ABSTRACT
To act in the world we need to make decisions, and to make decisions we must have infor-mation that helps us choose one course of action over another. In this chapter, a basic framework will be presented that defines what is meant by information. Whether delivered in conversation, captured in a set of handwritten notes, or stored in the memory of a computer, the same basic principles govern the way information is structured and used. The ideas presented here will build upon the work on models presented in the previous chapter. The simple way that models, data and information interrelate will then be unfolded. At this point it should become apparent that models and information underpin not just the specialized study of informatics, but also every aspect of medicine and the delivery of healthcare.
