Syllabus

Schedule

Detailed Course Schedule

Week 1

Theme:  Introduction to Consumer Health Informatics

Learning Outcomes:

• Discuss Consumer Health Informatics (CHI) tools
• Describe personal experiences as a healthcare consumer
• Describe the Office of National Coordinator’s strategy for engaging consumers

Readings: 

• Wetter, Chapter 1 (pages 5-24)
• Information Technology in Health Care: The Next Consumer Revolution
• Success Strategies for Teamwork in the Online Setting
• Tips for Participating in Groups Work & Projects Online 

Video:

• ONC’s Strategy for Engaging Consumers

Week 1 Discussion:

All of us have had experiences with medical professionals and medical institutions—physicians’ offices, emergency rooms, and hospitals. Use your prior knowledge and your readings from this week to answer the following questions about how patient information is gathered:

• What type of information is taken?
• In what ways has technology improved the exchange of information?
• Where are you surprised to find that technology is not used?
• Is all the information you expected routinely available?
• How has technology enhanced or inhibited your experience as a patient or consumer?

Week 1 Assignment:  

What are the major types of consumer health informatics (CHI) applications available today? What are they used for? Pick a specific application. Research this application and discuss its successes, challenges, and opportunities.

Submit a 2 to 3 page, double-spaced word document using APA formatting. Citations are expected.

Group Work:  

Your instructor will assign the groups this week. Once you have your group, you should contact one another to plan how you will meet.

There are a number of ways your group can choose to work together. It may be that a combination of several ways works best.

• Discussion board – An ungraded discussion board has been set up for you to use within your group. You can find this discussion under the “My Group” button on the left hand navigation menu. You may want to use this discussion board throughout the course to work within your group.
• Email
• Google hangout, etc – You can hold synchronous meetings via Google hangout, Skype, Zoom, etc.
• Other?

Week 2

Theme:  Medical Ethics for Consumer Applications

Learning Outcomes:

• Discuss the challenges and opportunities of consumer health informatics
• Evaluate consumer health applications in terms of ethical considerations
• Identify the principles of ethics for consumer health informatics
• Identify the dimensions of Patient Risks and Requirements for Patient Safety
• Analyze a specific consumer health informatics application 

Readings: 

• Wetter, Chapter 8 (pages 157-183)
• Ethical Issues in Consumer Health Informatics

Week 2 Discussion:

What were your key takeaways from this week’s online and textbook reading? What are some key challenges and opportunities to address in Consumer Health Informatics? How has your perspective or approach either as an informaticist or as a patient/consumer changed as a result of what you read about ethical issues in Consumer Health Informatics?

Week 2 Individual Assignment:

Breathometer was a widely popular consumer technology that was pitched on Shark Tank (please see this YouTube video for reference). It is an example from the growing field of sensor-based technology.

• What possibilities do sensor-based technologies introduce for CHI applications?
• What role does Medical Ethics play in these CHI applications?
• Describe another consumer app or Internet of Things application
• What do you like and/or dislike about this app?
• Are there ethical concerns about this app?
• Would you recommend it to others? Why or why not?

Submit a 2 to 3 page, double-spaced word document using APA formatting. Citations are expected.

Group Work:  Topic Proposal for Final Project

Your final project for this course will be a group presentation. Imagine that your group has been asked to make a presentation about a healthcare intervention to the Board of Directors of a healthcare system. Select a real-world (or hypothetical) project that could help improve the delivery of patient care or could improve outcomes for consumers. Because this is an Informatics course, there must be a strong technological component to your project. 

This week, your group should start thinking about the topic proposal for your final group project. Next week you will turn in that topic proposal. (The final project itself will be presented in week 7.) 

Week 3

Theme:  Provider-Patient Relationship in the Digital Era

Learning Outcomes:

• Evaluate online consumer healthcare sites to determine accuracy and transparency 
• Evaluate how Telemedicine is transforming healthcare
• Analyze the evolving Provider-Patient relationships through technology
• Identify a Consumer Health Informatics project for your final presentation

Readings: 

• Wetter, Chapter 4, (pages 83-97)
• How Telemedicine is transforming healthcare
• 1st Case Study – American Well: The Doctor Will E-See You Now

Video:

• PBS News Hour:Telemedicine puts a doctor virtually at your bedside

Week 3 Discussion:

Choose a doctor you are familiar with. Go to at least three non-governmental consumer sites to find evaluations of the doctor you have chosen. Now do the same for a hospital you are familiar with.

• What type of information did you find?
• Is the available information helpful?
• Do you think differently about the provider or hospital after visiting the sites?
• Does the site have a commercial interest?

Visit a government website for the hospital and compare that information with the information you found previously.

• Is the information more helpful or less helpful on the government site?
• Is there physician information on the government site?
• Is there a trend toward transparency?

Week 3 Group Assignment:  Submit Topic Proposal for Final Project

This week, please submit the topic proposal for your final group project. (Look back at information in week 2 to read more about the final project. The final project will be presented in week 7.) Your proposal should be a 2-3 page APA styled word document; citations are required. Please include the following sections:

• Background – Why is the project being undertaken? Describe an opportunity or problem that the project will address. Clearly outline the current state.
• Expected Results – After the interventions that you will propose in your project, what do you predict that the future state will look like? How will it solve the problem or opportunity that you described in the first section?

Note:  Your instructor will approve all topics.

Group Work: Case Study — American Well:  

This week you should begin working with your group on the first case study:

Read the case study, American Well: The Doctor Will E-See You Now and start to think about the questions below:

• Do you share the assessment of the founders regarding the potential for online care to revolutionize healthcare delivery? Why or why not?
• What value do you see “Team Edition” creating?  What barriers to its adoption do you foresee?
• Which of the new market opportunities did you see as most promising? Why?
• If you were in the shoes of American Well Management, would you have pursued any of the next-generation options (products or markets) in 2010, or would you have focused on the core platform with the core target market? Why?

Note: Please limit your answers to information based on the content from the case study itself.

This week get together as a group and discuss how you will break up the task. You should plan for each group member to write their part this week. At the end of this week or early next week you should meet again to review the individual pieces and decide on a plan for editing the work. You will turn in one document for the group.

Next week your group will turn in a 3 to 4 page APA formatted paper which answers the above questions. 

Week 4

Theme:  Patient Engagement Tools and Applications

Learning Outcomes:

• Discuss the relationship between wearable devices and patient outcomes
• Examine how a healthcare service organization can design its next-generation offering 
• Identify the commonly used Consumer Health IT applications and their impact
• Analyze the online and self-service offerings for consumers in healthcare

Readings: 

• Wetter, Chapter 5, (pages 101-131)
• Consumer Health IT Applications
• Connected Health Tools and Apple Watch Engagement 

Week 4 Discussion:

How does self-monitoring help patients and consumers?  What impact have wearable devices (such as Fitbits and Smart Watches) and mobile health apps made on patient outcomes? Please discuss a specific example and include supporting references.

Week 4 Group Assignment:  Submit Case Study — American Well:  

This week you will submit the case study assignment you began last week. Your submission should be in the form of a 3 to 4 page APA formatted paper that answers the questions from last week. Remember to limit your answers to information based on the content from the case study itself. Your group will turn in 1 copy of the assignment for the entire group.

(See week 3 or Blackboard for the list of questions and detailed instructions.)

Group Work: Continue work on Final Presentation

Once you have received approval for the topic of your final presentation, you group should begin working on the presentation itself. Your group will need to plan how to divide up the work. In week 7 you will turn in your slides (Google slides) along with a video slide presentation of those slides in Adobe Spark. Click here for complete information on final project.

Week 5

Theme:  Personal Health Records (PHRs) and Patient Portals

Learning Outcomes:

• Examine the differences between Personal Health Records and Patient Portals
• Discuss the successes and challenges of Personal Health Records
• Describe how Personal Health Records and Patient Portals can be more effective and improve outcomes

Readings: 

• Wetter, Chapter 14 – The Patient-Centered Electronic Health Record and Patient Portals 

Videos: 

• HealthVault
• Google Health – This PHR has been discontinued, but it is still a good example for learning.

Week 5 Discussion:

Describe how Personal Health Records like Microsoft HealthVault or Google Health are meeting (or not meeting) consumer needs. What’s working well?  What’s not working well? As a consumer, what would you like to see? How are PHRs different from Patient Portals? Describe your personal experience with PHRs and/or Patient Portals.

Group Work: Case Study — Patients Like Me

This week you should begin working with your group on the first case study:

Read the case study, PatientsLikeMe: An Online Community of Patients and start to think about the questions below:

• In 2011, why did patients join PatientsLikeMe (PLM)? Did the platform work for any disease?
• What are the reactions of physicians to sites like PLM? Do you agree with them?
• Should PLM launch the General Platform? If no, how wouild PLM grow?
• As of 2011, PLM had generated revenues by providing market research to pharmaceutical companies. Should it expand its business model to insurance companies and research institutions? Does it have the potential of becoming the “Bloomberg of medical data?”

Note: Please limit your answers to information based on the content from the case study itself.

This week get together as a group and discuss how you will break up the task. You should plan for each group member to write their part this week. At the end of this week or early next week you should meet again to review the individual pieces and decide on a plan for editing the work. You will turn in one document for the group.

Next week your group will turn in a 3 to 4 page APA formatted paper which answers the above questions. 

Group Work: Continue work on Final Presentation

Click here for complete information on final project.

Week 6

Theme:  Consumer P2P, Communities, Social Media

Learning Outcomes:

• Examine the evolving landscape of Social Media in Consumer Health
• Evaluate the effectiveness of online patients communities in improving outcomes
• Compare and contrast different care coordination platforms

Readings: 

• Wetter, Chapter 6 (Patient Power on the Web: The Multifaceted Role of Personal Health Wisdom)
• PatientsLikeMe
• Hashtags and Health Literacy: How Social Media Transforms Engagement

Video 

• The Healthcare Social Media Revolution

Week 6 Discussion:

Compare and contrast the following care coordination applications. What are their features? What needs might exist that are not met by existing applications? Would you suggest any of these applications to a friend or family member? Which one? Why?

• Care Sync – http://www.caresync.com/consumers/index.php
• Caretiles – http://cocentrix.com/platform/caretiles-consumer-applications
• Alzheimers care team calendar – https://www.alz.org/care/alzheimers-dementia-care-calendar.asp

Week 6 Group Assignment:  Submit Case Study — Patients Like Me:  

This week you will submit the case study assignment you began last week. Your submission should be in the form of a 3 to 4 page APA formatted paper that answers the questions from last week. Remember to limit your answers to information based on the content from the case study itself. Your group will turn in 1 copy of the assignment for the entire group.

(See week 6 or Blackboard for the list of questions and detailed instructions.)

Group Work: Continue work on Final Presentation

Remember: your group presentation is due next week. Please don’t put off all the work until then. Click here for complete information on final project.

Week 7

Theme:  Patient Reported Outcomes (PROs)

Learning Outcomes:

• Examine the role of patient reported outcomes to advance patient-centric care
• Analyze how PRO organizations help consumers make informed decisions based on research guided by patients, caregivers, and healthcare communities
• Discuss the successes and challenges in using Patient Reported Outcomes data
• Apply the Consumer Health Informatics lessons learned in your Final Presentations

Readings: 

• Wetter, Chapter 15 (Cost Effectiveness regarding Patient Reported Outcomes)
• AHRQ’s Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS) (PRO Measures and Measure Databases)
• Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) (PRO Organizations)
• The Rise of Patient-Reported Outcomes in Oncology
• Value of Patient-Generated Health Data
• Emerging Value of Patient Generated Health Data

Week 7 Discussion:

Based on your research and this week’s readings on Patient Reported Outcomes, what role do Patient Reported Outcomes data play in clinical research and patient care today?What recommendations would you make to improve the use of PROs in driving outcomes?

Week 7 Group Assignment:  Submit Final Presentation 

Your final group presentation is due by 11:59 pm on Wednesday of this week. Your should submit a pdf of your Google Slides and a link to your Adobe Spark video of your presentation. Click here for complete information on final project.

Week 8

Theme:  Patient Advocacy

Learning Outcomes:

• Analyze the impact and changes driven through Patient Advocacy Movements
• Discuss the role of technology in enabling Patient Advocacy services

Readings: 

• Patient advocacy services ensure optimum health outcomes
• Patient Advocacy in Patient Safety: Have Things Changed?

Video:

• National Patient Safety Foundation

Week 8 Discussion:

What does a Patient Advocate do? How do they interact with consumers and other stakeholders? What role can technology play in enabling Patient Advocacy services and improving outcomes?

Week 8 Course Reflection:

What are your top 3-5 key takeaways from this course?  How do you see applying these concepts as a healthcare professional and/or personal life as a patient? 

Student Resources

Online Student Support

Your Student Support Specialist is a resource for you. Please don't hesitate to contact them for assistance, including, but not limited to course planning, current problems or issues in a course, technology concerns, or personal emergencies.

Questions? Visit the Student Support Health Informatics page

APA Style Guide

• https://www.apastyle.org

UNE Libraries:

• Library Access for all students: Your library login ID and password are the same as the ones you use to log into Blackboard/Brightspace.
• MSIN Databases: https://library.une.edu/library-materials/find/research-by-subject/health-informatics/
• Library Questions: Ask a librarian or phone library staff at (207) 602-2361 or (207) 221-4330.

UNE Student Academic Success Center

The Student Academic Success Center (SASC) offers a range of services to support your academic achievement, including tutoring, writing support, test prep and studying strategies, learning style consultations, and many online resources. To make an appointment for tutoring, writing support, or a learning specialist consultation, go to une.tutortrac.com. To access our online resources, including links, guides, and video tutorials, please visit:

• UNE Student Academic Success Center

Accommodations

Any student who would like to request, or ask any questions regarding, academic adjustments or accommodations must contact the Student Access Center at (207) 221-4438 or pcstudentaccess@une.edu. Student Access Center staff will evaluate the student's documentation and determine eligibility of accommodation(s) through the Student Access Center registration procedure.

Online Peer Support

Togetherall is a 24/7 communication and emotional support platform monitored by trained clinicians. It’s a safe place online to get things off your chest, have conversations, express yourself creatively, and learn how to manage your mental health. If sharing isn’t your thing, Togetherall has other tools and courses to help you look after yourself with plenty of resources to explore. Whether you’re struggling to cope, feeling low, or just need a place to talk, Togetherall can help you explore your feelings in a safe supportive environment. You can join Togetherall using your UNE email address.

Information Technology Services (ITS)

Students should notify their Student Support Specialist and instructor in the event of a problem relating to a course. This notification should occur promptly and proactively to support timely resolution.

ITS Contact: Toll-Free Help Desk 24 hours/7 days per week at 1-877-518-4673.

Career Ready Program

The College of Professional Studies supports its online students and alumni in their career journey!

The Career Ready Program provides tools and resources to help students explore and hone in on their career goals, search for jobs, create and improve professional documents, build professional network, learn interview skills, grow as a professional, and more. Come back often, at any time, as you move through your journey from career readiness as a student to career growth, satisfaction, and success as alumni.

Policies

Technology Requirements

Please review the technical requirements for UNE Online Graduate Programs: Technical Requirements

Turnitin Originality Check and Plagiarism Detection Tool

The College of Professional Studies uses Turnitin to help deter plagiarism and to foster the proper attribution of sources. Turnitin provides comparative reports for submitted assignments that reflect similarities in other written works. This can include, but is not limited to, previously submitted assignments, internet articles, research journals, and academic databases.

Make sure to cite your sources appropriately as well as use your own words in synthesizing information from published literature. Webinars and workshops, included early in your coursework, will help guide best practices in APA citation and academic writing.

You can learn more about Turnitin in the guide on how to navigate your Similarity Report.

Information Technology Services (ITS)

ITS Contact: Toll Free Help Desk 24 hours/7 days per week at 1-877-518-4673

Course Evaluation Policy

Course surveys are one of the most important tools that University of New England uses for evaluating the quality of your education, and for providing meaningful feedback to instructors on their teaching. In order to assure that the feedback is both comprehensive and precise, we need to receive it from each student for each course. Evaluation access is distributed via UNE email at the beginning of the last week of the course.

Late Policy

Assignments: Late assignments will be accepted up to 3 days late; however, there is a 10% grade reduction (from the total points) for the late submission. After three days the assignment will not be accepted.

Discussion posts: If the initial post is submitted late, but still within the discussion board week, there will be a 10% grade reduction from the total discussion grade (e.g., a 3 point discussion will be reduced by 0.3 points). Any posts submitted after the end of the Discussion Board week will not be graded.

Please make every effort ahead of time to contact your instructor and your student support specialist if you are not able to meet an assignment deadline. Arrangements for extenuating circumstances may be considered by faculty.

Attendance Policy

8 week: Students taking online graduate courses through the College of Professional Studies will be administratively dropped for non-participation if a graded assignment/discussion post is not submitted before Sunday at 11:59 pm ET of the first week of the term. Reinstatement is at the purview of the Dean's Office.

16 week: Students taking online graduate courses through the College of Professional Studies will be administratively dropped for non-participation if a graded assignment/discussion post is not submitted before Friday at 11:59 pm ET of the second week of the term. Reinstatement is at the purview of the Dean's Office.

Student Handbook Online - Policies and Procedures

The policies contained within this document apply to all students in the College of Professional Studies. It is each student's responsibility to know the contents of this handbook.

UNE Online Student Handbook

UNE Course Withdrawal

Please contact your student support specialist if you are considering dropping or withdrawing from a course. The last day to drop for 100% tuition refund is the 2nd day of the course. Financial Aid charges may still apply. Students using Financial Aid should contact the Financial Aid Office prior to withdrawing from a course.

Academic Integrity

The University of New England values academic integrity in all aspects of the educational experience. Academic dishonesty in any form undermines this standard and devalues the original contributions of others. It is the responsibility of all members of the University community to actively uphold the integrity of the academy; failure to act, for any reason, is not acceptable. For information about plagiarism and academic misconduct, please visit UNE Plagiarism Policies.

Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to the following:

1. Cheating, copying, or the offering or receiving of unauthorized assistance or information.
2. Fabrication or falsification of data, results, or sources for papers or reports.
3. Action which destroys or alters the work of another student.
4. Multiple submissions of the same paper or report for assignments in more than one course without permission of each instructor.
5. Plagiarism, the appropriation of records, research, materials, ideas, or the language of other persons or writers and the submission of them as one's own.

Charges of academic dishonesty will be reviewed by the Program Director. Penalties for students found responsible for violations may depend upon the seriousness and circumstances of the violation, the degree of premeditation involved, and/or the student’s previous record of violations. Appeal of a decision may be made to the Dean whose decision will be final. Student appeals will take place through the grievance process outlined in the student handbook.