1-What is the utility of a linear model of patient care as the basis for a decision-support system? What are two primary limitations? Discuss two challenges that a nonlinear model poses for representing and supporting the care process in an information system?

2. Compare and contrast “segregated” versus “integrated” models of interdisciplinarypatient care. What are the advantages and disadvantages of each model as a mode ofcare delivery? As the basis for developing information systems to plan, document,and support patient care?

3. Imagine a patient-care information system that assists in planning the care of eachpatient independently of all the other patients in a service center or patient-care unit.What are three advantages to the developer in choosing such an information architecture?What would be the likely result in the real world of practice? Does it make adifference whether the practice setting is hospital, ambulatory care, or home care?What would be the simplest information architecture that would be sufficientlycomplex to handle real-world demands? Explain.

4. A number of patient-care information systems designed in the 1970s are still in use.How do the practice models, payer models, and quality focus of today differ fromthose of the past? What differences do these changes require in information systems?What are two advantages and two disadvantages of “retrofitting” these changes onolder systems versus designing new systems “from scratch”?