Health Information Management & Systems

This subject is not offered in 2016.

120 hours

Year 1, semester 1

AND

Year 2, semester 1

AND

Year 2, semester 2

None

One or more life sciences subjects, e.g. biochemistry, genetics, cell biology, animal health, microbiology

None

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Student Support and Engagement Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Overview, Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Generic Skills sections of this entry.

It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. Students who feel their disability may impact on meeting the requirements of this subject are encouraged to discuss this matter with a Faculty Student Adviser and Student Equity and Disability Support: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/disability

Health and biomedical informatics is the body of knowledge that concerns the acquisition, storage, retrieval and use of information in, about and for human health, and the design and management of related information systems to advance the understanding and practice of healthcare.

The discipline of health and biomedical informatics sits at the intersection of at least four fields of research – health science, computer science, information science and knowledge management.

In recent years the collection, storage and usage of electronic health data (ehealth) has exponentially grown. Increases in the complexity and comprehensiveness of health information systems have driven growth in demand for a specialised workforce.

Careers in health informatics and ehealth could involve developing systems, analysing data, conducting research and applying health information systems in clinical and biomedical practice and research, as well as in the ehealth sector of the IT industry.

This kind of work involves a specialist workforce and is also of importance to health professionals (nurses, doctors, allied health, pharmacy, public health, etc), health managers and policy makers.

This subject introduces the field of health and biomedical informatics and provides students with the basic knowledge and skills to pursue professional certification as a health informatician.

Students will be able to demonstrate understanding and knowledge of:

• Health information attributes and standards
• Health information management principles and practices
• Health information technology concepts and applications
• Health information systems, services and strategies

• Written review of assigned reading (500 words), in week 4 (20%)
• Mid-semester test in week 7 (20%)
• Project report (1000 words) and class presentation (10 min), in week 11 or 12 (20%)
• Final exam in examination period (40%)

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

Students will hone generic skills such as analytical thinking, IT and internet literacy, teamwork, presentation and report writing skills.