Canadian Health Information Management Association Practice Exam

What is the function of a clinical decision support system?

1. Enhancing interoperability of systems

2. Supporting clinical decision-making with data

3. Managing electronic health records

4. Facilitating communication between departments

The correct answer is: Supporting clinical decision-making with data

A clinical decision support system (CDSS) is a specific type of health information technology designed to assist healthcare providers in making informed clinical decisions. Its primary function is to integrate and analyze patient data alongside evidence-based guidelines and clinical knowledge to provide actionable recommendations or insights. The focus on supporting clinical decision-making with data means that these systems can present alerts, reminders, diagnostic support, or relevant patient information during the patient care process. By providing tailored information at the point of care, the CDSS enhances the decision-making capabilities of clinicians, ultimately improving patient outcomes and safety. While other systems and processes, such as managing electronic health records or facilitating communication between departments, play important roles in healthcare, they do not specifically focus on the decision-making aspect in the way that a clinical decision support system does. Interoperability of systems is also significant but primarily relates to the ability of different health information systems to communicate and share data effectively, rather than directly supporting clinical decisions.