This course provides an in-depth exploration of foundational health informatics and its critical role in modern healthcare. Participants will analyze the historical development and scope of health informatics, emphasizing the importance of data-driven decision-making in enhancing patient care and safety. The course will cover the significance of interoperability in electronic health records (EHRs) and clinical systems, as well as the evolution of major EHR vendors and platforms. Learners will evaluate the challenges of adopting standardized systems and the impact of EHR evolution on clinical workflows and outcomes. Additionally, the course will identify key stakeholders in the healthcare marketplace and explain how market and regulatory dynamics influence informatics adoption. Finally, participants will define and differentiate major terminologies and ontologies, and analyze the role of standardized vocabularies in supporting interoperability.