
Course unit details:
Introduction to Health Informatics
Unit code | COMP60542 |
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Credit rating | 15 |
Unit level | FHEQ level 7 – master's degree or fourth year of an integrated master's degree |
Teaching period(s) | Semester 2 |
Available as a free choice unit? | Yes |
Overview
Good quality electronic patient records require us to have systematic and unambiguous tools for recording the health state of a patient, and the treatments they receive. This unit provides a basic introduction to the development and use of electronic patient records, their long history, and the challenges still to be overcome.
Pre/co-requisites
Unit title | Unit code | Requirement type | Description |
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Principles of Digital Biology | COMP60532 | Pre-Requisite | Compulsory |
Aims
Part 1: Coding
- Introduce students to basic concepts in coding systems used in health care
- Examine the history of coding schemes in medicine
- Explore some of the current coding schemes in detail (Read codes) and discuss future developments (Snomed)
- Examine some of the issues and problems around the use and maintenance of coding schemes
- Discuss the development and deployment of electronic patient records (EPRs)
- Explore issues of data governance and patient confidentiality around electronic patient records.
Part 2: Sharing
- Introduce students to basic concepts in of interoperability in health care
- Introduce basic messaging concepts, including an overview of HL7
- Introduce issues and problems around data interoperabilty
- Examine strategies for data integration
Part3: EPRs in practice
- Introduce students to basic concepts in of organisational and human factors in e-health
- Explore issues of EPRs in practice
- Introduce basic concepts around qualitative research methodologies
- Introduce basic concepts around useability in healthcare
- Introduce concepts around organisational change in the health service
Learning outcomes
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Basic understanding of electronic patient records. An understanding of the complexities and problems in capturing clinical data. An understanding of the ethical and privacy issues surrounding medical data governance.
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An understanding of the theoretical underpinning of coding schemes and data sharing protocols. Critical evaluation of health care literature around EPRs
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Basic familiarity with the process of medical coding. Ability to understand the processes involved in mapping between different coding schemes. Ability to understand the processes involved in medical data sharing. Ability to critically evaluate current literature on EPRs.
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Interdisciplinary teamworking. Self-directed learning. Reflection upon learning.
Employability skills
- Group/team working
- Innovation/creativity
- Project management
- Oral communication
- Problem solving
- Research
- Written communication
Assessment methods
Method | Weight |
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Written assignment (inc essay) | 100% |
Feedback methods
Study hours
Scheduled activity hours | |
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Lectures | 10 |
Practical classes & workshops | 10 |
Independent study hours | |
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Independent study | 130 |
Teaching staff
Staff member | Role |
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Andrew Brass | Unit coordinator |