Nursing Informatics Practice Exam

Which type of system in healthcare is designed to support patient care activities directly?

1. Communication Systems

2. Order Entry Systems

3. Patient Care Support Systems

4. Report Management Systems

The correct answer is: Patient Care Support Systems

Patient Care Support Systems are specifically designed to directly support patient care activities. These systems include electronic health records (EHRs), clinical decision support systems, medication administration systems, and nursing documentation systems. These tools are essential for healthcare providers to deliver safe and effective care to their patients by providing access to critical patient information, supporting clinical decision-making, and streamlining care processes. Communication Systems (option A) are primarily focused on facilitating communication between healthcare team members, such as messaging platforms and telecommunication systems. Order Entry Systems (option B) are designed for providers to enter and manage orders for medications, treatments, and procedures but may not directly support patient care activities. Report Management Systems (option D) are used for organizing and managing clinical data and generating reports but do not typically support patient care activities in the same way as Patient Care Support Systems.