between user and computer

hardware– Allocates memory; assigns processes; performs

communications; monitors progress

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Parts of a Desktop System (cont’d.)

• Utility software– Provides additional functionality not found in the core

OS– Typically performs a single task– Example: file synchronization

• Application software– General software used for a variety of different tasks– Examples: word-processing programs,

spreadsheets, database applications

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Installing and Configuring a Workstation

• One of primary duties of a healthcare IT professional

• Standard set of tasks involved– Select the proper location– Unpack the components– Connect the components to the system unit– Create user accounts– Run hardware diagnostic tests– Install updated drivers

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Figure 3-7 Computer connections

© Carolina K. Smith, M.D./www.Shutterstock.com

Table 3-2 Computer components and connections



Installing and Configuring a Workstation (cont’d.)

• Standard set of tasks involved (cont’d.)– Update the operating system– Turn on security protections– Configure power settings– Install software– Create a backup image

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Troubleshooting

• Tracing and correcting problems• Essential skill for healthcare IT technician• Troubleshooting steps

– Identify the problem– Assess different options for solving the problem

• Involves solving hardware and software problems• May involve consulting vendor documentation

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Hardware

• Today’s computer electronics– Modular and low cost– Time rarely spent to attempt to repair faulty

hardware• Troubleshooting tips for printers

– Check power and connections– Update driver– Restart the print spooler– Replace ink or toner

Table 3-3 Troubleshooting a computer monitor


Table 3-4 Troubleshooting a computer mouse



Software

• Software troubleshooting includes installing periodic software updates

• Security patch– General software security update to fix discovered

vulnerabilities• Software update

– Universal software enhancement for all customers• Hotfix

– Software that addresses specific customer situation


Software (cont’d.)

• Service pack– Cumulative package of security updates and

additional features• Patches should be installed in a timely fashion

– Modern operating systems have automatic updates• Drivers should also be updated periodically


Configuring Devices

• Examples of types of devices– Mobile storage devices– Mobile computing devices– Imaging devices


Physical Interfaces

• Point of interaction between a computer and another device

• Port– Connection on computer for attaching an external

device• Parallel port• Serial port• Universal serial bus (USB) interface versions

– USB 1.0, USB 2.0, USB 3.0

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Physical Interfaces (cont’d.)

• IEEE 1394– Transfers bits one at a time at very high speed– Used for high-speed communications between

personal computers and digital audio, video, and automotive applications

• Bluetooth– Wireless technology using short-range radio

frequency transmission– Designed for short distances (up to 33 feet)– Provides for ad hoc device pairings

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Mobile Storage Devices

• External devices that provide additional storage capabilities

• Commonly used to back up or transfer data• Types of mobile storage devices

– Magnetic storage– Optical storage– Solid-state storage

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Mobile Storage Devices (cont’d.)

• Magnetic storage– Oldest storage technology– Examples: internal or external hard disk drives

• Magnetic tape: older type of magnetic storage• Optical storage

– Data recorded on a disk by burning marks into the surface

– Read back by a precisely focused beam of light– Examples: CD, DVD, HD DVD, Blu-ray disc

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Figure 3-11 Portable external hard drive

© Ruslan Ivantsov/www.Shutterstock.com

Figure 3-12 Desktop external hard drive

© Igor Grochev/www.Shutterstock.com


Mobile Storage Devices (cont’d.)

• Solid-state storage– Flash memory used to store data– Example: USB flash drive

• Advantages of solid-state storage– No fragile moving parts– Inexpensive– Small with relatively large storage capacity

• Secure Digital (SD) card– Uses flash memory

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Mobile Devices

• Mobility– Defining characteristic of modern computing

• Tablet PCs– Lightweight touch-screen computing devices– Some use specialized mobile operating systems– Generally do not have a separate keyboard

• Smartphones– Provide Web access and much more– Apps (application software) provide additional

functionality

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Imaging Devices

• Used to capture information and convert to electronic format

• Document scanner• Fax printer• Card/badge scanners• Barcode scanners

– Barcodes can now be read using software• Signature pad

– Captures and stores handwritten signatures• Digital camera

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Installation and Configuration

• Identify proper interface port– BIOS is responsible for enabling and disabling ports

• Install correct drivers– May come on a CD with the hardware device

• Connect device to the proper interface port• Sometimes drivers are installed automatically at

this point• Configure device for use

– Run the software accompanying the device

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Summary

• Electronic medical record: an electronic version of paper charts found in a clinician’s office

• Electronic health records are designed to be shared between providers

• Mainframe computers are designed to process large amounts of data quickly

• In client-server computing, the server provides resources to the individual client computers

• Virtualization allows multiple servers to run on a single physical computer

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Summary (cont’d.)

• Cloud computing is a pay-per-use model for access to computing resources online

• Desktop computers include hardware and software– Types of software include OS, utility, and application

software• Troubleshooting is the process of tracing and

correcting problems• Imaging devices are used to capture information

and convert it to an electronic format

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introduction to healthcare information technology chapter three desktop it operations

Documents

total health

paper recordseasily

timeidentify patients

individual computers

different software

computer languagesexplain

doctors officedesigned

client machinesclient