Information Technology in Healthcare

Course Introduction
Document Reference: Core Content Outline
A. Introductory (2 Modules)
In this section, we present various leadership/management issues relating to the healthcare information
technology. This high level review identifies issues that impact the ability of the organization to achieve its
vision and to make correct strategic and operational decisions. This section also provides an overview of
technologies that are available (e.g. PACS, decision support, CPOE, scheduling, biometrics for security,
communication, business and clinical systems, etc.)

Module 1: The Healthcare Environment

This module will provide an overview of the healthcare landscape. It will examine the different
characteristics of healthcare organizations, the interrelationships among all healthcare
components, the role that the government, regulatory, professional and accreditation agencies play
within healthcare, and finally it will describe the roles of healthcare professionals and the
organizational structure in which they work.

Module 2: Healthcare IT Applications

This module will explore Clinical Informatics, explaining the primary components of the
Electronic Health Record. It will also examine the major information systems used in both clinical
and administrative settings.

B. Healthcare IT Acquisition (4 Modules)

The content in this section addresses the systematic approach to identifying and acquiring the IT systems
that the organization needs. Given major investments in IT, it is important that the organization approach
IT acquisition in a step-by-step comprehensive method.

Module 3: Systems Analysis and Design

This module will explore project analysis and design. It will address the tools that are available to
perform a systems analysis, examine the key factors to be considered in a systems design,
emphasize the importance of communication throughout both of these processes, and finally to
understand the primary factors in measuring the benefits of a systems implementation.

Module 4: Systems Acquisition

This module will examine the various strategies and key factors towards purchasing systems. This
includes best-of-breed, single vendor, and best-of-cluster. This module will also examine the
major opportunities and risks to using both an in-house built approach to systems acquisition, and
with an outsourcing approach to acquiring information systems functions. Lastly, this module will
give the learner basic knowledge of factors related to outsourcing or off-shoring.

Information Technology in Healthcare

Core Content Outline

Copyright 2009 by the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS)

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Healthcare IT Acquisition (continued)

Module 5: Negotiation Process
This module will explore the major factors for a successful negotiation of an IT purchase
agreement. It will look at the steps necessary to complete an agreement and it will also examine
the principles and expectations that should be included in all healthcare IT purchase agreements.

Module 6: Healthcare IT Strategy and Strategic Planning

This module will identify the importance of strategic planning in IT and its alignment with
organizational strategic plan. Furthermore, this module will examine the role of governance in IT
strategic planning and the elements to shape an effective governance role. It will also look at the
key elements of an environmental assessment as the underpinning for strategic planning. Finally,
the module will explain the quantitative approaches to prioritizing IT projects for implementation.

C. Healthcare IT Implementation (3 Modules)

Having made the decision to implement a specific IT system or combination of systems from various
vendors, then the plan for implementation and carrying out of that plan, needs to be as systematic as the
acquisition decision-making process.

Module 7: Project Management

This module will discuss what project management is and why it is critical to an IT systems
analysis and implementation. It will explain the five steps to project management and how to
apply them. It will show how one can be an effective project team member by understanding the
role of the team in an implementation, and lastly, to assess the challenges to project management.

Module 8: Systems Implementation and Support

This module will identify the success factors that must be addressed during a systems
implementation and the elements needed in the implementation plan. Module Nine will also
examine what to do after go live and the areas that must be the focus of on-going support and
maintenance of a system. Finally, the module will look at an example of the benefits that one
small physician practice experienced after successful implementation of an electronic health
record.

Module 9: Benefits Realization

This module will show how to understand and apply governance success factors for ROI on the IT
investment. This module will examine the major challenges to achieving ROI on new IT systems,
analyze the key measures of IT investment benefits realization, and the significance of measuring
ROI. Lastly, the module will look at the criteria for achieving measurable benefits from an
investment in new systems.

Information Technology in Healthcare

Core Content Outline

Copyright 2009 by the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS)

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D. E-Health Implementation (3 Modules)

This module will address the specific factors and issues in the implementation of e-health initiatives. This
is a discussion of approaches to implementing health IT across geographic and organizations boundaries,
e.g. community to community, hospital to doctors office, hospital to hospital. It will cover the strategy
and approach for developing community networks and for creating the organizational infrastructure that is
needed.

Module 10: The Electronic Health Record and e-Health Implementation

This module explores the difference between the Electronic Medical Record and the Electronic
Health Record. The module will explain the key components and functionalities of the Electronic
Health Record (EHR) and the major challenges to the development of the EHR. It will also assess
the primary elements in the development of a health information exchange.

Module 11: Privacy and Security: Policies and Principles

This module will look at the basic activities within operations, networking, and programming that
reduce risk and provide auditability. It will examine how to recognize threats to information
management systems and articulate the elements of information systems risk assessment.

Module 12: Privacy and Security: Technical Measures

This module will examine key security health information securities policies and procedures. It
will look at how to distinguish the elements of security audit and key security policies. The
module will also look at the central role of people in maintaining health information security.
Lastly, the module will explain the elements of an identity management program and the role they
play.

E. Organizational Considerations (3 Modules)

Module 13: Integration and Interoperability
This module will define interoperability in healthcare and explain the role of interoperability in the
development of a fully functioning electronic health record. The module will examine the
challenges to the development of interoperability in healthcare. Finally, the module will discern
the roles of various standards development organizations in spreading standards that are vital to
interoperability.

Module 14: Data Management

This module will identify the key elements of an enterprise data warehouse. It will explain how to
apply best practices for the development of a data warehouse and distinguish between a clinical
data repository and an enterprise data warehouse. The module will also articulate the role of
Master Patient Index in the aggregation of patient data. Finally, the module will recognize the
importance of information management for executive and strategic decision making and in clinical
decision making.

Information Technology in Healthcare

Core Content Outline

Copyright 2009 by the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS)

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Organizational Considerations (continued)

Module 15: IT Governance and Management
This module will examine the role that a manager plays in healthcare IT, describe a typical process
for creating a strategic plan and explain the core requirements for project management. The
module will also elaborate on the crucial elements of IT technology management.

F. Case Study (1 Module)

Module 16: Allina Hospitals & Clinics: A Davies Award Winning EMR
This module will examine the Allina Hospitals & Clinics based in Minneapolis, MN. This health system
includes 11 hospitals and 65 clinics, an operation that serves Minnesota and western Wisconsin. With its
vision four years ago as "One Patient, One Record," the Allina system shares patient health information
among its sites through its extensive EHR and revenue cycle design. The Allina Hospitals & Clinics case
study will exemplify everything that was discussed throughout this course.

G. Course Final Exam (50 Multiple-Choice Questions)

The final exam will test comprehension of the learner across all 16 modules by multiple choice questions.
An 80% grade or better is required to successfully the exam. By doing so, the learner will earn a certificate
of completion as well as 16 CNEs, if applicable.

Information Technology in Healthcare

Core Content Outline

Copyright 2009 by the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS)

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