Implementation Date: 2012
Note: Deletions are strikethroughs. Insertions are underlined.
Catalog Copy
Health Informatics
- Professional Science Master’s in Health Informatics
- Graduate Certificate in Healthcare Information Technology
The program in Health Informatics is a joint venture between the College of Computing and Informatics, the College of Health and Human Services and the Graduate School. The program offers both a Certificate and a Professional Science Master’s degree designed to prepare students for the complex and rapidly changing healthcare and technology sectors.
Graduate Program Director
Joshua Hertel, Graduate School
Cato 223
704-687-8763
College of Computing and Informatics
College of Health and Human Services
Graduate School
http://graduateschool.uncc.edu
Deans
Dr. Yi Deng, College of Computing and Informatics
Dr. Nancy Fey-Yensan, College of Health and Human Services
Dr. Tom Reynolds, Graduate School
Graduate Faculty
Computer Science
Srinivas Akella, Associate Professor
Robert Kosara, Assistant Professor
William Ribarsky, Professor
Wensheng Wu, Assistant Professor
Kinesiology
Tricia Hubbard Turner, Associate Professor
Nursing
Sonya Hardin, Associate Professor
Lucille Travis, Professor
Public Health Sciences
Ahmed A. Arif, Associate Professor
Christopher Blanchette, Adjunct Associate Professor
William Brandon, Adjunct Professor
Larissa R. Brunner Huber, Associate Professor
John Fisher, Research Assistant Professor
Andrew Harver, Professor
James N. Laditka, Associate Professor
Sarah B. Laditka, Associate Professor
Elena A. Platonova, Assistant Professor
William B. Saunders, Associate Graduate Faculty
James Studnicki, Professor
Stephen L. Wagner, Associate Graduate Faculty
Software and Information Systems
Bei-Tseng Chu, Professor
Mirsad Hadzikadic, Professor
Celine Latulipe, Assistant Professor
Heather Lipford, Assistant Professor
Anita Raja, Associate Professor
William Tolone, Associate Professor
Weichao Wang, Assistant Professor
Yongge Wang, Associate Professor
David Wilson, Associate Professor
Xintao Wu, Associate Professor
Yuliang Zheng, Professor
Professional Science Master’s in Health Informatics
The Professional Science Master’s in Health Informatics is an interdisciplinary program focused on the complex issues surrounding the management and analysis of electronic medical information. The purpose of the program is to develop future leaders in the areas of programming, security, health information exchange and health care analytics. Graduates of the Health Informatics PSM will be prepared to meet the urgent need for professionals capable of creating, implementing, evaluating, and modifying the next generation of medical information systems.
Admission Requirements
The minimum admission requirements for the program are:
- An earned baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university in computer sciences, health sciences, information systems, or life sciences or in an informatics discipline or a closely related field
- A minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0
- Acceptable scores on the verbal, quantitative, and analytical sections of the GRE
- Positive letters of recommendation
- A statement of purpose outlining the goals for pursuing a graduate education in health information systems
- A minimum TOEFL score of 220 (computer-based), 557 (paper-based), or 83 (internet based) or a minimum IELTS band score of 6.5 is required from any applicant whose native language is not English
- Other credentials as required by the Graduate School
Documents to be submitted for admission:
- Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended
- Official GRE scores
- Official TOEFL or IELTS scores
- The UNC Charlotte application for graduate admission form
- Three letters of recommendation
Degree Requirements
The Professional Science Masters (PSM) in Health Informatics requires 39-48 graduate credit hours, including 9-18 hours of Foundation courses, 18 hours of Core courses, 9 hours of Concentration courses, and 3 hours of Internship/Practicum. There are four specialty Concentrations:
- Programmer & Software Engineer
- Health Information Privacy and Security Specialist
- Health Information Management (HIM)/Exchange Specialist
- Health Analyst
A minimum of 24 credit hours contributing to a PSM in Health Informatics must be numbered 6000 or higher. A maximum of 6 hours of graduate credit may be transferred. Students may apply all of the credits earned in the HIT Certificate towards the PSM in Health Informatics.
Core Requirements
Foundation Courses
Students with an adequate informatics background will take the “Foundations in Health” course sequence. Similarly, students with an adequate health care background will take the “Foundations in Informatics” course sequence. In all cases a minimum of 9 credit hours of Foundations courses are required.
Foundations in Health
HCIP 5370. Health Vocabularies and Classification Systems (3)
HCIP 6100. Introduction to the US Health Care System (3)
HCIP 6134. Quality and Outcomes Management in Health Care (3)
Foundations in Informatics
HCIP 5375. Computer Vocabularies and Programming Systems (3)
HCIP 5376. Introduction to Programming for Health Informatics (3)
HCIP 5160/6160. Database Systems for Health Informatics (3)
The adequacy of a student’s background is determined by the program director. Students who are determined by the program director to lack an adequate background in informatics as well as health will be required to take courses from both Foundation sequences (Foundation General) for a maximum of up to 18 hours.
Core Health Informatics Courses
All students complete six required Core courses (18 hours) that provide a strong general background in health informatics, security, management, leadership and statistics in preparation for more advanced Concentration courses.
HCIP 6108. Decision Analysis in Health Care (3)
HCIP 6201. Computer Security, Privacy and Legal Issues (3)
HCIP 6228. Medical Informatics (3)
HCIP 6342. Information Technology Project Management (3)
HCIP 6380. Introduction to Health Informatics (3)
HCIP 6385. Healthcare Communication and Leadership (3)
Concentration Requirements
Each student must also complete an approved concentration area consisting of nine (9) credit hours. Current concentration areas include:
- Programmer and Software Engineer (9 Hours)
Students in this concentration design and develop advanced health IT solutions creating systems that meet the unique needs and exacting standards of the healthcare industry.
HCIP 5166. Network-Based Application Development (3)
HCIP 6070. Current Issues in Health Informatics (3)
HCIP 6112. Software System Design and Implementation (3)
HCIP 6162. Knowledge Discovery in Databases (3)
HCIP 6350. Principles of Human-Computer Interaction (3)
HCIP 6390. Advanced Programming for HI (3)
HCIP 6391. Architecting HI Systems (3)
HCIP 6392. Enterprise Health Information Systems (3)
HCIP 6410. Personalization and Recommender Systems (3)
- Health Information Management and Exchange Specialist (9 Hours)
Students in this concentration focus on the collection, management, and efficient transfer of medical information across multiple platforms.
HCIP 6070. Current Issues in Health Informatics (3)
HCIP 6134. Quality and Outcomes Management in Health Care (3) *
HCIP 6146. Information Resources Management (3)
HCIP 6150. Health Law and Ethics (3)
HCIP 6199. Principles of Computer Networks and Databases (3)
HCIP 6330. Medical Practice Management (3)
HCIP 6392. Enterprise Health Information Systems (3)
HCIP 6393. Advanced Health Data Integration w/Lab (3)
- Health Information Privacy and Security Specialist (9 Hours)
Students in this concentration specialize in the secure exchange and storage of confidential electronic health records.
HCIP 5220. Vulnerability Assessment and System Assurance (3)
HCIP 5250. Computer Forensics (3)
HCIP 6070. Current Issues in Health Informatics (3)
HCIP 6134. Quality & Outcomes Management in Health Care (3) *
HCIP 6167. Network Security (3)
HCIP 6200. Principles of Information Security and Privacy (3)
HCIP 6210. Access Control & Security Architecture (3)
HCIP 6230. Information Infrastructure Protection (3)
HCIP 6240. Applied Cryptography (3)
- Health Analyst (9 Hours)
Students in this concentration are responsible for analyzing health data to identify risk and to adopt best practices.
HCIP 6070. Current Issues in Health Informatics (3)
HCIP 6104. Health and Disease (3)
HCIP 6134. Quality & Outcomes Management in Health Care (3) *
HCIP 6146. Information Resources Management (3)
HCIP 6150. Health Law and Ethics (3)
HCIP 6162. Knowledge Discovery in Databases (3)
HCIP 6163. Data Warehousing (3)
HCIP 6260. Analytic Epidemiology (3)
HCIP 6330. Medical Practice Management (3)
HCIP 6393. Advanced Health Data Integration w/Lab (3)
* This course cannot be used to satisfy both a foundation and a concentration requirement
Other concentration areas may be possible with the approval of the Graduate Program Director. In addition, the Graduate Program Director can approve substitution of courses within approved concentration areas.
Capstone Project/Internship
In line with the practice-based nature of the program, all students must complete an approved Capstone Project/Internship experience.
HCIP 6198. IT Internship Project (3)
--Or --
HCIP 6400. Internship (3)
Other Requirements
- At UNC Charlotte, courses having 5000 numbers are open to graduate students. Courses with 6000, 7000, and 8000 numbers are open to graduate students only. A minimum of 24 credit hours presented towards a PSM in Health Informatics degree must be numbered 6000 or higher.
- A student in the PSM in the Health Informatics Program must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0 for continued enrollment in the program. Accumulation of three C grades will result in the suspension of the student’s enrollment in the program. Accumulation of one U grade will result in the suspension of the student’s enrollment in the program.
- Up to six hours of approved coursework may be transferred from regionally accredited master’s or doctoral programs. Only courses in which the student earned a grade of B or above may be transferred.
- Time limits to complete the program are described in the Graduate Catalog: “University policy requires that no course listed on a master’s student’s candidacy form be older than six years at the time of graduation.” Courses that exceed this time limit must be revalidated or retaken, whichever the graduate program decides necessary, if they are to count towards the degree.
Graduate Certificate in Healthcare Information Technology
The purpose of the Graduate Certificate in Healthcare Information Technology is to train individuals in the management of health and medical information and its secure exchange between consumers and providers. The certificate requires twelve (12) credit-hours of coursework and a three (3) credit-hour internship, for a total of fifteen (15) graduate credit hours. The certificate may be pursued concurrently with a related graduate degree program at UNC Charlotte. Students may apply all of the credits earned in the HIT Certificate towards the PSM in Health Informatics.
Admission Requirements
For admission into the certificate program, applicants must meet the following requirements:
- A bachelor’s degree in a related field, including, but not limited to, a life science, health science, health administration, business administration, or computing discipline
- An undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or above
- Knowledge of applications of information technology, including an understanding of computers, database management, and basic programming skills
- A statement of purpose outlining the goals for pursuing a graduate education in health information systems
The GRE is not required for admission to the HIT Certificate.
Program Requirements
The following two courses comprise the required core:
HCIP 6201. Computer Security, Privacy and Legal Issues (3)
HCIP 6100. Introduction to the US Health Care System (3)
One additional informatics course from the following list of electives is required:
HCIP 5160. Applied Database (3)
HCIP 5166. Network-Based Application Development (3)
HCIP 5375. Computer Vocabularies and Programming Systems (3)
HCIP 5376. Introduction to Programming for Health Informatics (3)
HCIP 6160. Database Systems (3)
HCIP 6163. Data Warehousing (3)
HCIP 6162. Knowledge Discovery in Databases (3)
HCIP 6350. Principles of Human-Computer Interaction (3)
HCIP 6410. Personalization and Recommender Systems (3)
One additional health administration course from the following list of electives is required:
HCIP 5370. Health Vocabularies and Classification Systems (3)
HCIP 6104. Health and Disease (3)
HCIP 6108. Decision Analysis in Health Care (3)
HCIP 6134. Quality and Outcomes Management in Health Care (3)
HCIP 6146. Information Resources Management (3)
HCIP 6150. Health Law and Ethics (3)
HCIP 6380. Introduction to Health Informatics (3)
Students must complete an internship after the completion of all required coursework:
HCIP 6198. IT Internship Project (3)
--Or --
HCIP 6400. Internship (3)
Transfer credits cannot be applied to this certificate program.
Courses In Health Informatics (HCIP)
HCIP 5160. Applied Databases (3) Cross-listed as ITIS 5160. Prerequisite: Enrollment in the PSM in Health Informatics or Healthcare IT Certificate and full graduate standing required.. Identification of business database needs; requirements specification; relational database model; SQL; E-R modeling; database design, implementation, and verification; distributed databases; databases replication; object-oriented databases; data warehouses; OLAP; data mining; security of databases; vendor selection; DBMS product comparison; database project management; tools for database development, integration, and transaction control. (Fall) (Evenings)
HCIP 5166. Network-Based Application Development (3) Cross-listed as ITIS 5166. Prerequisite: Enrollment in the PSM in Health Informatics or Healthcare IT Certificate and full graduate standing. This course examines the issues related to network based application development. Topics include introduction to computer networks, web technologies and standards, network based programming methodologies, languages, tools and standards (Spring) (Evenings)
HCIP 5220. Vulnerability Assessment and System Assurance (3) Cross-listed as ITIS 5220. Prerequisite: Enrollment in the PSM in Health Informatics or Healthcare IT Certificate. This course discusses methodologies, tools, and technologies that are important for vulnerability assessment and systems assurance. Topics covered include: ethical hacking techniques, vulnerability assessment, risk assessment/management, finding new exploits, discovering vulnerabilities, penetrating network perimeters, bypassing auditing systems, and assured administration of systems as well as evaluating systems assurance levels. Focus will be placed on 1) understanding current penetration techniques for networks, operating systems, services and applications; 2) investigating mitigation and defense strategies; and 3) studying legal and ethical considerations. The course is based on case studies with a strong lab component. (On demand)
HCIP 5250. Computer Forensics (3) Cross-listed as ITIS 5250. Prerequisite: Enrollment in the PSM in Health Informatics or Healthcare IT Certificate. The identification, extraction, documentation, interpretation, and preservation of computer media for evidentiary purposes and/or root cause analysis. Topics include: techniques for discovering digital evidence; responding to electronic incidents; tracking communications through networks; understanding electronic media, crypto-literacy, data hiding, hostile code, and Windows™ and UNIX™ system forensics; and the role of forensics in the digital environment. (On demand)
HCIP 5370. Health Vocabularies and Classification Systems (3) Prerequisite: Enrollment in the PSM in Health Informatics or Healthcare IT Certificate. Development of fundamental medical terminology, consisting of basic word structure (including word analysis, combining forms, suffixes, prefixes, and pronunciation) of descriptive medical terms pertaining to the body as a whole and to each body system. Clinical vocabularies, terminologies and coding systems, along with definitions are described in the context of caring and treating patients. Terms covered include diseases, diagnoses, findings, operations, treatments, drugs, and administrative items as utilized to support recording and reporting a patient's care at varying levels of detail via an electronic medical record. Identifying appropriate representation elements, uses, and sources in order to apply them in the context of health information systems and communication. (Fall) (Evenings)
HCIP 5375. Computer Vocabularies and Programming Systems (3) Prerequisite: Enrollment in the PSM in Health Informatics or Healthcare IT Certificate Study of the terminology and concepts used in Information Technology, Computer Science, and Information Systems. Topics include: computers and their components, system and application software, programming paradigms, databases and data warehouses, networks, Internet, Web, security, personal digital assistants, communications, data formats and media, data representations, computer games, and technology. Explores technological constraints introduced by the intricacies of varying application domains. (Fall) (Evenings)
HCIP 5376. Introduction to Programming for Health Informatics (3) Prerequisite: Enrollment in the PSM in Health Informatics or Healthcare IT Certificate. Includes foundational use of object-oriented programming and scripting techniques to solve common problems in health informatics. Topics include: data structures for electronic health records; developing basic electronic health record applications; relational database connectivity; and interfacing with industry standard health information systems. (Spring) (Evenings)
HCIP 6070. Current Issues in Health Informatics (3) Prerequisite: Enrollment in the PSM in Health Informatics or Healthcare IT Certificate. Current topics and issues related to Health Informatics including health policy analysis and development, ethical issues, structure of health administrative and delivery systems, assessment of population health, models of health care delivery, access and quality of care issues. (On demand)
HCIP 6100. Introduction to the US Health Care System (3) Cross-listed as HADM 6100. Prerequisite: Enrollment in the PSM in Health Informatics or Healthcare IT Certificate. Overview of health care delivery in the United States including organizational structures, financing mechanisms and delivery systems, with particular attention to program formation. (Fall or Spring) (Evenings)
HCIP 6104. Health and Disease (3) Cross-listed as HADM 6104. Prerequisite: Enrollment in the PSM in Health Informatics or Healthcare IT Certificate. Principles and methods of epidemiology including definitions and models of health, illness, and disease; modes of transmission of clinically important infectious agents; risk factors and chronic diseases; and insights into existing studies and paradigms of health promotion and disease prevention. (Fall or Spring) (Evenings)
HCIP 6108. Decision Analysis in Health Care (3) Cross-listed as HADM 6108. Prerequisite: Enrollment in the PSM in Health Informatics or Healthcare IT Certificate. Includes the study of selected quantitative management tools useful in the analysis of managerial decisions, a review of basic descriptive and inferential statistics, applied probability distributions, forecasting methods, statistical process control, queuing, transportation and assignment modeling, and linear programming. The emphasis on applying quantitative decision making methods to the operational problems facing health care organizations. Familiarity with computers and computer software will be important for success in this course. (Fall or Spring) (Evenings)
HCIP 6112. Software System Design and Implementation (3) Cross-listed as ITCS 6112 and ITIS 6112. Prerequisite: Enrollment in the PSM in Health Informatics or Healthcare IT Certificate. Introduction to the techniques involved in the planning and implementation of large software systems. The emphasis is on applying quantitative decision making methods to the operational problems facing health care organizations. Familiarity with computers and computer software will be important for success in this course. (Fall or Spring) (Evenings)
HCIP 6134. Quality and Outcomes Management in Health Care (3) Cross-listed as HADM 6134. Prerequisite: HCIP 5370, HCIP 6100 and Enrollment in the PSM in Health Informatics or Healthcare IT Certificate. Examination of the concepts and practices of quality management, performance improvement, and assessment of outcomes in health care delivery settings. Designed to provide an in-depth understanding of basic concepts and frameworks and of their applicability and relevance in specific situations. Examples of topics to be covered include: process reengineering, service improvement, continuous quality improvement, accreditation standards, patient satisfaction, outcome measurement, teamwork, and case management. (Fall or Spring) (Evenings)
HCIP 6146. Information Resources Management (3) Cross-listed as HADM 6146. Prerequisite: Enrollment in the PSM in Health Informatics or Healthcare IT Certificate. A study of the use of information management to improve the delivery of health care. Information resource management includes methods and practices to acquire, disseminate, store, interpret and use information to provide health care in a more efficient, effective and economical manner. Emphasis is placed upon information as central to the ongoing operations and strategic decisions of health care organizations. (Fall or Spring) (Evenings)
HCIP 6150. Health Law and Ethics (3) Cross-listed as HADM 6150. Prerequisite: Enrollment in the PSM in Health Informatics or Healthcare IT Certificate. Analysis of ethical and bioethical problems confronting health care delivery systems. Selected legal principles and their application to the health care field, including corporate liability, malpractice, informed consent and governmental regulation of health personnel and health facilities. (Fall or Spring) (Evenings or Weekends)
HCIP 6160. Database Systems for Health Informatics (3) Cross-listed as ITCS 6160. Prerequisite: ITCS 6114 and enrollment in the PSM in Health Informatics or Healthcare IT Certificate. Introduction to principles of database design, and survey of alternative database organizations and structures. Logical database organization; schemas; subschemas; data description languages; hierarchical, network, and relational databases; database management systems; normal forms. (Fall, Spring) (Evenings)
HCIP 6162. Knowledge Discovery in Databases (3) Cross-listed as ITCS 6162 and ITIS 6162. Prerequisite: ITCS 6160 and enrollment in the PSM in Health Informatics or Healthcare IT Certificate . The entire knowledge discovery process is covered in this course. Topics include: setting up a problem, data preprocessing and warehousing, data mining in search for knowledge, knowledge evaluation, visualization and application in decision making. A broad range of systems, such as OLAP, LERS, DatalogicR+, C4.5, AQ15, Forty-Niner, CN2, QRAS, and discretization algorithms are covered. (Fall) (Evenings)
HCIP 6163. Data Warehousing (3) Cross-listed as ITCS 6163 and ITIS 6163. Prerequisite: ITCS 6160 or equivalent and enrollment in the PSM in Health Informatics or Healthcare IT Certificate. Topics include: use of data in discovery of knowledge and decision making; the limitations of relational databases and SQL queries; the warehouse data models: multidimensional, star, snowflake; architecture of a data warehouse and the process of warehouse construction; data consolidation from various sources; optimization; techniques for data transformation and knowledge extraction; relations with enterprise modeling. (Spring) (Evenings)
HCIP 6167. Network Security (3) Cross-listed as ITIS 6167. Prerequisite: ITIS 6200 or equivalent and enrollment in the PSM in Health Informatics or Healthcare IT Certificate. This course examines the issues related to network security. Topics include network security background and motivation, network centric threats, network authentication and identification, network security protocols, firewall, IDS, security in wireless environments, email security, instant message security, network application security, and network based storage security. There are heavy lab based components in this course. (Fall) (Evenings)
HCIP 6198. IT Internship Project (3) Cross-listed as ITIS 6198. Prerequisite: Enrollment in the PSM in Health Informatics or Healthcare IT Certificate. Complete a team-based project that is originated from an IT organization and approved by the department. (Fall, Spring, Summer)
HCIP 6199. Principles of Computer Networks and Databases (3) Cross-listed as ITIS 6199. Prerequisite: Enrollment in the PSM in Health Informatics or Healthcare IT Certificate. Computer concepts (hardware components, systems architectures, operating systems and languages, and software packages and tools); Communications technologies (networks—LANS, WANS, VPNs; data interchange standards— NIST, HL-7); Internet technologies (Intranet, web-based systems, standards – SGML, XML); Data, information and file structures (data administration, data definitions, data dictionary, data modeling, data structures, data warehousing, database management systems); Data storage and retrieval (storage media, query tools/applications, data mining, report design, search engines); Data security (protection methods—physical, technical, managerial, risk assessment, audit and control program, contingency planning, data recovery, Internet, web-based, and e-Health security). (On demand)
HCIP 6201. Computer Security, Privacy and Legal Issues (3) Cross-listed as ITIS 6201. Prerequisite: Enrollment in the PSM in Health Informatics or Healthcare IT Certificate.. Topics include: security concepts and mechanisms; security technologies; authentication mechanisms; mandatory and discretionary controls; basic cryptography and its applications; database security, intrusion detection and prevention; assurance requirement, assurance class, evaluation methods and assurance maintenance; anonymity and privacy issues for information systems. Students gain hands on experience through lab exercises and case studies. (Fall)
HCIP 6210. Access Control and Security Architecture (3) Cross-listed as ITIS 6210. Prerequisite: ITIS 6200 and enrollment in the PSM in Health Informatics or Healthcare IT Certificate. This course discusses objectives, formal models, and mechanisms for access control; and access control on commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) systems. Examines the issues related to security architectures and technologies for authorization. Topics include: cryptographic infrastructure, distributed systems security architectures, database systems security architectures, Internet security architectures, network security architectures and e-commerce security architectures. (Spring) (Evenings)
HCIP 6228. Medical Informatics (3) Cross-listed as ITCS 6228. Prerequisite: Enrollment in the PSM in Health Informatics or Healthcare IT Certificate and graduate standing. This course focuses on methods and techniques used in storage, communication, processing, analysis, integration, management, and distribution of medical information. The course emphasizes the applications of telemedicine and intelligent computer-aided decision making systems in different medical and surgical systems. The course also discusses the computational methods to accept or reject a new drug or a new treatment for a given disease. (On demand)
HCIP 6230. Information Infrastructure Protection (3) Cross-listed as ITIS 6230. Prerequisite: ITIS 6200 and enrollment in the PSM in Health Informatics or Healthcare IT Certificate. This course discusses methodologies, tools, and technologies that are important for protecting information systems and information infrastructures. Topics covered include: techniques, processes and methodologies for information security risk assessment and management, tools and technologies for critical infrastructure protection, methodologies for continuous operation and recovery from disasters. (On demand)
HCIP 6240. Applied Cryptography (3) Cross-listed as ITIS 6240. Prerequisite: Enrollment in the PSM in Health Informatics or Healthcare IT Certificate and full graduate standing. This course provides students with an understanding of modern cryptographic techniques, algorithms and protocols that are of fundamental importance to the design and implementation of security critical applications. This course covers not only standard cryptographic techniques, but also exposes students to the latest advances in applied cryptography. Topics include secret and public key ciphers, stream ciphers, one-way hashing algorithms, authentication and identification, digital signatures, key establishment and management, secret sharing and data recovery, public key infrastructures, and efficient implementation. (On demand)
HCIP 6260. Analytic Epidemiology (3) Cross-listed as HLTH 6260 and HSRD 8003. Prerequisites: HLTH 6202, with a grade of B or above, and enrollment in the PSM in Health Informatics or Healthcare IT Certificate. Principles and methods of studying advanced epidemiology, with emphasis on the analytic approach. Includes: advanced techniques in the establishment of disease causation in groups and communities. Topics include risk assessment, environmental exposures, stratification and adjustment, and multivariate analysis in epidemiology. Emphasis is also placed on quality assurance and control and communicating results of epidemiological studies in professional publications and settings. (Spring)
HCIP 6330. Medical Practice Management (3) Cross-listed as HADM 6210. Prerequisite: Enrollment in the PSM in Health Informatics or Healthcare IT Certificate. This course provides a comprehensive study of medical practice management and the issues, tools, and techniques to resolve those issues. The course also provides the student with an understanding of the financial and regulatory issues that influence today’s medical practice with an insight into the cultural, human resource, and governance issues that make physician practices unique among healthcare organizations. (On demand)
HCIP 6342. Information Technology Project Management (3) Cross-listed as ITIS 6342. Prerequisite: Enrollment in the PSM in Health Informatics or Healthcare IT Certificate. This course introduces students to problems associated with managing information technology projects involving, particularly, integration of systems, development of client-specific solutions, and project justification. This course will move beyond the classic techniques of project management and integrate communication software/systems, multi-site, multi-client facilities projects, cultural issues involved with managing interdisciplinary teams, and the effect of rapid technological obsolescence on project justification, funding and continuance. (Spring)
HCIP 6350. Principles of Human-Computer Interaction (3) Cross-listed as ITIS 6400. Prerequisite: Enrollment in the PSM in Health Informatics or Healthcare IT Certificate and full graduate standing. This course will be an introduction to Human-computer Interaction practice and research. The course will include topics on the perceptual, cognitive, and social characteristics of people, as well as methods for learning more about people and their use of computing systems. We will cover the process of interface design, methods of design, and ways to evaluate and improve a design. The course will also highlight a number of current and cutting-edge research topics in Human- Computer Interaction. The course will be a balance of design, sociological/psychological, and information systems elements. (Spring)
HCIP 6380. Introduction to Health Informatics (3) Prerequisite: Enrollment in the PSM in Health Informatics or Healthcare IT Certificate. This course introduces the fundamental concepts and techniques in application data management for Health Informatics and in understanding reference terminologies, data mapping and conversion, and supporting data storage and formats. Topics include internal and external policy issues governing data collection, storage, exchange, and compliance. The course will include a detailed look at the Electronic Health Record and digitized Personal Health Record as used in current health care environments. Primarily covers AHIMA HIM competency I.A. (Spring) (Evenings)
HCIP 6385. Healthcare Communication and Leadership (3) Prerequisite: Enrollment in the PSM in Health Informatics or Healthcare IT Certificate. Principles and useful techniques for effective oral presentations, poster presentations, scientific writing. Students critique and help revise each other’s presentations and learn how to enhance communications. Students learn how to properly organize and run a meeting. Also covers negotiation, conflict management, and influence. Students use several approaches evaluate their individual leadership style. Completes a management style assessment, and analyze leadership styles of prominent leaders in the ehealth environment, using contemporary leadership theory and principles. Primarily covers AHIMA HIM competency III.A. (On demand)
HCIP 6390. Advanced Programming for Health Informatics (3) Prerequisite: Enrollment in the PSM in Health Informatics or Healthcare IT Certificate. This course examines advanced use of object-oriented programming and scripting techniques applied to case studies in health informatics development. This course emphasizes programming techniques beyond the fundamentals, with emphasis on efficiency in speed, data structures and file size. Students learn how to optimize code and databases so that the demands of large-scale health information systems can be performed in acceptable amounts of time while minimizing hardware requirements. Topics include: algorithm optimization, optimization of database queries and development for software as a service. (On demand)
HCIP 6391. Architecting Health Information Systems (3) Prerequisite: Enrollment in the PSM in Health Informatics or Healthcare IT Certificate. This course introduces planning, implementation, and maintenance of Health Information Systems for organizations. Students will learn about the development of hardware and software requirements for system deployment, including: cost/benefit analysis, assessment of work-flow, interface, human resource factors, as well as capability assessment of regulatory requirements. Topics will include policy and procedure development for capability evaluation, regulatory compliance, system use, and data exchange. (On demand)
HCIP 6392. Enterprise Health Information Systems (3) Prerequisite: Enrollment in the PSM in Health Informatics or Healthcare IT Certificate. Practical case studies in the use of large scale Health Information Systems. Survey of industry standard software tools and best practices. Laboratory experience in management and analytics for Electronic Health Records and enterprise data. Evaluation and selection of clinical, administrative, and specialty information technology applications for health organization. (On demand)
HCIP 6393. Advanced Health Data Integration (3) Prerequisite: Enrollment in the PSM in Health Informatics or Healthcare IT Certificate. Secondary data sources (registries and indexes; databases – such as MEDPAR, NPDB, HCUP); Healthcare data sets (such as OASIS, HEDIS, DEEDS, UHDDS, UACDS, NEDSS, NMMFS); National Healthcare Information Infrastructure (NHII); Standards and regulations for documentation (such as JCAHO, CARF, COP, AAAHC, AOA); Health information standards (such as HIPAA, ANSI, ASTM, LOINC, UMLS, MESH, Arden Syntax, HL-7); Healthcare taxonomies, clinical vocabularies, terminologies/nomenclatures (such as ICD-9-CM, ICD-10, CPT, SNOMED-CT, DSM-IV); Severity of illness systems ; Vital statistics ; Epidemiology ; Reimbursement Methodologies; Clinical data and reimbursement management; Compliance strategies and reporting (e.g. National Correct Coding Initiative); Charge-master management; Casemix management; Audit process such as compliance and reimbursement; Payment systems (such as PPS, DRGs, APCs, RBRVS, RUGs); Commercial, managed care and federal insurance plans. (On demand)
HCIP 6400. Internship (3) Cross-listed as HADM 6400. Prerequisite: HADM 6100; enrollment limited to students already holding or concurrently pursuing a MHA degree; instructor permission required. The purpose of the health administration internship is to offer administrative experience in a healthcare setting for students. The initial assumption is made that students participating in the internship experience have had limited hands-on exposure to healthcare administration. Graded on a Pass/Unsatisfactory basis. (Fall, Spring, Summer)
HCIP 6410. Personalization and Recommender Systems (3) Cross-listed as ITIS 6410. Prerequisite: Enrollment in the PSM in Health Informatics or Healthcare IT Certificate and full graduate standing. This course is an introduction to the application of personalization and recommender systems techniques in information systems. Topics include: historical, individual and commercial perspectives; underlying approaches to content-based and collaborative recommendation techniques for building user models; acceptance issues; and case-studies drawn from research prototypes and commercially deployed systems. (On demand)
HCIP 6490. Industrial Internship. (0-6) Cross-listed as ITCS 6490. Prerequisite: Completion of six hours of graduate coursework and enrollment in the PSM in Health Informatics or Healthcare IT Certificate; full or part-time academic year internship in computer science areas complementary to the concentration area of studies and designed to allow theoretical and course-based practical learning to be applied in a supervised industrial experience. The supervising faculty, the academic advisor, and the graduate program director must approve each student’s internship program. A mid-term report and a final report to be evaluated by the supervising faculty are required. Grading will be on “Pass/Unsatisfactory” basis by the supervising faculty in consultation with off-campus supervisor at the internship organization. The credit hours may not be part of the minimum 30 credit hours for graduation. May be repeated for credit hours, but no more than six hours may be applied to PSM degree requirements. (On Demand)
Other Computer Science Courses (ITCS)
See descriptions of ITCS courses under Computer Science in the College of Computing and Informatics section of this Catalog.
Other Health Administration Courses (HADM)
See descriptions of HADM courses under Health Administration in the College of Health and Human Services section of this Catalog.
Other Information Technology Courses (ITIS)
See descriptions of ITIS courses under Information Technology in the College of Computing and Informatics section of this Catalog.