CPE7603

Contemporary issues in health informatics

B Cesnik

6 points - 4 hours per week - All semesters - Peninsula - Flexible mode - Prerequisites:CPE7601

Objectives At the completion of this subject, successful students have an appreciation of the role of decision support systems and the issues faced when seeking to incorporate such systems into health care environments; an understanding of current trends in health care and how they influence the development, implementation and utilisation of information systems; an understanding of available evaluation methodologies and the skills to select an appropriate mix of such methodologies in differing health care settings; an appreciation of the role of Internet-based technologies in managing patient care.

Synopsis The subject includes teaching the various ways in which healthcare practitioners need to interact with current information. The role of electronic patient summaries, direct order entry with interactive decision support and analysis of resource utilisation and outcomes to identify best practice are covered. The role of the Internet and its associated technologies as they affect health care options is also presented and explored. Evaluation methodologies relevant to the field of health informatics will also be included.

Assessment Critical review/evaluation project: 60% - Written assignment: 40%

Prescribed texts

Friedman C P and Wyatt J C (eds) Evaluation methods in medical informatics Springer Verlag, 1997

Recommended texts

Coiera E Guide to medical informatics, the Internet and telemedicine Chapman and Hall, 1997
Hovenga E, Kidd E and Cesnik B Health informatics: An overview Churchill Livingstone, 1996
Lorenzi N M and Riley R T (eds) Organisational aspects of health informatics: Managing technological change Springer Verlag, 1994
Van Bemmel J H and Musen M Handbook of medical informatics Springer Verlag, 1997

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