HIN (0308) 610 - Introduction to Health Informatics

Credits: 3.00

Students are introduced to the fundamental concepts and knowledge in the field of health informatics. Topics covered include, but are not limited to main information technology applications, electronic health records, personal health records, data standards, health information exchange and future of health informatics applications.

Course Learning Goals: The students will be able to:

• Develop the familiarity and comfort of using common medical terms and describe body structures using correct anatomical, positional and directional terms.

• Provide the complete meaning of a medical abbreviations and communicate with health care professionals utilizing proper medical terminology.

• Discuss the role of various health informatics professionals and summarize the informatics drivers and trends.

• Describe how Health Information Exchange (HIE) and Nationwide Health Information Network (NHIN) impact health care delivery and the practice of health care providers.

• Identify the core elements that comprise an EHR system and describe the major goals of meaningful use.

• Identify health informatics data standards and 12 possible steps to choosing an EHR system.

• Describe and apply privacy, confidentiality, and security under the tenets of HIPAA Privacy Rule.

• Analyze the increasing professionalization of informaticians and health information technology professionals including training programs and professional organizations.

• Evaluate the barriers to adoption of health information technology that the HITECH act is designed to address.

• Analyze and synthesize how ongoing developments in health informatics can affect future uses of health care data.