Syllabus

Schedule

Detailed Course Schedule

Week 1: Health Informatics — An Introduction to Relational Databases

Overview:During this week, we will install MySQL, MySQL Workbench, and the necessary files (SQL Scripts) to complete this course.  In addition to installing the necessary applications and files, we will learn concepts and terms related to SQL and relational databases. You will also learn how to design a database by following the six basic steps of designing a data structure, how to take our database design to create and drop a database in MySQL Workbench, and how to create views to limit access to the tables in your databases from external users and/or applications.

Readings: 

• Murach, chapters 10-12

Video:

• Relational Database Concepts
• Transcript for Relational Database Concepts

Learning Outcomes:

• Describe the way a relational database is organized
• Start or stop the MySQL database server
• Use MySQL Workbench to enter, run, open, and save SQL statements and scripts
• Use MySQL Workbench to create or work with an EER model for a database
• Write a script that includes all of the DDL statements for creating the tables of database
• Use MySQL Workbench to work with the columns, data, constraints, and indexes for a table
• Create views, including read-only and updatable views

Discussion Board Assignment, week 1: Technology today

Watch the video, Relational Database Concepts, then using a database administrator mindset, walk us through a routine you do on a daily basis as it relates to a database. For example, when I withdraw money from an ATM, my card is used to look up my financial institution, then my PIN is verified against a database. Once the PIN verification is complete, the account balances are loaded from a database. Once the account balances are loaded, a SQL statement is used to determine how much I can withdraw since most institutions will impose a daily limit. If the daily limit minus the returned summed amount is greater than the transaction amount, I get the money. If not, my transaction will end without receiving any cash. Once the transaction is complete, the bank’s database is updated with the new balance.

As you will discover, databases are part of lives!

 MySQL Installation Assignment: 

Follow the instructions in the MySQL Installation Guide to install MySQL (database server) and MySQL Workbench (MySQL Graphical Interface).  Once the MySQL and MySQL Workbench installation is complete, open MySQL Workbench to install the necessary database files needed for this course.

Installing database files:

Download the student files

Once the file has been downloaded, navigate to page 563, step 4, and follow the remaining steps in this section to complete the installation of the database files.

If Mac OS is being used for this course, navigate to page 573, step 4, and follow the remaining steps in this section to complete the installation of the database files.

MySQL Password Reset on a Mac instructions

Submit screenshots of MySQL Workbench to BlackBoard to show the installation has been completed (A list of databases that have been installed will show up in the bottom left hand corner of the ‘Management’ pane in MySQL Workbench).

Hands-on Database Assignments

Be sure to save each SQL by using the ‘Save Script As’ menu option:

Chapter 10: Complete the exercises beginning on page 311. 
Chapter 11: Complete the exercises beginning on page 351.
Chapter 12: Complete the exercises beginning on page 370.

Once the exercises are completed, upload the saved SQL scripts to BlackBoard. 

Week 2: Using Queries to Extract Data

Overview: During this week, we will learn how to use the SELECT statement to retrieve data, learn how to use the INSERT, UPDATE, and DELETE statements to add, update, and delete rows from a database.    

Readings: 

• Murach, chapters 1-5

Learning Outcomes:

• Use the SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE, and DELETE statements 

Discussion Board Assignment, week 2: 

You can have a little bit of fun creating SQL statements from your personal and/or professional lives.  Using proper SQL format, write a SQL statement to describe an accomplishment, a feeling, or an event that you do not mind sharing with your colleagues.  

Hands-on Database Assignments

Follow the instructions (Be sure to save each SQL by using the ‘Save Script As’ menu option):

Chapter 2: Complete the exercises beginning on page 70. 
Chapter 3: Complete the exercises beginning on page 110.
Chapter 4: Complete the exercises beginning on page 146.
Chapter 5: Complete the exercises beginning on page 164.

Once the exercises are completed, upload the saved SQL scripts to BlackBoard. 

Week 3: More SQL skills

Overview: During this week, we will continue to develop our SQL skills by learning how to summarize data contained in a database.  We will learn how to use summary queries, learn how to code subqueries, learn how to work with data types, and how to use functions to extract data to use for decision making.

Readings: 

• Murach, chapters 6-9

Learning Outcomes:

• Code summary queries that use aggregate functions, including queries that use the WITH ROLLUP operator
• Code SELECT statements that require subqueries
• Code queries that convert data from one data type to another
• Code queries that format numeric or date/time data 

Discussion Board Assignment, week 3: 

You have learned what relational databases are, and looked at how these databases can be used to collect and organize data in a central location through multiple tables and unique IDs.  Now think about an instance when you wished you had all the information needed to complete a project in one location. Describe how you could organize this database. How many tables would it take to organize the information, and why? Would queries be used? If so, how and why?

Hands-on Database Assignments

Be sure to save each SQL by using the ‘Save Script As’ menu option:

Chapter 6: Complete the exercises beginning on page 184. 
Chapter 7: Complete the exercises beginning on page 212.
Chapter 8: Complete the exercises beginning on page 239.
Chapter 9: Complete the exercises beginning on page 272.

Once the exercises are completed, upload the saved SQL scripts to BlackBoard. 

Week 4: Research, design, and develop a database to track diabetic patients

Overview: This week you will research diabetic applications to learn what information is gathered to monitor patients with diabetes. Once your research is completed, you will develop a database to capture information to help monitor diabetic patients.

Learning Outcomes:

• Design and develop a database with a minimum of three tables that are connected through a unique identifier

Discussion Board Assignment, week 4: 

This week you will begin creating a database that you will add to in weeks 6 and 7. As you work through creating your database this week, use this space to seek advice from classmates or to offer help to others. By mid-week please post a short statement about how it is going for you. Are you encountering any problems? If so, what are they or what were they (if you have solved them)? If you aren’t encountering problems, what advice can you offer? Or can you comment on something interesting that you discovered as you worked on your database?

Assignment

You have just been promoted to the position of HIT coordinator. In your new role, you have been asked to develop a diabetic registry using a database. The purpose of the diabetic registry is to provide a snapshot of the patients’ progress to providers an easy to read format. It will allow providers to determine if further intervention is needed for their patients.

First, research diabetic registries to determine what data to capture and how to effectively monitor diabetic patients. After researching diabetic registries, develop and create a database with a minimum of three tables using a unique identifier as a link. For example, create a table for demographics, a table for glycemic control, a table for coronary risk factors, and a table for microvascular end organ disease.

Once the database has been created, populate the tables with at least twenty (20) patients using various results for their labs. After data has been entered, use Screencast-O-Matic (or another screencasting tool) to present the database you created. During the presentation, describe how the tables are linked, what type of fields used in each table, e.g., date/time, numeric, text. Upload the screencast to YouTube, and submit the link in BlackBoard.

Week 5: Database Administration

Overview: This week you will learn how to how to secure a database and how to work with user accounts.  In addition, database backup and restore procedures will be covered.  

Readings: 

• Murach, chapters 17-19
• Security Guidelines
• Backup and Recovery Strategy

Learning Outcomes:

• Use MySQL Workbench to kill processes and view status variables and system variables
• View and manage log files
• Create both admin and end users, and grant privileges to a user
• Backup a database so that it can be restored to any point in time
• Restore a database to any point in time

Discussion Board Assignment, week 5: 

System administrators such as database administrators, network administrators, and server administrators use system logs to determine the cause of system errors, user account access (when a user accessed their account), or for general system maintenance.  If you think about it, logs are part of our lives.  For example, I use my phone to track my daily steps, workouts, etc…  When have you looked back at any documentation to determine a trend, or use documentation to help remember specific events?  Think of a time when documentation was used in either your personal or professional life to make a decision.  Next, tell us if a database was used to track the data stored in these logs.  If so, how? If not, explain how a database could be used to better organize these data.

Hands-on Database Assignments

Be sure to save each SQL by using the ‘Save Script As’ menu option:

Chapter 17: Complete the exercises beginning on page 490.
Chapter 18: Complete the exercises beginning on page 525.
Chapter 19: Complete the exercises beginning on page 557.

Once the exercises are completed, upload the saved SQL scripts to BlackBoard. 

Week 6: Creating Views and presentation

Overview: You will continue to work on your diabetes database project this week to create views to quickly access data.

Learning Outcomes:

• Create views in database, including read-only and updatable views

Discussion Board Assignment, week 6: 

Patient portals are often driven by databases through the use of views that have been created in a database.  In fact, most portions of an EHR use views to display specific data for specific users.  However, mistakes can be made, and the integrity of a database can become compromised if unauthorized personnel are able to access data that is confidential.  Part of being a database administrator is to guarantee data is only available to those who are authorized to view it.  Use the internet to research database breaches in the health field, then write a brief summary about the article you found.  In the summary, discuss what could have been done to prevent unauthorized access.

Assignment

Create a view in your database project to compare A1Cs between male and female patients. Next, create another view to display patients with an A1C of 6.5 or higher. Use Screencast-O-Matic (or another screencasting tool) to demonstrate the views that were created. Upload the screencast to YouTube and submit the link to the screencast along with the saved SQL statements used to create the views.

Week 7: Finishing touches and final database presentation

Overview: This week you will secure your database by adding users, and creating a backup of the your project.

Learning Outcomes:

• Modify database to add different types of users

Discussion Board Assignment, week 7: 

User management is a requirement to ensure appropriate access is given to any system by managing what end users are able to access and modify. Without thinking about user management for an electronic system such as a database application, think about how users were managed before the use of electronic systems. How did your place of employment (or a place you are familiar with) ensure information was accessible only by authorized personnel? If your place of employment is not currently using an electronic storage system, how are records stored, and how is access controlled? 

Assignment

Create at least four (4) users with different access levels to the database.  Of course, one of the users will be the root, or administrator, then create a user that can perform database backups, a user who can enter and modify data (but not delete data), and a user who can only access the views that were created last week.  

Once the finishing touches have been completed, use Screencast-O-Matic (or another screencasting tool) to create a presentation to propose your database to a health board.  Upload the presentation to YouTube and submit the link to the presentation along with a copy of the database backup. 

Week 8: Final Reflection 

Assignment

Using the knowledge and skills you have obtained throughout this course, write a 3-5 page APA formatted paper discussing the importance of databases in healthcare, the importance of entering quality data, and the importance of assigning appropriate privileges in databases and the applications used to access databases.  

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.