Syllabus
Master of Science in Health Informatics
HIN 605 Introduction to Health Informatics (Spring B 2023)
Credits - 3
Description
This course introduces students to central health informatics tools, techniques, and concepts used to improve health outcomes through technology. Students explore various healthcare technology platforms, how data is used in healthcare, and how the need for cybersecurity and health data privacy shape the information infrastructure that powers modern healthcare. This course offers students a framework for deeper understanding of many of the concepts explored in subsequent coursework.
Materials
Learning Objectives and Outcomes
Program Outcomes addressed by this course:
- Understand the American healthcare system and the effects technology and data have had on it
- Analyze, evaluate, and apply the range of tools needed to implement new technology, including identifying, evaluating, selecting, implementing, and upgrading technological systems
- Evaluate the ways new and developing healthcare technology trends influence worldwide health outcomes, and propose potential technology-based solutions for increasing worldwide health outcomes
Course Outcomes:
- Discuss the relationship between the healthcare systems and information systems
- Evaluate the concepts of an electronic health record (EHR) and electronic medical record (EMR) and the government’s influence in these technologies
- Examine the roles, responsibilities, and major functions of a typical healthcare organization’s IT Department
- Synthesize the process for implementing an EMR/EHR, from system selection to implementation planning, end-user training, and change management
- Justify the scope and importance of IT Governance and how senior leaders can impact project success
- Examine the nature of IT-enabled value and the steps to improve healthcare IT project value
Assignments
Please note that all times in the syllabus and in Blackboard refer to Eastern Time. The discussion board and assignment links for each week will open at the start of the week for submissions.
Discussion Posts: These assignments will assess your ability to clearly and accurately apply concepts from your readings and from your own experiences. Each week you are expected to submit an initial post and comment on at least 2 other students’ posts. You need to follow APA guidelines for citing any sources you may reference in either your initial post or your response to others. Refer to the Discussion Rubric and discussion question for submission guidelines.
Initial post: You should submit your initial post by 11:59 p.m. Sunday. Your initial post should be approximately 500 words.
Response to others: You should comment on at least 2 other students’ posts by 11:59 p.m. Wednesday. Your comments to others should be thorough, thoughtful, and they should offer some new content. Do not merely respond with “I agree” or “I disagree.” Engage directly with the ideas of your classmates and briefly mention which part of the post you are responding to.
Mini-report on Interoperability: In week 2, you will conduct an internet search on interoperability in healthcare and write a 2-3 page paper reporting on what progress has been made to date, what challenges lie ahead, and suggest how those challenges may be overcome.
IT Organization Slide Presentation: In week 3, you will assume the role of a consultant in a healthcare organization. In this role, you are asked by the CEO to prepare a professional 5 – 7 slide presentation to address a real-world IT Department scenario.
Case Studies: In weeks 4 and 5, you will read an assigned case from your textbook, analyze and apply the concepts from the week to answer the real-world problems the case study poses. Submission will be a 2-3 page APA style paper following the guidelines of the assignment prompt.
Change Management Screencast Presentation: In week 6 you will continue in your role as a consultant at a healthcare organization and provide recommendations to address a change management scenario. Your recommendations will be delivered in a narrated screencast slide presentation.
EHR Implementation Paper: In week 7, you will reflect on what you have learned in this course and apply it to an EHR implementation scenario based on the case study assignment from week 4. In a 5-7 page paper, you will address the scenario and assignment prompt using both scholarly and industry research. To allow extra time for research and writing a quality paper, this paper is due on Friday of week 8. Because the due date has been extended into the final week, no late submissions will be accepted.
All assignments use scoring rubrics to assess student performance. Thoroughly review the rubric and assignment instructions for guidance on what’s required for each assignment.
Grading Policy
Your grade in this course will be determined by the following criteria:
Grade Breakdown
| Assessment Item | Possible Points | Percent of Total Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Discussion Boards (7 @ 4 points each) | 28 | 28% |
| Interoperability Mini-report | 10 | 10% |
| Case Studies (2 @ 10 points each) | 20 | 20% |
| IT Organization Slide Presentation | 12 | 12% |
| Change Management Screencast Presentation | 15 | 15% |
| EHR Implementation Paper | 15 | 15% |
| Total | 100 points | 100% |
Grade Scale
| Grade | Points Grade | Point Average (GPA) |
| A | 94 – 100% | 4.00 |
| A- | 90 – 93% | 3.75 |
| B+ | 87 – 89% | 3.50 |
| B | 84 – 86% | 3.00 |
| B- | 80 – 83% | 2.75 |
| C+ | 77 – 79% | 2.50 |
| C | 74 – 76% | 2.00 |
| C- | 70 – 73% | 1.75 |
| D | 64 – 69% | 1.00 |
| F | 00 – 63% | 0.00 |
Schedule
Course learning modules are divided into weeks. Each week starts on Wednesday at 12:00 am Eastern Time (ET) and closes on Wednesday at 11:59 pm ET, with the exception of Week 8, which ends on Sunday. All assignments must be submitted by 11:59 pm ET on the due date.
Course Schedule
Week 1: Mar 1 – Mar 8
Week 2: Mar 8 – Mar 15
Week 3: Mar 15 – Mar 22
Week 4: Mar 22 – Mar 29
Week 5: Mar 29 – Apr 5
Week 6: Apr 5 – Apr 12
Week 7: Apr 12 – Apr 19
Week 8: Apr 19 – Apr 23
| Learning Modules | Topic | Assignments and Deadlines |
| Week 1 | The American Health Information Technology Landscape |
Introductory Discussion Discussion – Initial post by Sunday, responses by Wednesday |
| Week 2 | Health Care Information Systems |
Discussion -Initial post by Sunday, responses by Wednesday Interoperability Mini-Report – Wednesday |
| Week 3 | Roles, Responsibilities, and Major Functions of the IT Department |
Discussion – Initial post by Sunday, responses by Wednesday IT Organization Slide Presentation – Wednesday |
| Week 4 | EHR System Selection and Acquisition |
Discussion – Initial post by Sunday, responses by Wednesday Case Study – Wednesday |
| Week 5 | EHR System Implementation and End-User Training |
Discussion – Initial post by Sunday, responses by Wednesday Case Study – Wednesday |
| Week 6 | Clinical System Support, Change Management, and Project Management |
Discussion – Initial post by Sunday, responses by Wednesday Change Management Screencast Presentation – Wednesday |
| Week 7 | IT Governance and Management | EHR Implementation Paper |
| Week 8 | Emerging Technologies | Discussion – Initial post by Sunday. Follow-up posts are not required. |
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
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:
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 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:
- Cheating, copying, or the offering or receiving of unauthorized assistance or information.
- Fabrication or falsification of data, results, or sources for papers or reports.
- Action which destroys or alters the work of another student.
- Multiple submissions of the same paper or report for assignments in more than one course without permission of each instructor.
- 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.