Health Information Technology and Clinical Informatics Foundations1

Health Information Technology and Clinical Informatics Foundations

Overview

This course is designed to introduce to clinicians to the core principles and best practices of clinical informatics and health information technology (HIT). In this 40-hour, 8-week course, students will be introduced to health IT history, terminology, technology, data standards, workflow and design issues in health-related settings. The course will cover the use of information and the design of processes and systems that improve health information interactions. Students will receive an overview of design methodologies and human factorsnecessary to engage stakeholders within and external to their organizational units.

Intended Audience and Expected Time Commitment

The program is intended for clinicians. It includes eight class modules will require about 4-8 hours of course work per week from enrolled students.This course assumes basic computer skills and some domain experience in health care-related settings.

Program Objectives

At the completion of this course, the learners will be able to:

  • Describe the current and future opportunities and challenges hospitals face in using HIT.
  • Define the relationship of HIT to clinical quality and patient safety, including successes and failures.
  • Explain one or more models of HIT project management and demonstrate use of the tools and techniques in such models.
  • Develop usable models of workflow and process redesign.
  • Describe the core issues of HIT and human factors in care delivery settings.
  • Demonstrate the effective use of core principles of HIT leadership and management.
  • Describe professionalism in HIT and define the core competencies required to be effective clinician informaticians.

Program Format

This program consists of eight core modules,each designed to last approximately one week. The programincludes a mix of online lectures and discussions. Course work is primarily asynchronous (participants do not meet at scheduled times; they complete individual weekly assignments) and online. Students will needaccess to an online classroom to review the lectures, add to the discussion forums, and to complete quizzes, case studies, and other activities.

Program Materials

  • PowerPoint Slides, Flash Videos, PDF documents, web links
  • Supplemental readings
  • Discussion forums, weekly quizzes, and case study activities

Topics

Module 1: The History of Health Information Technology in the U.S.

  • Evolution of Health IT: The HITECH Act
  • History of Electronic Health Records (EHRs)
  • History of Clinical Decision Support Systems (CDSSs)
  • History of Computerized Provider Order Entry (CPOE) and E-Prescribing
  • History of Health Information Exchange (HIE)
  • History of Quality Improvement (QI) and Patient Safety
  • Payment-Related Issues and the Role of HIT

Module 2: Quality Improvement

  • Introduction to Quality Improvement and Health Information Technology
  • Principles of Quality and Safety for HIT
  • Decision Support for Quality Improvement
  • HIT Design to Support Teamwork and Communication
  • HIT Implementation Planning to Maximize Quality and Safety

Module 3: HIT Project Management, Part I

  • Overview of Health IT Projects
  • Project Life Cycles
  • Project Selection and Initiation
  • Project Planning Overview
  • Managing Project Scope
  • Managing Project Time, Cost, and Procurements

Module 4: HIT Project Management, Part II

  • Managing Project Risk
  • Team Management and Communications
  • Project Monitoring and Control
  • Quality Management
  • Project Closeout and Transition

Module 5: Health Workflow Process Analysis

  • Concepts of Healthcare Processes and Process Analysis
  • Process Mapping Theory and Rationale
  • Acquiring Clinical Process Knowledge
  • Process Analysis

Module 6: Process Redesign

  • Process Redesign
  • Quality Improvement Methods
  • Leading and Facilitating Change
  • People and Technology
  • Requirements Engineering
  • Cognition and Human Performance

Module 7: Usability and Human Factors

  • Human Factors and Healthcare
  • Usability Evaluation Methods
  • Electronic Health Records and Usability
  • Decision Support Systems: A Human Factors Approach

Module 8: Planning, Management, and Leadership in Health IT

  • Introduction to Leadership
  • The Management and Leadership Distinction
  • Overview of IT Strategic Planning Process
  • Conflict Resolution

If you have questions, please contact Margaret Murphy

This project was funded by the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT U.S. Department of Health and Human Services ARRA Grant # 90CC07701