CHTS Workflow and Info Management Practice Exam 2025 – Comprehensive Prep Guide

Metadata refers to data about other data, providing context and information that helps in understanding the primary data's characteristics, purpose, and structure. It serves to describe the content, source, creation date, and structure of the data, making it easier to manage, retrieve, and utilize. For example, in a healthcare setting, metadata might include information about a patient record, such as the date of entry, the data creator, and categories of the information contained within the record. This additional layer of information is crucial for effective data organization and usage, particularly in complex environments like healthcare.

Other options present data types or characteristics that don't capture the essence of what metadata is. Personal information or data from external databases do not inform about the structure or context of the data itself. Similarly, data that is not accessible does not define metadata but rather highlights an issue related to data availability. Hence, understanding metadata as data about other data allows for better data governance and management practices in healthcare technology.