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Rutgers SHP Requirements for Graduation and Course Descriptions

Department of Health Informatics

Health Informatics

BINF5005 - Health Care Information Systems

Course Description

Students are introduced to a series of health/biomedical informatics applications including: coding and classification, computer stored patient record system, patient-centered information systems, methods of decision support, hospital information systems, and methodology for information systems. The course stresses general methodology behind all methods and applications: emphasizing design, system components, and data structures and data management. Computer-based information system operation and management functions in the context of various professional settings, impact of information technology on health care management are reviewed and discussed. Particular attention is given to the importance of structuring and managing data using existing and evolving information technology.

Credits/Modes of Instruction

Credits: 3

Students should anticipate spending approximately 135-180 hours of directed study. This course consists of readings from the textbook, discussion activities posted on the discussion board, links to informational sites on the internet, lecture handouts, written assignments, and practice quizzes. The PowerPoint lecture handouts are available from the course homepage.

Prerequisites

None.

Course Goals and Outcomes:

Goals

To provide a critical overview of computer applications in areas such as medical records, clinical laboratory, pharmacy, medical database management, patient care and hospital information systems, health sciences education and research.

Outcomes

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:
Describe the relationship between information management and clinical practice, and how it affects the practice of medicine.
Describe the roles and capabilities of information systems in various biomedical and health care management systems.
Understand the need and role of health data standards for storage and transmission.
Understand the role of Regional Health Information Organizations (RHIO) in the National Health Care infrastructure.
Understand the models and processes for developing health information systems and for managing information resources.
Discuss major software obstacles associated with integration of information technology in various health care settings.
Analyze information processing and decision support needs in healthcare and suggest methods to justify, specify and provide computer services.
Review current implementations of computers in diverse clinical areas, and evaluate direct data acquisition and entry by healthcare professionals.
Discuss various ways and methods to increase efficiency, effectiveness, and security and confidentiality of medical information systems.
Create a request for information and request for proposal.
Explain how the digital revolution is impacting patients, providers and healthcare organizations.