Health Informatics MSc

Swansea University

In this module, students will learn about communication and communication systems. This will include a study of electronic health records and clinical coding systems. Academic skills are developed and enhanced by an introduction to qualitative research methods. By the end of this module, students should be able to: 1. Summarise the importance of good interpersonal communication and team-working. 2. Critically discuss the principles of good human-computer interface design. 3. Critically appraise the theory behind, and components of, the electronic health record. 4. Critically appraise the role of the electronic health record in health care. 5. Summarise the need for standardised terminologies. 6. Critically appraise the key features of the terminologies currently used in the NHS. 7. Critically evaluate the practical issues associated with using standardised terminologies. 8. Critically appraise the key components of successful project and programme management. 9. Critically evaluate the main qualitative research methods used in health research.

In this module, students will study the skills required by the professional health informatician with an introduction to information governance, including privacy and the maintenance of confidentiality, data security, legislation, ethical considerations, and current UK and global eHealth strategies. Students will also begin to develop their academic skills in literature searching, the critical evaluation of research literature and reflective practice.

In this module, students will study knowledge management in health care environments. The themes covered will include: clinical decision-making; decision support systems; workflow management; web site design. Students will study experimental research designs. By the end of this module, students will be able to: 1. Critically appraise the use of decision support systems in health care. 2. Critically evaluate the role of electronic learning in promoting staff and patient awareness. 3. Create a sample Web site and critically discuss content management systems. 4. Critically discuss the role of knowledge management in health care. 5. Critically evaluate experimental research methods.

In this module, students will study the information systems & technologies used in health informatics projects and their implementation. These include: networks; the Internet; integrated communications; mobile communications; health information systems. Academic skills are further developed by studying how systematic reviews of literature are undertaken.

Students will study data quality and management, secondary uses of clinical data, service improvement and clinical audit. Academic skills are developed and enhanced by an introduction to quantitative research methodologies. Students will be introduced to statistical software such as SPSS. By the end of this module, the student will be able to: 1. Critically discuss the importance of data quality and how it can be ensured. 2. Critically compare common uses of clinical data for purposes other than direct patient care (i.e. secondary uses). 3. Critically assess the impact of clinical audit in the NHS. 4. Critically appraise the principles and techniques of service improvement/process re-engineering. 5. Critically evaluate the main quantitative research methods used in health research. 6. Critically analyse simple data sets using statistical software such as SPSS.