Introduction to Health Informatics: a survey of the field (P02827)

? Credit Points : 10 ? SCQF Level : 11 ? Acronym : MED-P-P02827

The purpose of this introductory course is to explain the origins, key components and current state of Health Informatics. It takes a national and international perspective with parallels drawn between developed and developing countries. Students should become fully aware that Health Informatics is still a young and evolving discipline with considerable and largely untapped potential.

Entry Requirements

? This course is not available to visting students.

? Pre-requisites : None other than programme entry requirements

? Co-requisites : This is a compulsory course for all candidates on the Cert/Dip/MSc in Health Informatics programme.

? Special Arrangements for Entry : The course will be delivered using RCSEd’s VLE with appropriate links to the University’s systems. Students will be expected to use a range of flexible learning methods including participation in discussion forums, online seminars and wikis and accessing resources in a range of formats e.g. pdf files, video clips, and audio files. In addition to the course materials and resources provided, candidates will be expected to use internet and published resources during self directed study and research.

Subject Areas

Home subject area

Health Information, (Medicine, Schedule R)

Delivery Information

? Normal year taken : Postgraduate

? Delivery Period : To be arranged/Unknown

? Additional Class Information : The student will be expected to spend approximately 10 hours per week reading the course materials and additional/supplementary online and published resources; participating in online discussions and submitting required assignments.

Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes

a. Demonstrate awareness of stages in HI development (from enthusiastic individuals to complex development of web systems) reflected in changing definitions.
b. Explain the significance of the different groups, workforce and patient populations which Health Informatics aims to serve.
c. Describe the domains associated with the discipline of Health Informatics and analyse the rationale for the development of specialist separate entities. This includes domains such as:
• Single provider and shared record systems.
• Decision support systems.
• Clinical informatics.
• Nursing informatics.
• Dental informatics.
• Laboratory informatics.
• Bioinformatics.
• Telemedicine, Telemonitoring and Telecare.
• Patient informatics.
• Public health informatics.
• Research informatics.
d. Discuss the significance of the new technologies developed in response to knowledge about genetics and lifestyles with the potential to assess risks and tailor treatments.
e. Critically discuss how we “measure” the impact of Health Informatics as Systems are introduced
f. Compare and contrast strategies and activities to apply Health Informatics within and between developed and developing countries.
g. Demonstrate understanding of the current position of Health Informatics, nationally and internationally, and provide some analysis of future directions.

Assessment Information

Course assessments relate to the learning outcomes. Summative work will be approximately 3000 words in total and be approved by the Programme Committee, on the recommendation of the Course Convenor. Combined with formative assessments, it may incorporate one or more of
the following:
• Essay style analysis or commentary
• Scenario analysis
• Critical/Significant incident analysis
• Reflective practice accounts
• Individual presentations
• Multiple Choice Questions
• Other relevant assessments