AHE 233 Introduction to Health Informatics Course Syllabus

 

Instructor:  Loretta Ryan

Office: Instruction Building 2406D  

Office Hours: By Appointment and Tuesday 1pm -3pm

Telephone:  (206) 528-4566

E-mail: lryan@sccd.ctc.edu

Web Site:  http://facweb.northseattle.edu/lryan/    

Course Overview  

This course will introduce Health Informatics including definitions, theory, technologies, workflow and expectations in the informatics field, tools, and professional organizations.  As I have been a Clinician for over 20 years, and working in Information Technology for over 10 years with a wide range of experience in both IT and in the Healthcare Industry (ranging from Home Health to ICU/CCU, from Helpdesk to Clinical IT Specialist) I understand this first hand.  Class material will involve discussions, computer lab, and guest speakers.  

Required Textbook(s):  Englebardt, Sheila, Nelson, Ramona (2002) Health Care Informatics An Interdisciplinary Approach, Mosby

Recommended Textbook(s): I will suggest web sites, manuals, and books for research and class assignments.

I will suggest web sites, manuals, and books for research and class assignments.

Required Materials and Aids: CL cost

Course Outline:   

Week 1:  Major Theories and Healthcare Informatics Literacy

Week 2:  Databases

Week 3:  Supporting Administrative and Clinical Decision Making

Week 4:  Structure and Application of HIS

Week 5:  Strategic Planning and Life Cycle of HIS

Week 6:  Communication, Technology, and Education

Week 7:  :  eHealth Trends and Research

Week 8:  Impact of Informatics

Week 9:  Technical and Professional Informatics Standards

Week 10:  Accreditation and PHI

Week 11:  Future and Directions of Informatics

  

COURSE GRADING  

As course instructor, I believe that my role is to create an exciting learning experience that will help you learn and achieve the outcome goals of this class, to clearly communicate my expectations, and to be responsive to individual learning styles and needs.  It is my expectation that the student will assume responsibility for their learning by completing assignments, actively participating in class sessions and clearly communicating needs to me. You are responsible for attendance. Missed lecture and lab material may be obtained from your class members.  Any behavior deemed by the instructor to be disruptive to the class may be cause for dismissal under the provisions of the Student Code of Conduct.  

 Upon successful completion of this course, you will be able to:  

  1. Define Health Information Systems and explain what the two main categories.
  2. Explain Clinical Information Systems and Administrative Information Systems.
  3. Identify the different reporting systems.
  4. Define and identify differences in databases. 
  5. Define security profiles and administrative functions. 
  6. Explain the differences between Integrated Systems and Modular Systems
  7. Define Interfaces and explain the function of an interface.
  8. Identify the differences between Home Health and Hospice Software, Maternal Infants, and Electronic Medical Records Practice Management for Physician Offices and Clinics
  9. List different functions of Imagining and Service Desk software

There will be two examinations (a Mid Term and a Final), eleven weekly assignment (you will be able to either drop one assignment or do all eleven and earn extra credit), and one in class project that will involve weekly labs.  This project is 200pts, 50 pts will be from class participation, 50 points from peer evaluation, and 100 points instructor evaluation. There is a weekly reading assignment at the end of this syllabus – please come to class prepared each week! Both Mid Term and Final will have questions based on YOUR READING!

Extra Credit will be available upon request from the instructor.

 Your final grade will be calculated as follows:                                                      

Weekly Assignments                                                                    100pts

Class Project:                                                                               200pt              

Mid Term/ Final                                                                             100pts

 

Decimal grade                           Letter grade equivalent 

4.0 - 3.9                                                     A

3.8 - 3.5                                                     A-

3.4 - 3.2                                                     B+

3.1 - 2.9                                                     B

2.8 - 2.5                                                     B-

2.4 - 2.2                                                     C+

2.1 - 1.9                                                     C

1.8 - 1.5                                                     C-

1.4 - 1.2                                                     D+

1.1 - 0.9                                                     D

0.8 - 0.7                                                     D-

 

NOTE:  The last day to change audit/credit status is Friday, May 23.  If you have stopped attending class but have not officially withdrawn or changed to audit by that date, your grade will be 0.0.

CLASSROOM POLICIES  

Guidelines for Student Conduct: 

You are expected to comply with student conduct policy and procedures. Information on student responsibilities and rights is available at the following website: www.seattlecolleges.com/services

Cell Phone Etiquette: To avoid disruption of class, please either turn off your cell phone or put it on silence/vibrate. 

Academic Honesty: (plagiarism, exam conduct, etc.) Academic honesty is highly valued at NSCC. You must always submit work that represents your original words or ideas. If any words or ideas are used that do not represent your original words or ideas, please cite all relevant sources both in the text and in the references listing at the end of the paper.

Absence: If you anticipate being absent from class when you need to turn in an assignment, project, or take exams, you are STRONGLY encouraged to notify me in advance. Repeated absence may interfere with your work and result in a lower grade. Make-up examinations will not be given and you will need to discuss alternatives with me.

STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES

Students are encouraged to seek campus support services when necessary to support their learning and academic progress. Refer to student handbook, brochures/flyers, or college website for information about:  http://www.northseattle.edu/services/

Educational Access Office (accommodations)

Disability Accommodations

Tutoring Services

Library

LOFT Writing Center

            Counseling

Women’s Center

Multicultural Services Office

            Wellness Center

Classroom Diversity Statement: Respect for diversity is a core value of NSCC. Our college community fosters an optimal learning climate and an environment of mutual respect.  We, the college community, recognize individual differences.  Therefore, we are responsible for the content and tone of our statements and are empathetic speakers and listeners.  

American Disability Act:  If you need course adaptations or accommodation because of a disability; if you have emergency information to share with your instructor; or if you need special arrangements in case the building must be evacuated; please make an appointment with your instruction as soon as possible

 

Reading Assignment

Week One – Chapter 1 and 2

Week Two – Chapter 3

Week Three – Chapter 4 and 5

Week Four – Chapter 6 and 7

Week Five – Chapter 8 and 9

Week Six – Chapter 11 and 12

Week Seven – Chapter 13 and 16

Week Eight – Chapter 14

Week Nine – Chapter 17 and 18

Week Ten – Chapter 19 and 20

Week Eleven – Chapter 22 and 23 

Weekly Assignment 

Week One:  Draw a model of your definition of informatics in your discipline. Check out these Web sites for some examples:

  1. An Overview of Nursing Informatics
  2. A Mathematical Model of Communication (p. 2)

OR

Select one of the models described in the chapter on change management. Discuss how it might be used to evaluate a clinical-information or communication-technology implementation from a recent or current practice setting. Consider the following questions:

  1. Does the model include relevant concepts that are operating in the setting?
  2. Can relationships between the concepts be identified easily in the model?
  3. Could the model be used to structure an implementation evaluation by concretely identifying key elements of the change?

Week Two: The Combined Health Information Database is a bibliographic database produced by health-related agencies of the federal government. This database provides titles, abstracts, and availability information for health information and health education resources. Explore how a health care consumer might find the answer to a simple health-related question. Does this database easily provide answers to simple queries? How might it be improved?

 

Week Three: Health Information Sites Many health care organizations are now providing information to clinicians and consumers on their Web sites. Virtual Hospital is a popular health information site for clinicians and consumers. Under "What's New on the Virtual Hospital", could a database be developed that might make it easier to find new information for the users visiting this site? How might you structure a database of this information?

 

Week Four: Securing Health Care Data - Increasingly, organizations are adopting ways to implement the Health Information Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), especially in the areas of privacy and security. Review "Emergency Care" at and develop a list of important elements that might need to be considered as health care information goes online.

Week Five: e-veloping Data Integrity Policies

Imagine you have been asked to develop policies related to data integrity. What kinds of resources would you use to create a framework of policies? Describe how and where you might explore the Internet for resources related to data integrity.

 Week Six: Online Learning Experiences

Imagine that you are thinking of enrolling in a completely online course in which you will not physically meet the other students or the teacher. Identify the benefits and barriers of this kind of learning experience. How would you determine whether this type of course is right for you? List one or two resources (online or print) that you might use.

 

Week Seven: Barriers, Challenges, and Concerns for eHealth

The chapter concludes with a list of barriers, challenges, and concerns for eHealth. After assessing the definitions of eHealth and reviewing Web sites with a focus on eHealth, determine whether the list is complete. What would you add? Is there anything you would delete? What criteria did you use for your assessment?

Week Eight: Organizational Differences of Health Care Organizations

Perform a Web search for examples of an integrated health network and a traditional health care organization. Can you tell the differences between these organizational structures from their Web sites? What are the discriminating features?

Week Nine:  Professional Code of Conduct

Review information related to the professional code of conduct posted at Web sites for several health care providers. Some examples of organizations with such Web sites include the American Medical Association (AMA), American Pharmaceutical Association (APA), and the American Nurses Association (ANA). What do these codes of conduct have in common, and how do they apply to health care informatics?

Week 10 - Availability of Health Care Information

Complete a MEDLINE search on HIPAA. Complete a Web search on HIPAA. Focus your attention on the data integrity elements and privacy. Summarize the results of your searches in terms of focal area, breadth of information provided, and availability. Describe how the two resources provide different yet complementary sources of data. 

 Week 11-

Educational Opportunities in Health Care Informatics

The following table identifies the various types and levels of education possible in health care informatics. After reviewing the table, search the Internet and find one or more programs for each cell in the table.

Educational Programs in Health Care Computing

Level of Education

Health Care Informatics

Medical Informatics

Nursing Informatics

Health Information Management

Post Doc

 

 

 

 

Doctorate

 

 

 

 

Masters

 

 

 

 

Certificate

 

 

 

 

Post-Masters

 

 

 

 

Post-Bac

 

 

 

 

Other

 

 

 

 

Baccalaureate (major or minor)

 

 

 

 

Associate Degree