HLTHINFO 724 : Special Study in Health Informatics 2

Medical and Health Sciences

2020 Semester Two (1205) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

No prescription

Course Overview

The purpose of this course is to give students an opportunity to explore in depth a topic of their choice. Topics covered in the past include telehealth, ehealth for older people, and the Electronic Health Record as a wicked problem.

Course Requirements

No pre-requisites or restrictions

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: Disciplinary Knowledge and Practice
Capability 2: Critical Thinking
Capability 3: Solution Seeking
Capability 4: Communication and Engagement
Capability 5: Independence and Integrity
Capability 6: Social and Environmental Responsibilities
Graduate Profile: Master of Health Sciences

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Identify and critically analyse information about their chosen topic under the guidance of the course director (Capability 1.2, 2.2 and 6.1)
  2. Present a written critical analysis of chosen topic and provide (or defend/justify) recommendations to improve its use in practice as a consequence of the analysis (Capability 2.1, 3.1 and 4.1)
  3. Discuss their chosen topic with managers, clinicians, and other stakeholders in health services, with the aim to improve health informatics practice. (Capability 4.2, 5.2 and 6.2)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Essay 40% Individual Coursework
Presentation/essay/business case 60% Individual Coursework
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3
Essay
Presentation/essay/business case
The topic and nature of the assignments are negotiated prior to the student enrolling in this course. Please contact the course director before you enroll so that you can co-design your learning experience. 

Learning Resources

Since this course is co-designed for students, you will be required to source your own reading materials under the guidance of the course director. As part of the course co-design you and the course director will identify resources available to you that can be used to enhance your learning, e.g. a project you may be participating in, discussions with work colleagues, or a visit to a vendor to learn about a specific technology. 

Course Contacts

Course Director Dr Karen Day, k.day@auckland.ac.nz Phone or text: 027 820 1125 

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.

Since this course consists of guided self-directed learning, you should expect to spend the bulk of your 10 hours a week sourcing and reading literature, discussing your learning with others (as per the course co-design), and preparing your assignments. 

Digital Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against online source material using computerised detection mechanisms.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website at http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page: https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

Student feedback about this course is usually provided as we progress through the co-designed lesson plan, and adjustments are made at the time. Please discuss issues or suggestions for adjustments as and when opportunities arise in order to enhance your learning. Examples of feedback include: 
  • Two students worked together on a business case, each from the perspective of their different professions. They both commented on the value of seeing one another's professional perspective in this learning context, thus enhancing their capability in their shared workplace. 
  • A student who examined the electronic health record as a 'wicked problem' commented on the value of participating in a product procurement process that occurred as part of his job. 
  • A student who critiqued the CHIA competencies for anaesthetists found it useful to identify specific competencies for her colleagues. 
  • A student who wrote a business case for implementing an electronic health record in ED in a middle income country presented his business case to the head of that ED upon completion of the course. 
These examples were achievable because of the regular discussions with the course director and adjustments as the students learned. 

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter (https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html).

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course you may be asked to submit your coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. The final decision on the completion mode for a test or examination, and remote invigilation arrangements where applicable, will be advised to students at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the assessment, or in the case of an examination when the examination timetable is published.