Health Care Specialist (HCS)
Introduces the organization of US healthcare and public health services including public policy, healthcare and health services, interrelationships, professional roles, legal and regulatory issues, and payment systems. Reviews health reform initiatives in the US. Lecture: 2.0 credits (30 contact hours).
Covers job expectations and roles of clinical personnel in a healthcare setting. Discusses healthcare organization inside a practice setting, privacy laws, professional and ethical issues encountered in the workplace, and common form of care delivery. Lecture: 1.0 credits (15 contact hours).
Introduces the concept of "meaningful use" of electronic health records as well as the development and background of the IT landscape in health care and public health, including experiments from the 1950s and 1960s culminating in the HITECH Act. Lecture: 1.0 credits (15 contact hours)
Explains terminology used by workers in health care, public health, or those who work with Health IT systems including common medical terms, technology systems, health data standards, and clinical terminology. Lecture: 1.0 credits (15 contact hours).
Introduces concepts of Health IT and practice workflow process analysis and redesign. Addresses how establishing a culture to support increased quality and safety is critical in the healthcare environment. Discusses the approaches to assessing patient safety issues, implementing quality management, and reporting through electronic systems. Lecture: 2.0 credits (30 contact hours).
Covers specific health care and public health applications. Introduces Health IT standards, health-related data structures, software applications, enterprise architecture in health care, and public health organizations. Lecture: 2.0 credits (30 contact hours).
Introduces rapid prototyping, user-centered design and evaluation, and usability. Emphasizes the effects of new technology and workflow on downstream processes, as well as facilitation of a unit-wide focus group or simulation. Lecture: 1.0 credits (15 contact hours).
Provides an intermediate overview of computer architecture, data organization, representation, structure of programming languages, networking, and data communication about Health IT Systems. Lecture: 1.0 credits (15 contact hours).
Introduces the OSI model, including the purpose and content of each of its seven layers as well as hardware, processes, protocols, and tools at each layer. Provides a practical experience that will address approaches to assessing, selecting, and configuring EHRs (electronic health records) to meet the specific needs of customers and end-users. Emphasizes the principles underlying system configuration, including system selection, planning, testing, troubleshooting, and final deployment. Lecture: 3.0 credits (45 contact hours).
Identifies the components of Health IT systems and their applications. Introduces the potential threats to security and need for standards, high levels of usability, and awareness of how errors can occur. Lecture: 1.0 credits (15 contact hours).
Provides an in-depth discussion in Vendor-Specific Systems, focusing specifically on system and database architectures used in commercial Electronic Health Records (EHRs), vendor strategies for terminology, knowledge management, ways to assess decision support capabilities of EHRs, and vendor-specific training (go-live strategies). Lecture: 2.0 credits (30 contact hours)
Examines Health IT learning management systems, instructional design software tools, teaching techniques and strategies, evaluation of learner competencies, maintenance of training records, and measurement of training program effectiveness. Lecture: 1.0 credits (15 contact hours)
Introduces project management tools and techniques that result in the ability to create and follow a project management plan. Emphasizes the value of being "team players" by understanding roles, the importance of communication, and group cohesion. Lecture: 1.0 credits (15 contact hours).
Develops customer service skills to encourage effective communication across the team. Introduces roles that will be encountered in healthcare and public health settings. Lecture: 1.0 credits (15 contact hours).
Develops the processes and skills for leadership roles and effective management of teams. Emphasizes the leadership modes and styles best suited to Health IT system deployment. Lecture: 1.0 credits (15 contact hours).
Serves as the capstone course for the certificate program. Integrates prior learning outcomes into a single integrated learning experience. Includes preparation for and completion of the end of program assessment for the Health Care Specialist Certificate. Lecture: 1.0 credits (15 contact hours)