Syllabus

Master of Science in Health Informatics

HIN 620 – Database Design, Access, Modeling, and Security – Fall 2016

Credits - 3

Description

This course explores in depth database basics such as the relational algebra and data model, schema normalization, query optimization, and transactions. The course addresses current needs in database design and use for optimized human-computer interaction, for rigorous security, and for robust modeling that can transform raw data into useful information. This course will also provide a deep exploration into data standards and what part that plays in the field of Informatics. Students will gain a solid understanding of, and extensive practice with, structured query language (SQL).

Materials

Textbook:

Murach, J. (2015). Murach’s MySQL Training and Reference. Second edition. ISBN: 978-1-890774-82-0

Installation Guide:

MySQL Installation Guide

Learning Objectives and Outcomes

Program Outcome addressed by this course:

  • Apply core concepts of data base design to facilitate managing the large amounts of data produced and captured in the healthcare setting

Course Outcomes:

  • Design a MySQL relational database
  • Demonstrate and explain how to create database tables
  • Demonstrate and explain how to retreive data from a single table and from multiple tables
  • Demonstrate and explain how to insert, update, and delete data
  • Demonstrate and explain how to create and use queries
  • Demonstrate and explain how to secure a database
  • Demonstrate and explain how to backup and restore a database

Assignments

Weekly Discussion Posts — Each week there will be a discussion board that addresses a topic within the current module. For each discussion board, you must submit an original post and respond to at least 2 posts from your colleagues.

Hands-on database work from textbook — In weeks 1, 2, 3, and 5 there will be hands-on database work using the exercises from the textbook and MySQL. You will submit screencasts of the SQL scripts you create.

Project: step 1 — In week 4 you will research, design, and develop a database to track diabetic patients

Project: step 2 — In week 6 you will create views (queries) in the database project you began in week 4

Project: step 3 — In week 6 you will secure your database project and create a screencast to present it

Final Reflection — Week 8

Course Schedule at a Glance

Week Topic Activities and Assignments Dates
1 An Introduction to Relational Databases

Discussion Question

Installation of MySQL, Workbench, and Database files

Hands-on training: Using MySQL Workbench; retrieving data from a single table; retrieving data from two or more tables; inserting, updating, and deleting data from tables

10/26/2016 – 11/1/2016

2 More SQL skills as you need them

Discussion Question

Hands-on training: summary queries; subqueries; data types; functions

11/2/2016 – 11/8/2016
3 Database design and implementation

Discussion Question

Hands-on training: how to design a database; creating a database, tables, and indexes; creating views

11/9/2016 – 11/15/2016
4 Database development and presentation

Discussion Question

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

11/16/2016 – 11/22/2016
5 Database Administration

Discussion Question

Hands-on training: monitoring log files; securing databases; creating backup and restore procedures

11/23/2016 – 11/29/2016
6 Creating Views and presentation

Discussion Question

Project: Creating views to compare AC1’s between female and male patients in diabetic database

11/30/2016 – 12/6/2016
7 Finishing touches and final database presentation

Discussion Question

Project: Securing database; adding backup and restore plans; final presentation

12/7/2016 – 12/13/2016
8 Final Reflection

Discussion Question

2-3 page Final Reflection Paper

12/14/2016 – 12/18/2016

Grading Policy

Your grade in this course will be determined by the following criteria:

Grade Breakdown

Assessment ItemPossible PointsPercent of Total Grade
Installation of software and data55%
Discussion Boards2828%
Hands-on textbook assignments20 (5 pts per week)20%
Diabetes Project (3 parts)35 (part 1 = 10 pts, part 2 = 10 pts, part 3 = 15 pts)35% (10%, 10%, 15%)
Final Reflection1212%
Total100 points100%

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

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. Next, 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

Video:

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 the SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE, and DELETE statements

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 appropriate student files for your operating system:

Student files for Mac users
Student files for PC users

Once the appropriate 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.

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

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 2: More SQL skills as you need them

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 2:

Now that you have been exposed to SQL statements, 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

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 3: Database design and implementation

Overview: During this week, you will 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

Learning Outcomes:

  • 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 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 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 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:

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.

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