MSc/PGDip/PGCert Health Informatics (UCL/UoM Joint Award)

Health Informaticians need to be able to support the development and procurement of health information systems for use by clinicians; patients, public; other professionals and researchers. They will provide oversight and understanding of the functionality of health/clinical information systems and applications. These clinical systems do not stand-alone: they increasingly interoperate and exchange data with other systems that not always sit within the traditional clinical ecosystem. In this rapidly changing landscape, health informaticians are required to rethink (or think innovatively around) the methods and techniques used in system development and analysis, while taking into consideration the standards and guidance relating to medical devices, infrastructure/software development; data security and network management in a range of scenarios.

This unit will cover the following indicative content:

•       Overview of health information systems and technologies, including electronic health record systems, mobile apps and cloud-based systems;

•       Underlying technologies – networks; architecture design; data storage

•       System development life cycle and methodologies - agile; waterfall

•       User requirements analysis

•       System testing, performance and quality assurance

•       Planning and evaluating system implementation.

The unit aims to:

•       Provide an overview of health information systems and technologies and their impact on the delivery of healthcare;

•       Give insight in the technologies that underlie health information systems;

•       Improve understanding which stakeholders are involved and what their role is in designing and implementing systems;

•       Improve understanding of different approaches and methodologies for system development, and how and when to apply them;

•       Improve understanding of the issues surrounding the introduction or change of a health information system and/or technology;

•       Teach how to critically appraise system design/development/delivery and make suggestions for improvement.

  

Category of outcome	Students should be able to:
A. Knowledge and understanding	LO1: Critically appraise health information systems and technologies and use this knowledge to support future decision-making around system design and implementation LO2: Evaluate the different approaches to system development and how they fit in the broader cycle of development, deployment and maintenance of healthcare systems. LO3: Assess issues surrounding system quality assurance and be able to address them LO4: Critically appraise the range of technologies available to produce and store data/information LO5: Critically appraise the role of different stakeholders in the health information system development and assess their needs.
B. Intellectual skills	LO6: Determine the likely impact of introducing a (change in a) health information system and use this knowledge to plan the implementation LO7: Critically review a plan for system design/development/delivery and make suggestions for improvement LO8: Apply systems methodologies to a healthcare context.
C. Practical skills	LO9: Conduct a system requirements gathering exercise and communicate the results LO10: Employ skills to introduce new technologies/systems into the healthcare system LO11: Apply system methodologies to design a technological solution to a healthcare problem.
D. Transferable skills and personal qualities	LO12: Work collaboratively within a team LO13: Present ideas and work in a verbal and written format LO14: Understand how to allocate resources and plan a project LO15: Work through a problem-solving cycle.

Teaching and learning methods

Assessment methods

Method	Weight
Report	80%
Oral assessment/presentation	20%

Feedback methods

Recommended reading

Study hours

Independent study hours
Independent study	150

Teaching staff

Staff member	Role
Sabine Van der Veer	Unit coordinator

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