Course content

Health care informatics is about using ICT to make healthcare systems more reliable providers of knowledge- and skills-based, safe, and verifiable healthcare services. This course offers an introduction to the healthcare domain, the various types of information systems in use, and how they actually contribute to value creation. Healthcare services have a vast and continually growing knowledge base. An information system can also be used to distribute knowledge to healthcare professionals and to assess the practical value of the knowledge they apply.

The course introduces key concepts and methods in the design and development of digital health technology, as well as the laws, regulations, and standards that frame its ongoing development. It also provides an overview of how the impact of introducing health technology can be evaluated. The course can be taken independently or as part of the master’s program in healthcare informatics.

Learning outcome

A candidate who has completed the course shall have achieved the following learning outcomes:

Knowledge

The candidate shall:

• Be able to describe the purpose and scope of various types of information systems used in healthcare
• Be able to describe different roles and stakeholders, as well as their interests and perspectives in the development, procurement, implementation, use, and management of systems
• Be able to describe the structure and functions of an electronic health record (EHR) system
• Have knowledge of key models and conceptual frameworks for health information
• Be able to describe the standards and terminology systems used in the development of Norwegian health information systems
• Be able to explain how IT systems can be used for process and decision support, including the application of artificial intelligence
• Be able to explain relevant health and personal data legislation, and some ethical issues related to privacy
• Be able to explain agile methods in the design, development, and implementation of health information systems
• Be able to account for the main motivations for, and key methods of, evaluating health information systems

Skills

The candidate shall:

• Be able to independently assess the quality and relevance of peer-reviewed scientific literature
• Be able to understand and apply relevant models and terminologies
• Have basic skills in the development, specification, implementation, and evaluation of health information systems

General Competence

The candidate shall:

• Be able to identify and analyze fundamental ethical issues related to system- and technology-driven changes in the healthcare system, affecting employees and citizens, as well as the roles of clinicians and patients
• Be able to communicate and discuss fundamental issues related to the implementation and use of health technology in the healthcare sector and in society at large

Learning methods and activities

Lectures / exercises / group work.

The course requires a minimum number of students to run.

Compulsory assignments

• Participation in the gatherings
• Assignments
• Individual multiple choice test (digitall7)

Specific conditions

Required previous knowledge

Three years of higher education (college / university) and at least two years of relevant work experience after completed degree (admission requirements for the master's program in health informatics).

Course materials

Coiera. (2015). Guide to health informatics (3rd ed., pp. XXVI, 683). CRC Press.

Additional literature is made available to participants via the learning platform.

Credit reductions