Course Outline
Course Outline
Course Outline
Total Hours 56
Credits 4
PreRequisite(s)
CoRequisite(s)
Course Description
This course will introduce students to the discipline of health informatics. Through work-integrated learning opportunities connected to health
care related organizations, case studies and discussions, the students will develop an understanding of the core concepts of health
informatics and how they are applied to practical health care related situations. By discussing historical perspectives, current developments
and future trends in health informatics, students will start developing an appreciation for a variety of topics such as information needs of
healthcare professionals and administrators, leadership, strategic planning, project management, change management, system
implementation, medical errors, and others.
Required Resources
Leviss J. (ed.). H.I.T. or Miss: Lessons Learned from Health Information Technology Implementations (2013). AHIMA Press.
2nd edition.
Course Outcomes
Successful completion of this course will enable the student to:
1. Discuss the role of health informatics and health informaticians in health care.
2. Identify types of health informatics professionals and their contributions to improving health care.
3. Identify types of problems in healthcare organizations that health informatics professionals are trying to resolve.
4. Discuss the information needs of healthcare professionals and administrators.
5. Integrate biomedical terminology into discussions, writing, problem-solving and analysis related to health informatics.
6. Discuss different health care related organizations and how they use data and information.
7. Discuss the relationship of health informatics to other disciplines.
8. Identify competencies (skills, knowledge, attitudes, and experiences) necessary to be successful in health informatics.
9. Discuss how health informatics professionals attempt to ensure security, privacy, and confidentiality of health information.
10. Identify the potential impact of current national and international health informatics projects.
Unit Outcomes
Successful completion of the following units will enable the student to:
1.0 The Field of Health Informatics
1.1 Discuss various definitions of health informatics.
1.2 Compare the relationship of health informatics to other disciplines.
1.3 Explain the various sub-disciplines of health informatics.
1.4 Review competencies (skills, knowledge, attitudes, and experiences) necessary to be successful in health informatics.
1.5 Identify the potential impact of current national and international health informatics projects.
2.0 The Role of Health Informatics in Addressing Healthcare Problems and Issues
2.1 Discuss different health care related organizations and how they use data and information.
2.2 Review the information needs of healthcare professionals and administrators.
2.3 Explain different types of problems in health care.
2.4 Describe the relationships between healthcare problems and issues.
2.5 Illustrate how health informatics professionals can address different problems and issues in health care.
2.6 Discuss how health informatics professionals attempt to ensure security, privacy, and confidentiality of health information.
3.0 Analyzing Cases in Health Informatics
3.1 Identify the steps of health informatics case analysis.
3.2 Describe the goals and objectives of each step.
3.3 Apply the steps of analysis to different case studies.
4.0 The Role of Power and Politics in Health Information Technology (HIT) Projects
4.1 Identify the typical key players in HIT projects.
4.2 Explain the impact of power, politics, and leadership in HIT projects.
4.3 Discuss potential sources of power, tactics for increasing power, two models of management, and the importance of these
topics for health informatics professionals.
4.4 Analyze the role of interpersonal and organizational conflict in HIT projects.
5.0 Factors Influencing HIT Adoption
5.1 Indicate challenges in adopting IT in health care.
5.2 Review categories of factors that might account for successful adoption of IT in health care.
5.3 Discuss possible use of Rogers' innovativeness/adopter categories in HIT projects, and Berwick’s rules for introducing change
and innovation.
5.4 Interpret the term “change management.”
5.5 Identify 7 principles of change management.
5.6 Explain examples of change management strategies in HIT projects.
6.0 Planning, Development and Implementation of HIT
6.1 Discuss different approaches to planning, development, and implementation of HIT.
6.2 Define the term “system development life cycle” (SDLC), and discuss typical steps of the SDLC.
6.3 Explain the differences between the “waterfall,” the “spiral,” the cluster models of SDLC, and the Agile Software Development.
6.4 Explain the term “system implementation”, and typical steps and activities associated with implementing HIT.
6.5 Discuss key requirements for successful implementation of HIT.
6.6 Discuss the terms “project” and “project management.”
6.7 Explain project life cycle, and 7 traits of good project managers.
6.8 Compare different views on “success” and “failure” of HIT projects.
6.9 Explain challenges associated with unintended consequences of HIT.
Evaluation
In order to successfully complete this course, the student is required to meet the following evaluation criteria:
2. Exam(s) 1 30.00 %
100.00 %
Notes
Academic integrity is expected and required of all Conestoga students. It is a student’s responsibility to maintain compliance with
Conestoga’s Academic Integrity Policy at all times.
Conestoga College is committed to providing academic accommodations for students with documented disabilities.
An Instructional Plan will be available at the beginning of the course and will be referred to in conjunction with this course outline.