Health Information Personnel Practice Test

What is a clinical document architecture (CDA)?

1. A type of law governing patient information

2. A standard that specifies the structure and semantics of clinical documents for exchange

3. A guideline for clinical trials

4. A training program for health information managers

The correct answer is: A standard that specifies the structure and semantics of clinical documents for exchange

The choice that identifies clinical document architecture (CDA) as a standard that specifies the structure and semantics of clinical documents for exchange is correct because CDA is an essential part of the Health Level Seven (HL7) standards used in healthcare. CDA provides a framework for the representation of clinical documents, ensuring that they are structured in a consistent manner that facilitates their exchange between different healthcare systems. This standard enables healthcare providers to share patient information effectively and accurately, improving the continuity of care. CDA documents typically include a variety of information, such as patient demographics, allergies, medications, clinical findings, and treatment plans, all formatted in a way that supports interoperability. The focus on both structure (how the information is organized) and semantics (the meaning of the information) ensures that the content can be understood and utilized correctly by various healthcare applications and systems. In contrast, the other options do not accurately reflect the definition of CDA or its purpose in the healthcare industry. Laws governing patient information would refer to legal frameworks such as HIPAA, guidelines for clinical trials do not relate to document structure in healthcare, and training programs for health information managers focus on personnel education rather than standards for document exchange.