HIMA4160/001/Syllabus/Fall2009

HIMA 4160 Concepts in Health Information Technologies

COURSE INFORMATION

Instructor: Xiaoming Zeng, MD, Phone: 252.744.6176

PhD
Time: M/Th 1:30 – 2:50 PM
Location: 4405 Health Sciences
Building
Office: Health Sciences Building
4340Q
Office Hour: M/Th 10-11AM
Fax: 252.744.6179
Email: zengx@ecu.edu
IM: drzengatecu(msn), xmzeng(AIM), xiaomingzeng(Google
Talk), xizst999(Yahoo)
Websites: http://blackboard.ecu.edu and
http://blogs.aos.ecu.edu/hit-concepts/

Required Reading
• HANDBOOK OF INFORMATICS FOR NURSES & HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS by Toni Hebda and Patricia
Czar, Pearson Eduction; 4th edition; Upper Saddle River, New Jersey (2009). ISBN-10: 0-13-
504394-8 or ISBN-13: 978-0-13-504394-8. Available at the student book store. If you are
interested in purchasing it online, here is a link on AMAZON
(http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0135043948)
• Additional readings will be given at corresponding sessions.

Prerequisite
• MIS 2223: Introduction to Computers.
• HIMA 3090: Professional Practice Experience

COURSE DESCRIPTION
The course introduces students to the concepts, principles, and applications of
computer, information and communication technologies within the context of health care. It
explains major concepts of computer architecture, system and application software, and
computer networking. Applications aiding data gathering, processing, storage and analysis are
demonstrated and explained. Concepts and skills of data modeling and database management
systems are introduced. It reinforces the skills to use selected productivity applications in health
care.
The teaching methods used in the course include lectures, discussion, blogs, quizzes, exams,
assignments, and projects.

COURSE OBJECTIVES
After completing the course, the students should be able to:
• Explain digitization, information processing, and computing basics.
• Explain basic architecture of computer hardware and software.
• Implement a given algorithm using programming language.
• Recognize basic network architectures and topology.
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• Interpret the difference between algorithms and computer programs.

• Explain commonly used information technology terms.
• Assess the impact of human factors in computer and information technologies.
• Identify usability merits and flaws of human computer interface.
• Create Web pages using HTML(HyperText Markup Language) and other technologies
• Use advanced features of popular work productivity software suite – Microsoft Office Suite
and alternative packages.
• Recall basic theories and principles in relational data modeling and database design.
• Use Microsoft Access to design, implement, and query a relational database.
• Explain the advantage(s) of an access database over a data table created in excel.
• Explain how technology (hardware and software) is used to create a computerized or
image patient record.
• Describe selected information technologies (EHR, CPOE, RFID, Bar-coding, PHR) used in
health care.
• Explain how technology (hardware and software) is used to maintain the privacy, security
and confidentiality of the electronic patient record.

EVALUATIONS OF STUDENTS
Grade for the course will be determined based on students’ performance on the requirements
shown in the table below. Please do not ask for a redistribution or deletion of course
requirements unless under extreme circumstances. In order to be fair and consistent, the same
evaluation procedure will be applied to all students. You can continually review your numeric
grade from the grade book on the Blackboard server.

Requirements Points
Attendance 10
Assignments (8 at 5 points each) 40
Midterm Examination 10
Final Exam 20

Final Project 20

Total 100
Final letter grade will be assigned as follows:
A 90-100
B 80-89
C 70--79
D 60-69
F Below 60

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Attendance
The attendance of an online class is different from that in a face-to-face class because the
students don’t physically present in class. Therefore, the attendance will be assessed based on
the students’ contribution to online activities. These activities include but not limited to online
discussion, activities report, comments and questions.
Each week (except the first, last and examination weeks), you are expected to accomplish the
following online activities:
• Health IT News report: Report and reflect on the information technology news you come
across during the week.
• Online discussion: A discussion topic will be posted each week by the instructor to
stimulate discussions from the student.
• Quiz for reviewing the content of the past week.

Assignments
Students gain knowledge as well as skills of information technology from not only the required
readings but also hands-on experience using computers for problem solving. I will give eight
assignments that require hands-on experiences with computer and information technologies.
For each assignment, a student should submit not only the final product, but also a description of
the necessary procedures taken. Sometimes, screenshots of your computer desktop might need
to be embedded in the assignment too. Each assignment will be due one week after it is posted
on the blackboard server. Late submission of the assignment will result in point deduction (see
formula below). Assignment turned in 3 days after the due date will not be accepted. If you have
an excusable reason for missing the due date, please notify me before the deadline or provide
me verification afterwards. Assignments should be submitted via the Assignment module on the
Blackboard server. Sometimes students will be asked to display their work on the WordPress
website so it can be shared among them.

The following are the topics of each assignment:

Assignment 0: Treasure hunt on HIMA 4160
Assignment 1: Construct a personal website
Assignment 2: Recommend a computer to your supervisor
Assignment 3: JavaScript Programming
Assignment 4: Search information online
Assignment 5: Use Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
Assignment 6: Database design and development using Microsoft Access
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Assignment 7: File and email encryption

Term Project
Each student is mandated to implement a final project. The project should be a review paper that
describe a health information technology in detail. The project can be completed as a group but
each group can only consists of two students. There are several deadlines you need to meet for
the project. Failure to meet these deadlines with no excusable explanation will result in deducting
5 points from the total course points (see table above).
By October 8th, each student/group needs to submit a one-page proposal that describes the
topic and plan of their final project.
By December 10th, the term project report is due.

Examinations
Both midterm and final examination will be managed on the Blackboard server. The final
examination is cumulative, which will include content covered in the entire semester. The
formats of both examinations include true/false, multiple choices, multiple answers, matching,
and short answers. Both examinations are open book.

SOFTWARE
The following application software need to be installed for reading documents or finishing
assignments in the course.
• Microsoft Office Suite: You need to have Office XP or above. Office 2007 is recommended.
• Adobe Acrobat Reader: http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html.
• FileZilla: http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=21558
• TextPad: http://www.textpad.com/
• Jing: http://www.jingproject.com/. A package for capturing screenshots from your
computer.

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COURSE AND UNIVERSITY POLICIES

Video Recording:
Video recording of the face to face classes will be available to online students after they are
taught. Not all recordings are instructional. For example, sometimes the on campus classes will
have lab so it is not viable to watch a session with limited lectures. I will remark on whether the
videos are required to view or not.

Academic Integrity:
The East Carolina University Student Handbook (http://www.ecu.edu/studenthandbook/III.htm)
defines several categories of violations of academic integrity including: 1) Cheating, 2)
plagiarism, 3) Falsification, 4) Attempts. The department of health services and information
management strictly follow these guidelines and other ethic codes with no exceptions
(http://www.ecu.edu/hima/handbook/partIII.pdf). Any student found violating the academic
integrity guidelines will be penalized with 0 point for the assignment or project if it is the first
time, and an automatic F for the course if found twice. It is expected each student has read and
understands the academic integrity portions of the East Carolina University Student Handbook
and Health Services and Information Management Student Handbook.

Computers:
A student should have regular access to a computer with sufficient computing power and
internet connections in order to be fully functional in the class. A standard setting required by the
HSIM department can be found here (http://www.ecu.edu/cs-itcs/ace/upload/2009-ECU-Student-
Computer-Requirements.pdf).

Assignment:
Please use this naming convention for your assignment: last name + first initial +
assignment number. For example, the filename for my assignment 1 will be
zengxassignment1.doc (zengx is my last name and first initial). A student will be asked to
resubmit the assignment if he/she violates the naming convention. Multiple violations will result
in potential point deduction. The reason for such policy is because the instructor has to review
multiple copies of assignments. If all files with similar name, it causes difficulties or potential
errors when reviewing home works.

Course websites:
In addition to the Blackboard platform available at ECU (http://blackboard.ecu.edu), we will use a
blog/wiki platform called WordPress as a communication and collaboration platform. The
WordPress website is at http://blogs.aos.ecu.edu/hit-concepts/. Each student has already been
set up an account on the website. The username of the account is your ECU ID, and the
password is 12345 as a temporary one. I will use the website as a main communication platform
and the students are asked to contribute to the content on the website.

AMERICAN WITH DISABILITIES ACT

East Carolina University seeks to comply fully with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Students requesting accommodations based on a disability must be registered with the
Department for Disability Support Services located in Slay 138 ((252) 737-1016 (Voice/TTY)).
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COURSE SCHEDULE
Week Date Topic Readings Assignments
1 8/27 Introduction to the course Syllabus, Schedule Assignment 0 posted
2 8/31 Computing and digitization Chapter 1, Handout
9/3 Web Design and Development Handout Assignment 0 due
3 9/7 Labor day, no class
9/10 HTML and CSS Handout

4 9/14 Lab: HTML programming and Web publishing Handout Assignment 1 posted
9/17 Computer hardware: CPU and Memory Chapter 2
5 9/21 Computer hardware: Storage, I/O Chapter 2 Assignment 1 due
Assignment 2 posted
9/24 Software and Programming Languages Chapter 2
6 9/28 Introduction to JavaScript Handout Assignment 2 due
10/1 Lab: JavaScript Handout Assignment 3 posted
7 10/5 Concepts of Computer Networks Handout
10/8 Internet and World Wide Web Chapter 4, Appendix A Assignment 3 due
Project Proposal Due
8 10/12 Fall Break, No Class
10/15 Search Engines Chapter 4 Assignment 4 posted
9 10/19 Midterm Exam, Project proposal due

10/22 Advanced features in MS Office Handout Assignment 4 due

Assignment 5 posted
10 10/26 Introduction to Database Design Handout
10/29 Introduction to Microsoft Access Handout Assignment 5 due

11 11/2 Lab: Microsoft Access Handout Assignment 6 posted

11/5 EHR/HIS Chapter 5, 12
12 11/9 Selecting and Implementing an Information System Chapter 6, 7, 8 Assignment 6 due
11/12 Information Security and Privacy Chapter 10 Assignment 7 posted
13 11/16 No Class, AMIA Fall Symposium
11/19 Personal Health Records Chapter 12 Assignment 7 due
14 11/23 DSS/CPOE Chapter 8, 9
15 11/30 Information Standards Handout
12/3 Telehealth and Telemedicine Chapter 14
16 12/7 No Class. Students work on final report

12/10 No Class. Students work on final report Final Report Due

17 12/14 Final Exam (Cumulative)

Chapters refer to the required textbook Healthcare Informatics. Handouts will be posted on the Blackboard server
before the class. The schedule is subjective to change.

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APPENDIX: AHIMA Entry Level Competencies

IV. Domain: Information Technology & Systems
A. Subdomain: Information and Communication Technologies
1. Implement and manage use of technology, including hardware and software, to ensure data
collection, storage, analysis and reporting of information.
2. Contribute to the development of networks, including intranet, and internet applications to
facilitate the electronic health record (EHR), personal health record (PHR), public health, and other
administrative applications.
3. Interpret the derivation and use of standards to achieve interoperability of healthcare information
systems.
B. Subdomain: Data, Information, and File Structures
1. Apply knowledge of data base architecture and design (such as data dictionary, data modeling,
data warehousing and so on) to meet the organizational needs.
C. Subdomain: Data Storage and Retrieval
1. Apply appropriate electronic or imaging technology for data/record storage.
2. Apply knowledge of database querying and data mining techniques to facilitate information
retrieval
3. Implement and manage knowledge-based applications to meet to end-user information
requirements
4. Design and generate administrative reports using appropriate software.
D. Subdomain: Data Security
1. Enforce confidentiality and security measures to protect electronic health information
2. Protect data integrity and validity using software or hardware technology
3. Implement and monitor department and organizational data and information system security
policies.
4. Recommend elements that must be included in the design of audit trail and data quality
monitoring programs.
5. Recommend elements that should be included in the design and implementation of risk
assessment, contingency planning, and data recovery procedures
E. Subdomain: Healthcare Information Systems.
1. Compare and contrast the various clinical administrative and specialty service applications used
in healthcare organizations.
2. Apply appropriate systems life cycle concepts, including systems analysis, design
implementation, evaluation, and maintenance to selection of healthcare information systems.
3. Facilitate project management by integrating work efforts and planning and executing project
tasks and activities.
4. Formulate the planning, design, selection, implementation, integration, testing, evaluation, and
support for organization-wide information systems.

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5. Apply ergonomic and human factors in interface design.

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