In health informatics, what does an ontology provide?

An ontology in health informatics offers a formal description of a domain, which includes the concepts, categories, and their relationships within that specific field. This structured framework helps in organizing information systematically, allowing for better data sharing, integration, and retrieval across different health information systems. By defining terms and their interrelations, an ontology supports consistent communication and understanding among health informatics professionals, researchers, and systems.

In contrast, financial analyses, clinical guidelines, and patient record databases do not provide this structured conceptual framework. While financial analyses focus on economic aspects, clinical guidelines offer protocols for patient care, and databases compile patient information, none of these fulfill the role of establishing a formalized understanding of the relationships and definitions within a specific healthcare domain as an ontology does.