Glossary (K - P)

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

For more information on many of these terms see http://www.webopedia.com/ or Delaware Healthcare Association Glossary of Health Care Terms and Acronyms

Keyboard - an input device for a computer that resembles a typewriter keyboard, but with many other keys. The keys on computer keyboards consist of alphanumeric keys (the letters and numbers, punctuation keys, function and control keys, arrow keys, keys to delete, insert and move the insertion point, and shift and caps lock key.

Key field - a field in a database whose data will distinguish that record from all others in the database. E.g. if the medical record number is used as a key field the same record number cannot be used again for another client in that database. The database will always be indexed or sorted on that field. See composite field.

Kilobit - 1000 bits (not bytes!). A bit is 1/8th of a byte.

Kilobits - measure of the speed with which information travels on the Internet

Kilobyte - 1024 bytes. See Byte.

Knowledge -the product of transforming data to information and synthesizing the result with other information. This information can be combined by a human or a computer. One of the core concepts in the data>information>knowledge>wisdom nursing informatics theory.

Knowledge-Based Database - databases that index published literature

Knowledge Discovery (KDD)- The process of finding information from a large electronic database such as electronic health records. Uses data mining.

L1 or level one cache - the memory cache built into a given chip, i.e. it comes with that chip no matter what brand of computer you buy.

L2 or level two cache - Additional memory cache above and beyond what comes with the chip. Will vary from brand to brand and model to model of computers.

Laggard -in Rogers’ Theory of Innovation this denotes individuals who are suspicious and resistant to innovations and change. They perceive their resistance as rationale and must be certain that the innovation will not fail before they can adopt it. This group, instead of being discounted should be listened to. They may grasp weaknesses that others fail to see.

LAN see Local Area Network

Landscape orientation - the name given to paper that has it’s long side on the top and bottom. It is the default orientation in presentation programs. See portrait orientation.

Laptop computer - A small, portable computer that theoretically can be used on a lap. The more common name today is notebook computer.

Late majority - in Rogers’ Theory of Innovation a member of the group who will only adopt an innovation if it is perceived as beneficial.

LCD - acronym for Liquid Crystal Display. A type of display screen often used on latops. It also refers to a panel that is connected to the display output port of a computer and placed on top of an overhead projector to project the image on the computer screen as well as some types of wide screen televisions.

Learning Assessment - a means to determine the level of learning that has occurred. Often done with testing.

Learning-content-management-system (LCMS)- 1) Software that that organizes learning objects such as slides, video clips, illustrations, quiz questions, and even course modules then presents them in infinite combinations to meet instructors needs. 2) Software that combines an LMS with many other features such as course registration, student tracking, e-mail, discussion forums, virtual student work areas, chat, Wikis, and blogs. (Page

Learning-management-system (LMS) -Software that facilitates delivering course content electronically.

Lecture replacement model - the use of a computer slide presentation to replace a synchronous presentation. The slides must stand alone, and must therefore be designed differently than when a presenter is present to answer questions and explain points.

Lecture support model - the use of a computer slide presentation as a support for a synchronous presentation. Slides in this model are used to help the audience focus on the presenter’s message and do not substitute for the message. Unless the notes section is added they are fairly useless as a handout because the information that the presenter adds is missing.

Legacy system - an older computer system that is still in use and needs to be integrated into a newer system.

Light pen - a device used to choose something from a computer screen. The user points the light pen at the desired selection on the screen and clicks the light.

Line chart - a chart in which the numbers are connected in a line. Best to show changes over time. Are different types such as stacked or cumulative.

 

LISP - a third level computer language designed for programming artificial intelligence, it is an acronym for LIST Processor. Was never fully realized.

Listserv - an electronic mailing list whose software forwards all messages to members of a group. Discussions in the group are focused on a specific topic. Was the name of the first software to make these exchanges possible, thus despite the different software no used, electronic mailing lists are often referred to as listservs, even when other software is used to manage the group. Using free software at Google or Yahoo anyone can now create an electronic mailing list.

Link - 1) the name given to areas in a Web document, sometimes referred to as "hot spots," that when clicked will open the file named in the link. Links may also be used in regular application program documents. 2) The term given when an object in one program is linked to an object in another program. When changes are made to the object in either program, they are made to the object in the both programs. See embed. Table 4-1 page 75.

Local Area Network (LAN) - a network of computers that includes computers in a relatively small area such as a department or a single building. LANs can be connected to form a WAN (wide area network).

Logical - the way a user sees things. When a user asks to see data or to retrieve a file, although the data may be located in many different locations (its physical location) it is presented as one piece which is the logical view.

Logical bomb - a program that without the knowledge or permission of the user alters how a computer behaves. It is set to execute its code when a given condition, often a date, is met. Analogous to a time bomb.

Logical Observations: Identifiers, Names, Codes (LOINC) - A standardized terminology developed by the Regensteif Institute in Indianapolis to standardize data for laboratory tests. Now also standardizes assessment data. Recognized by the ANA. See chapter 16 for more information.

Logical structure - the way something looks to the user. For example, a file looks like it is stored in one place when its physical structure is often that parts of it are stored in several different places.

Login - to enter information that allows a network or computer to authenticate you as an approved user. Usually consists of a user ID and a password. May be referred to as logging in. The opposite is to logout.

Login Name - see user Id

LOINC - see Logical Observations: Identifiers, Names, Codes

Look-up List or Table - a predetermined list of entries that will be allowed in a field in a database. The data enterer then selects one of the entries by clicking on it.

LOS - acronym for length of stay used in healthcare institutions.

Lurkers - individuals who belong to a mailing list who read the messages, but do not post. Also refers to those who read the same news group routinely, but do not post.

Machine language - the lowest level of computer languages and the only language understood by computers. All programs are translated to machine language before they will run in a process called compiling. Machine language is binary, that is, it consists of only zeros and ones. Every type of CPU has its own unique machine language making it necessary for different programs to be written for each CPU. The Java language avoids this necessity because it is written to be compiled as it is run while programs in other languages are compiled before they are distributed. See computer languages.

Macro - a small program that automates a function for an application program. Although many of these ship with a program, in many applications users can create their own by either recording keystrokes or writing the commands using the language that the application program provides. For example, if you repeatedly need to place selected text in a redline format you select some text, turn on the macro recording tool, then record your keystrokes as you went through the steps. Then you could edit the tool bar and place the macro on it so you would only need to click it the next time you wished to redline selected text. Or, you could name it using a combination of keys, such as Ctrl+Shift+8 in which case tapping those keys would activate the macro.

Macro virus - a virus that attacks through a macro embedded in a file created with an application program such as a word processing or spreadsheet. Refuse to activate a macro on file received as a file attachment unless you are 100% certain that the macro is not a virus.

Mail merge - a process in word processors in which data from one file that is organized as a database is merged with a form that has places for fields from that data. See page 129.

Mailing list group - a group of people who all receive all postings (email) directed to the group. Groups are organized around specific topics in which all are interested. To become a member, one subscribes to the group (subscriptions are free).

Mainframes - A very large computer that is capable of supporting hundreds, or even thousands, of users simultaneously. These were the original computers. The first ones were huge and generated a tremendous amount of heat resulting in a need for constant cooling. Were usually in climate controlled basements with restricted entry.

Malignant virus - a computer virus that is intended to do harm to a computer. All viruses, even those designed to be benign, can be malignant.

Map - to “match” a term in one standardized terminology with one in another that has essentially the same meaning. Often not an exact match. The terms "mapped" are not to be regarded as synonyms. See the standardized terminology glossary. Generally a term in an interface terminology is mapped to a concept in a reference terminology.

MARC (Machine Readable Cataloging) - A universal record format for bibliographic records.

Markup Language - A computer language that surrounds text with beginning and ending tags, typically set off in angle brackets. HTML and XML are examples.

Mashup -The compounding (“mashing”) of two or more pieces of complementing web functionalities to create a powerful web application. Examples include superimposing epidemiological information on a map.

Master table - in a relational database the table that is the core of the database. It is the table that contains the data around which a report revolves. It is the table that contains one, but never more than one, match for each record in another table. For example, if you build a relational database focusing on clients, the master table will be the demographic data about the client. The child or detail tables will be those that contain other information that will be related back to the demographic table. May also be called the parent table.

Maximized - the term used to describe a program window when it takes up the entire screen. Clicking on a button at the top of the screen, toggles between a window that is maximized, or minimized.

Meaningful Use - A setof criteria in electronic records that must be met by healthcare agencies to gain Medicare or Medicaid incentive payments. They are staged with a given year to meet each of the levels. The goal is to promote electronic records that can interchange data. See meaningful use in chapter 18

MEDLARS - MEDical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System

MEDLINE ® (MEDlars onLINE) - the NLM online database indexing medical journal articles.

MEDLINE - an NLM bibliographic index for medical subjects. It was the first true database for medical literature. Records begin with 1966 journals, with experimental records from 1964 and 1965 now available as OLDMEDLINE.

Megabit - one million bits (not bytes!). A bit is 1/8th of a byte.

Megabits per second - measurement of the speed of the transfer of data. Is equal to 125,000 bytes. Abbreviated Mbit or Mb (note lower case b).

 

Megabyte - one million bytes (See byte.) Abbreviated MB (upper case B). When used as megabyte per second, it is equivalent to 1,000,000 bytes per second.

Megahertz (MHz) - One million hertzes, or one million cycles of electricity through a circuit per second. Often used to measure the clock speed of a processor. More powerful computers measure this in gigahertzes (One billion hertzes). The clock speed determines how often a pulse of electricity “cycles”through the circuits, hence how fast information is processed. The more cycles, the greater the processing speed. One MHz represents one million “cycles” per second, hence a 66 MHz computer processes 66 million cycles per second. A 120 MHZ computer will process 120 million cycles a second. Larger computers now measure speed in gigahertzes.

Megapixel - one million pixels. You will see the term when the resolution of a graphics device such as a scanner or digital camera is discussed.

Megs - abbreviation for megabyte

Memory Stick - a removable flash memory card.

Menu tab - a "tab" on the top of a window which when clicked will reveal other options.

MeSH - Medical Subject Headings. The “controlled vocabulary” terms used to index materials in PubMed and Medline databases, also used by CINAHL.

Meta-Analysis - The process of systematic reviews and analysis of the results of multiple, similar research studies. For more detailed information see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meta_analysis

Meta-searcher - a search tool that searches the index of many search tools and returns sites from all of them. May be helpful for topics for which there is very little information.

MHZ - see megahertz.

Microcomputer - a small computer, intended for one individual. Although it can be networked and serve as a “dumb terminal,” it is also capable of running applications on its own. Microcomputers, depending on their size, can be further divided into desktop computers, laptops, notebooks, palm tops, or handhelds.

Microdata - Non-aggregated data about the units sampled. For surveys of individuals, microdata contain records for each participant.

Microprocessor - A silicon chip that contains a processing unit that controls the device. They come in many sizes from one in a watch to a large computer.

MID - mobile Internet Device

Minicomputer - an old term that designated a computer that was between a microcomputer and a mainframe in size. Today this term is not used much.

Minimize - the term that describes a program window that does not fill the entire screen. When a program is minimized, a user can change the amount of screen real estate that it occupies by dragging the edges with the mouse. Square buttons on the top right of the screen toggle between a window that is minimized and one that is maximized.

Minimum Data Set - a designated set of data, with definitions of the data categories, which will meet the needs of a given group. May or may not include the terms to be used to collect the data.

Mission Critical - services that are vital the existence of the organization such as a financial system.

MMx - This designation for a microprocessor chip indicates that a set of 57 multimedia instructions are built into it. These chips permit the computer into which they are installed to play any software program written to the MMx specification without the addition of a separate sound or video card.

Modem - A device that allows a computer to send data over telephone lines. It is an acronym for Modem-Demodulator. It converts a computer’s digital signal to the analog signal used by telephone lines.

Monitor - the box that contains the screen on which you see computer output. Monitors can be monochrome, gray scale or color. Quality is indicated by the number of times they are “refreshed” each second, that is how many times the screen is redrawn. If the refresh rate is too low, the monitor will flicker. The size of a monitor screen is measured diagonally.

Monoaxial taxonomy - a taxonomy organized around just one concept or axis.

MOOs (Multi-object Oriented ) - a program that creates a virtual environment in which users assume a character and walk about examining objects on their walk. Users will give commands such as go north, the computer will tell the user what s/he sees. If the computer says that the users sees a wallet, the user may again say go north, or may say pick up the wallet. Starting as dungeons and dragons game their use has spread to education. As graphical MOO environments are created they will find more use.

Motherboard - A component of a personal computer that is the main circuit board. Attached to it are the CPU, BIOS, memory, mass storage interfaces, serial and parallel ports, expansion slots, and all the controllers required to control peripheral devices, such as the display screen, keyboard, and disk drive as well as connectors for attaching additional boards. On many PCs it is possible to replace this component to upgrade to a faster computer.

 

Mouse - a peripheral device connected to the computer, that when moved, moves a pointer on the screen. The screen pointer is positioned over a selection at which time the user depresses and releases the left mouse button, a procedure called clicking the mouse. When the left mouse button is held down the selected object can be dragged to another location. (Left handed people can change the mouse to accommodate them.

Moving - in Lewin’s theory of change, the time when equilibrium between driving and restraining forces have been upset and there is a movement. It may be either toward a change or away from it.

MS Windows™ - an operating system from Microsoft. It is a GUI interface using point and click to carry out commands. First introduced in 1985, it was quirky. It was 1990 with the release of Windows 3.1 that this became popular.

Multiaxial taxonomy - a taxonomy that uses terms on more than one axis to create a term describing the phenomenon.

Multi-tasking - in computer terminology, having more than one application open at the same time. This was made possible in PCs with the introduction of the Microsoft Windows Operating System. It also allows users to easily copy information from on program to another.

Multimedia - any combination of hardware and software that integrates text, graphics, video, animation, and sound. Although envisioned very early in the evolution of computers, they were uncommon until the mid 1990's when computing power sufficient to facilitate their use became available at a price affordable by the general public. Due to their large size, they are often distributed on a DVD. First ones were Interactive Video

NANDA - see North American Nursing Diagnoses Association, International

Nanosecond - one billionth (1,000,000,000) of a second, abbreviated ns.

National Database of Nursing Quality Indicators (NDNQI) - a proprietary database of the ANA which collects and evaluates unit-specific nurse-sensitive data from hospitals in the United States who elect to participate. Participating facilities receive unit-level comparative data reports to use for quality improvement purposes.

National Health Information Netword (NHIN) - A proposed framework of integrated communications that will link health improvements and information technologies. It is hoped that it will eventually encompass databases, the written word, audio and video to provide a dynamic web of information to promote healthcare. The objective is to help health care decision makers, providers, and patients in all settings to access health information. Formerly referred to as the

National Health Information Infrastructure (NHII). See Wikipedia

National Institute of Nursing Research a federal agency under the national institutes of health (NIH) and the United States department of health and human services. It funds clinical and basic research as well as research training on health and illness across the life span to support better patient care. The research focus includes health promotion and disease prevention, quality of life, health disparities, and end-of-life.

National Library of Medicine- a governmental institution with the mission of making the knowledge derived from biomedical research accessible to all health professionals.

Natural Language Processing (NPL) - the ability of a computer to locate terms or phrases in free text, or text such as one writes and reads, to find data that can then be structured. For example, natural language processing would find details in a nursing note describing the outcome of a given procedure that could then be placed in a structured format for reporting and other secondary data uses. It is a form of artificial intelligence. The goal is to enable languages such as English and Spanish to be used to enter information into a computer and still preserving the ability to use the data in a structured database manner.

Navigation Bar - A set of buttons or graphic images often in a row or column that provide links to major topic sections on a Web site. May also be an image map. (page 262)

National Provider Identifier - see Unique National Provider Identifier

NCQA - National Committee for Quality Assurance. This is a private, not-for-profit organization founded in 1990 that is dedicated to improving health quality {NCQA Organization, 2007 #1602}. The NCQA seal is a widely recognized symbol of quality. NCQA is a private, 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization dedicated to improving health care quality. Since its founding in 1990, NCQA has been a central figure in driving improvement throughout the health care system, helping to elevate the issue of health care quality to the top of the national agenda.

NCVHS - National Committee of Vital and Health Statistics

NDC - National Drug Code

NDNQI see National Database of Nursing Quality Indicators

Needs Assessment - identification of the expectations or requirements of a proposed system.  In this part of the system life cycle, data and information pertinent to the project goal and scope are put together and translated to the needs for the system. It is imperative that this step be deep and thorough and that work flow be thoroughly analyzed.

Negative tilt - a position of a keyboard in which the top row of keys is lower than the bottom row. The opposite is a positive tilt in which the bottom row is lower than the top row. Typewriters has a positive tilt, an ergonomically incorrect wrist position, that was designed into computer keyboards with the use of extendible legs at the far end of the keyboard. When a keyboard is positioned properly these legs are not extended and a small object such as a wrist rest is used to raise the near end of the keyboard.

Net neutrality - the principle that all Internet users should be treated equally in terms of downloading information whether it is a small file, or a large one. This principle has been in effect since the start of the Internet and has led to its phenomenal growth. To alleviate the traffic jams that are developing on the Internet, broadband carriers want to determine which content is delivered the fastest thus altering the principle.

Network - an connection of computer hardware and software that allows communication between computers.

Network Model Database - a database model that improved on the hierarchical database model by making it possible for relationships to exist between levels.

News group - See Usenet News

NHII - National Health Information Infrastructure

NIC - see Nursing Intervention Classification

NIDSEC - see Nursing Information and Data Set Evaluation Center

NIH - National Institute of Health

NII - National Information Infrastructure - see information superhighway

NIWG - Nursing Informatics Working Group (from AMIA).

NILT - see Nursing Intervention Lexicon and Taxonomy

NINR - see National Institute of Nursing Research

NLM -see National Library of Medicine

NLN - National League for Nursing

NMDS - Nursing Minimum Data Set. A list of 16 pieces of data that if collected on all patients cared for by nurses would make possible the comparison of data from different settings and different regions. It is composed of elements in three categories, nursing care, client demographics and service.

NMMDS - Nursing Management Minimum Data Set. A modification of the NMDS for nurses in management.

NNN - a term sometimes used to designate a combination of NANDA, NIC and NOC.

NOC - see Nursing Outcomes Classification

Nodes - 1) a computer that is connected to a network. 2) a piece of hardware that sends wireless signals. Often used to repeat signals so the wireless network can be accessed in different areas.

Non-interlaced - a monitor that is not interlaced. See interlaced

Normalized - a database in which there is no duplication of data. The process of arriving at this design is called normalization. Accomplishing this usually involves creating two or more tables related by at least one common field.

North American Nursing Diagnoses Association, International (NANDA) A standardized terminology recognized by the ANA for nursing diagnoses. To capture nursing interventions and nursing outcomes, requires the use of NIC for nursing interventions and NOC for outcomes. See chapter 16 for more information.

Nosology - the science of systematically classifying diseases.

 

Notebook computer - a microcomputer that is small enough to fit into a briefcase.

NSF - National Science Foundation

NSFNET - National Science Foundation Network Nursing informatics - a subspecialty in healthcare informatics and nursing that focuses on defining, acquiring, manipulating, storing, and retrieving data that is essential in providing safe and quality nursing care.

Nurse Licensure Compact - a feature from the National Council of State Boards which allows a nurse licensed in a participating state to practice in another IF the nurse follows the state laws regulating nursing in that state. See NCSBN

Nursing Intervention Lexicon and Taxonomy (NILT)- a system developed by Dr. Susan Grobe and colleagues that was to permit the computerization of the natural language that nurses use to describe nursing interventions.

Nursing informatics - the management of nursing data based on a combination of the fields of information science, computer science and nursing science.

Nursing Information and Data Set Evaluation Center. An ANA committee that was organized to evaluate the use of nursing terminologies recognized by the ANA CNPII committee in vendor products. This committee does NOT recognize standardized terminologies, this is done by the CNPII. The committee is currently inactive.

Nursing Informatics Working Group (NIWG). Nursing working group in AMIA

Nursing Intervention Classification (NIC) - an classification scheme for standardizing the language for nursing interventions. Recognized by the ANA. See Chapter 16

Nursing Knowledge - the scientific knowledge that supports the practice of nursing.

NMDS - see Nursing Minimum Data Set

Nursing Management Minimum Data Set (NMMDS) - a modification of the NMDS for nurses in management.

Nursing Minimum Data Set (NMDS)- the minimum set of nursing data necessary to compare nursing data across different settings and geographical areas.

Nursing Outcomes Classification (NOC) - a classification scheme that standardizes the language for nursing outcomes. Recognized by the ANA

Object - To a computer, any entity that it can manipulate. In word processing this can include items such as a letter, word, sentence, paragraph, picture, part of a document or the entire document. In graphical programs an object is the item selected which can be an image, part of an image, everything on the screen, or text. In a spreadsheet, an object is a cell, group of cells, chart, or anything selected on the screen. Databases regard individual entries, fields, records, and the various parts and wholes such as tables, forms and reports that display data as objects. Objects can be nested, that is a word can be an object nested within a sentence object which can be nested within a paragraph object. Treating things as objects allows properties to be applied to an entire piece rather than having to apply them to each piece of an object.

OCLC - Online Computer Library Center, Inc. - a nonprofit, membership, library computer service and research organization dedicated to the public purposes of furthering access to the world’s information and reducing information costs. It maintains a database of the cataloging records for all its member libraries, which serves as the foundation for interlibrary resource sharing between member libraries.

OCR - see optical character recognition

 

Office suite - a group of desktop application programs consisting of a word processor, spreadsheet, and presentation package from one vendor that are designed to work well together. Relational databases may be included in the professional version, or as a generic part of the package. Other programs are often bundled with these.

Omaha System - The Omaha System is a standardized nursing terminology for computerizing nursing problems, interventions and outcomes for community based practice. Is in the public domain. Recognized by ANA. See chapter 16 for more information.

Online - directly connected to a computer, for example a printer is online when ready to receive information to print. Also used to signify a connection between a computer and another computer or network, or to describe the condition when a computer is connected to the Internet.

Online Analytic Processing - a sophisticated process of analyzing a relational database.

Online documentation - information helpful in learning how to perform a function in a computer program that is available by clicking on help on the menu line (or in non-graphics programs, by tapping a given key).

Online journal - a term too often used to denote any journal with a Web presence. This presence may be only an advertisement, or may include a table of contents and even a few articles. A true online journal is published only on the Web and features full text articles.

Ontology - A formal description of the concepts and relationships in a domain. In more pragmatic terms, when an ontology is developed for a given domain it defines the vocabulary used in queries and assertions. A commitment to a common ontology guarantees consistency, but not completeness.

OPAC - Online Public Access Catalog

Operating System -The most important program on a computer. It performs tasks such as recognizing keyboard input, sending output to the screen, locating files and controlling peripherals such as disk drives and the printer. All programs run “on top of” the operating system. PCs generally use Windows (XP, Vista or Windows 7) operating system or an open source program Linux. The Apple Mac uses different operating systems which is why programs that work on a PC do not work on an Apple Mac and vice versa. The Apple Mac may be capable of using both Windows and an Apple Mac operating system.

Open source software - software for which the code is made available free of charge with the thought that many different programmers will improve the code and make the program more useful.

 

Optical character recognition (OCR) - the process that converts print to a computerized form that can be manipulated by a computer. It requires software which identifies the individual image of each character and translates it to an keyboard character. Few are 100% accurate and a good proofing of the result is usually necessary.

Optical disks - A secondary storage medium in which data is read and written using a laser. They can store huge amounts of data, measured in gigabytes.

Outcomes Potentially Sensitive to Nursing (OPSN) - A medical diagnosis such as a urinary tract infection that is an “outcome potentially sensitive to nursing” and is thought to be due to poor nursing care. When medicine does the measurement it is often uses as a measure of the contributions of nurses in providing inpatient care . More accurate predictions can be obtained with the use of the nursing standardized terminologies

Outline feature - a feature in word processors that will automatically “number” and renumber lines or paragraphs when one is moved. Regular text can be written below each outline point.

Output - 1) in general systems theory, information or results from the processing of data. In a computer system, the output from data that has been entered, stored, manipulated, and presented by the computer; 2) in computers, anything that results from input. Output can be meaningful information or gibberish, and can appear in a variety of forms, including numbers, characters, pictures, or a printed page.

Outdented paragraph - see hanging paragraph.

Overtype - when text that is entered replaces the existing text in that space. The opposite is the insert mode

Page Break - where a new page starts in a word processor. This is done automatically by word processors, or it can be created by tapping Ctrl+Enter. NEVER create a new page by using the Enter key. It produces the same problems that you would encounter if you created a new paragraph by tapping the space bar, namely rendering editing a tedious, practically impossible process.

Page Description Format (pdf) - a type of file that can be downloaded from the Web. They preserve a print format which makes them ideal for things like journal articles. Originally an Adobe proprietary standard and able to be viewed only with Adobe Acrobat Reader in 2008, Adobe released this as an open standard on July 1, 2008, and published by the International Organization for Standardization as ISO 32000-1:2008. Many other free readers are now available. Caution, always scan any "free" downloads with an antivirus program before installing.

Page orientation - a distinction between whether a page has the long side horizontally (landscape) or vertically (portrait). Changing this is often found in a page setup menu under orientation (Word) Design page orientation (power point).

Palm Operating System - a proprietary operating system used on the Palm PDA.

Parallel Conversion - a method of converting to a new system that requires the operation and support of the new and the old system for a period of time.  It involves the least risks but increases workload for the users.

Parallel port - a connection on older computers used to connect peripherals to a computer. Printers often used this connection. Technically the connection on the cable was a BD-25 and had 25 pins. Replaced today by USB (Universal Serial Bus) ports.

Parent table - see master table

Pascal - a high level computer language named for Blaise Pascal.

Passive RFID - see RFID

Password - a combination of upper and lower case letters and numbers used to authenticate a user to a system. The best passwords involve a combination of letters and numbers in a manner that a word is not formed. E.g. “Sec9u$7i*y.”

Path name - the full name of the path to a file or folder. It starts with the name of the disk and a colon and a backward slash. For example, the path name of a file named Issues that was created by Corel Word Perfect ™ saved on the A drive would be “a:\Issues.wpd.”

Patient Care Data Set - a data dictionary developed by Dr. Judy Ozbolt and colleagues for clinical terms used in acute care settings by nurses and other non-physician health care disciplines that was to be used to record patient problems, patient care actions, and expected patient outcomes. Has been retired.

Patient Classification Systems - software that groups patients according to the amount and complexity of their nursing care requirements. It serves as a tool to measure patient needs, caregiver interventions, and the skill levels required to meet those needs.

Patient Portal - A portal specific to an individualize that is tied to the patient’s electronic health record. A patient portal may only offer one way communication to a patient, but the information will be specific to that patient. For example, prenatal information would be targeted by the month or week of pregnancy.

PCDS - see Patient Care Data Set. A retired standardized nursing terminology.

PDA see Personal Digital assistant

PDF - see page description format

Peer-Reviewed Article - an article published in a journal that submits manuscripts to colleagues knowledgeable in the field for review before publication. Reviewers are suppose to evaluate the manuscript for factual knowledge and make recommendations about whether the manuscript needs revision, or should not be published at all. Most articles subjected to this process are vastly improved by the suggestions of the peer reviewers and resulting author revisions.

Peer-to-peer network - a peer-to-peer (P2P) network is created when two or more PCs are connected and share resources without going through a separate server computer.

Peer-Reviewed Article - one that has been subjected to a review by peers before publication.

Perioperative Nursing Data Set (PNDS) - A standardized nursing terminology recognized by the ANA that was developed and is maintained by the American Operating Room Nurses. It was developed to make visible the contributions of nurses in the operating room. It has since evolved to encompass the entire peri-operative period. See chapter 16 for more information.

Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) - a small hand held device that combines computing, telephone/fax, and networking features. In the past most used a stylus rather than a keyboard for inputting data or a graphical shorthand. Today folding keyboards are available for them. Besides providing personal information management capabilities, new ones provide access to reference tools, electronic textbooks, and clinical computational programs. They can exchange data (synchronize) with notebooks and desktops. (See http://webopedia.com/TERM/P/PDA.html for more information)

PDF file. See portable document format.

Personal health record (PHR)- a compilation of healthcare information from many sources for a consumer. This system is suppose to allow a person to access all their electronic health records from any location. The owner of the PHR will determine who can see what part of their record. Some healthcare agencies now provide these for patients, but they only contain information from within their agency. A full PHR will require that healthcare providers and agencies have electronic medical records and that are part of an Electronic Health Record system.

Personal identifier - See unique personal identifier

Personal information manager (PIM) - The category is fuzzy, but PIM is a type of software designed to facilitate the management of personal information such as addresses or dates. Some are capable of accepting notes such as reminders, lists, dates and to link these bits of information together in useful ways. May also include calendar, scheduling, and a calculator. Often software on a PDA.

Personal Reference Manager - software that automates the management, indexing, and use of references in scholarly articles. It can place citations of its contents in text, and create a reference list. The two most popular are End Note and Reference Manager. If making a decision see which one your library supports. There are student versions of both. For free ones and a comparison of all.

Peripheral- An external device attached to a computer. Examples of peripherals include printers, zip or jaz drives, scanners, display monitors, keyboards, and mice.

Personal bibliographic reference managers - a software program that facilitates downloading the results of bibliographic searches for the purpose of developing your own searchable personal bibliographic databases. They usually includes the standard bibliographic fields, plus a notes field for adding comments. They also allow you to output bibliographies formatted according to the needed publication format, such as APA or MLA Style Some now permit the additions of WWW sites to the database.

Personal Computer (PC). A computer designed for an individual user. Compared to mainframes and minicomputers they are relatively inexpensive. Prices range from $500 to over $5000 depending on the processor, amount of RAM and other add-ons.

 

Petabyte - more than 1,000,000,000,000,000 bytes (See Byte)

Piconet - (off site)

Pick List - a list of terms that a user selects from when entering data. In databases this is achieved by creating look-up tables.

Pilot Conversion - a method of converting to a new system by implementing on a small scale to ‘test the waters’ to see what issues might occur with a full conversion. The conversion would involve only one unit at a time. It is imperative that a date be set for the end of the pilot.

PIM - personal information manager

PITAC - President’s Information Technology Advisory Committee. This committee was disbanded in 2005.

President Bush has let an advisory committee on information technology expire without reappointing current members or selecting new ones.

Phased Conversion - a method of bringing up a new information system gradually. This type of conversion is done incrementally with several alternative approaches such as implementing one component of the system to a group of departments of throughout the organization.

Pharming - - hacking into a DNS router by malicious people and changing the IP address for legitimate Web sites to one that pretends to be the real site. Users being unaware that they are not at the legitimate site may enter personal information that is used maliciously.

Phishing - a trick used to entice people to access a Web site designed to look like a legitimate site and enter information that can be used to steal identities, bank accounts or use credit cards not their own. These URLs will be embedded into an email message; the address looks legitimate, but if you check the lower left corner of the screen while your mouse pointer is on the supposed URL, you will see where you will actually be taken if you click on the URL.

Physical - the way things actually are. For example, data may be stored physically in many different files, its physical view, but brought together in one location for viewing by a user. The latter is the logical view of the data.

Physician Quality Report Initiative (PQRI) - a U.S. federal mandate authorized in December 2006 with the Tax Relief and Health Care Act of 2006 whose purpose is to provide financial incentives to fee-for-service care providers for cost effective high quality care. Run by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).

Piconet - "A network of devices connected in an ad hoc fashion using Bluetooth technology. A piconet is formed when at least two devices, such as a portable PC and a cellular phone, connect. A piconet can support up to eight devices. When a piconet is formed, one device acts as the master while the others act as slaves for the duration of the piconet connection. A piconet is sometimes called a PAN." From http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/P/piconet.html

Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS) - a system that allows for digital versions of all of the diagnostic images, such as x-rays and MRI’s to be stored in the electronic patient record.

Pie chart - a circle chart that compares percentages.

PIM - see personal information manager

Pixel - a term that means picture element. A pixel is the smallest part of a computer image. A screen image is made up of many vertical and horizontal pixels which are often referred to as dots, although they are square. The more pixels in a given space, the smaller the pixel and hence the better the image. The number of pixels that a monitor is capable of displaying is its resolution. Because images on a screen are created by vertical and horizontal dots, a circle on a screen may not be seen as completely round when the size of the pixels used to create the circle is not large enough to fool the eye into seeing a round shape.

Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS) - An Internet connection that is used by dialing the number of the Internet Service Provider. POTS lines are restricted to a transfer rate of 56.6 kilobits per second to the computer (about 700 characters per second). May be referred to as dial-up. In many metropolitan areas is being replace by broadband connections.

Plotter - A device that is interfaced with a computer and draws (plots) pictures on paper based on commands a user gives the computer usually through a computer aided design (CAD) program.

Plug and play - the ability to attach a device to a computer and have it work without the hassle of changing settings because this is accomplished automatically by the computer. Plug-in - hardware or software that adds a feature to another system. Often used to denote helper applications for web browsers, for example, to read PDF files requires a plug-in known as the Adobe Acrobat Reader. Some moving pictures also require plug-ins before they are usable. Other plug-ins include Real Player, Apple Quick Time or Shockwave. All can be downloaded from the Internet for free. When properly set up, a plug-in automatically starts operating when it is needed.

Plug-in - a computer program that interacts with another program, usually a Web browser to allow content to be seen. Examples are Abobe Acrobat Reader™ and Adobe Flash Player™. These programs are usually freely available for download on the Web.

PNDS - see perioperative nursing data set.

Podcast - a digital audio file made available on the Web. These files are downloaded, and can be played with special software on a computer such as Microsoft’s Windows Media Player®, or another piece of hardware such as an MP3 player. Although technically only audio, this term has erroneously started to be used to include vodcasts, or digital video downloads that are played the same way as a podcast. See vodcast.

Podcatching Software - software that allows a user to to play podcasts on their computer. This may be an MP3 player, Microsoft Windows Media Player®,or with VOIP by dialing a number.

Point and Click - the process of moving a mouse pointer to a desired command and clicking (rapidly depressing and releasing) the left mouse button to select that command. Left handers can reset the mouse for their convenience.

Point size - size a character of text will be when printed. A point is about 1/72nd of an inch. The most commonly used point size in computer documents is 10 or 12 points. Transparencies should never have a point size less than 18 points and the point size on computer or 35 mm slides should be 24 points or more.

Point of Care (POC) - the place where the care is done. The best way to capture data is at the point of care, that is, input devices of some sort should be available to care givers at the scene of the care.

POMR - see Problem Oriented Medical Record

POP - see Post Office Protocol

Pop-up window - a menu that “pops up” when an object is selected and a button clicked (On a PC this is the right mouse button.). They may also appear when a selection on a menu followed by an ellipsis (...) is clicked. May be a dialog box. Also a window that appears in a Web browser. Often shows an advertisement. For this reason, pop-up windows in Web applications have acquired a bad reputation and software is available to block these.

Port - a connector on a computer that can be used to connect a cable to another device. Ports can be serial or parallel, USB (universal serial bus) or Firewire. Also a term used to denote a physical device for transmitting data over networks.

Portable Document Format (PDF) - a type of open file format that is read by special readers. Originally an Adobe file format, in 2008 Adobe released it as an open access file. Today there are many different "PDF file" readers.

Portable Monitoring Device - 1) a portable input device that can be worn or insertable subcutaneously into the patient's body to measure physiological values. 2) an input device that is attached to a variety of peripheral monitoring equipment such as sphygmomanometer. This device transmits the values to a central location. 3) A touch screen with text and audio to ask the patient health assessment questions. Answers may produce education tailored to the answers.

Portal - any web site that offers a wide array of resources and services such as email, forums, a search tool, and links to useful sites. It is the blending of all Internet tools into one useful service. Generally a portal is targeted at a specific population such as professionals in a discipline, healthcare consumers with a specific medical condition, those looking for either general or specific health information, or shoppers for specific products such as baby products. (Chapter 15)

Portrait orientation - the term given to the position of paper when the narrow sides are on the top and bottom. This is the default layout for word processors. See landscape orientation.

Positive Patient Identifier (PPID) - a method of positively identifying a patient, often with bar-coded or RFID tagged bracelets used with the eMar for “closed-loop” safe medication administration

Post Office Protocol (POP) - a standard protocol for receiving e-mail. It is a client/server protocol in which e-mail is received and held for you by your Internet server.

Presentation Program - A software program that simplifies the creation of visuals. Modern ones today permit the use of animation, or the ability to select a given slide at the whim of the presenter during a presentation

Pre-coordindated term - a term created from different terms in an axis in a standardized terminology that can easily be mapped back to to the terminology from which it originated, but which is useful by itself. Often used to create an interface terminology from a reference terminology.

Post-coordinated term - a term created by a documenter from different terms in an axis in a standardized terminology that can be mapped back to to the terminology from which it originated.

POTS - see plain old telephone service

PPID - see Positive Patient Identifier

PQRI - see Physician Quality Report Initiative

Process interoperability - the ability of work processes to be coordinated. Includes considerations such as a user-friendly systems and effective use.

Project goal - a succinct statement that describes the project which is specific and measurable.

Project scope - a detailed plan of all of the elements that are entailed in a project. Budget and time overruns occur when there is scope creep.

Progressive disclosure - the revealing of points on a slide or overhead, one at a time to coincide with the oral presentation. Presentation programs make this easy to accomplish.

Primary data use - using data for the purpose that it was collected.

Print Screen Key - a key that when tapped will place a picture of the entire screen on the clipboard from where it can be pasted into any application that will accept a graphical object.

Printed circuit board - a thin, rectangular plate, often called a card, on which chips and other electronic components are placed. There are many different types such as a motherboard, an expansion board and a network card.

Printer - a device that prints output from a computer. There are many different brands, each of which requires a specific driver to properly operate. (See driver)

Privacy -The rights of individual people to decide when, where, and how information about themselves will be communicated to others. The prevention of disclosure of information from a patient. See page 361 in Chapter 20.

Privacy Rights Clearinghouse - A nonprofit consumer education and advocacy project whose purpose is to advocate for consumers' privacy rights in public policy proceedings. They also maintain an online record of all types of security breaches.

PRO - Professional Review Organization

Process Improvement - the application of actions taken to identify, analyze and improve existing processes within an organization to meet requirements for quality, customer satisfaction, and financial goals.

Process interoperability - the coordination of work processes. It has been referred to as workflow management and is related to integrating computer systems into work settings. It includes such considerations as a user-friendly system and effectiveness in actual use.

Problem Oriented Medical Record (POMR) - a multi-disciplinary medical record that is organized by the client’s problems with all disciplines charting in the same place for each problem. Most patient records today are organized by discipline.

Programmer - an individual who writes the code that creates software applications.

Programming languages - see computer languages

Prolog - a third level computer language used in expert systems and artificial intelligence.

PROMIS - a computer system devised by Dr. Larry Weed and associates at the University of Vermont in the late 1960's and early 1970's. Problem Oriented Medical Information System

PPRC - Physician Payment Reform Commission.

Properties - features of an object (word, picture, document) that can be applied to that object. Some examples for a letter or word are color, size, font, while those for a page are margins, layout (portrait or landscape), and those for a graphic include the size, and its position in a document. In databases and spreadsheets, besides properties for words etc. the properties include behaviors, or programmed actions that will be taken under specific situations. A list of available properties is often seen when a user right clicks on the object.

Protocol - an agreed upon format for a procedure. In computer terminology it often refers to methods for exchanging data between two devices. It includes standards for the type of error checking, data compression if used, how the originating machine will indicate that it has completed sending, and how the receiving machine will indicate that it has received the message.

Public domain software - software that is freely available and is NOT copyrighted, thus can be used without restrictions.

Pull - The usual WWW technology in which users request information such as a Web page. See push. 

Push - a method used in client/server applications of delivering computerized information. Under this system recipients give the sender guidelines for the types of information which they want forwarded to them. When information meets the guidelines it is automatically sent to the individual. Push may be very selective in the guidelines that a user specifies, or broad such as used by the broadcast media in which they decide what to broadcast, or push to listeners and viewers. See pull.

Created December 18, 2011