HLTH 3600 - Networking and Health Information Exchange

This course will provide an introduction to Health Information Exchange and networking. Basic network structures will be reviewed and network set-up and management requirements specific to the healthcare industry will be covered. An overview on mandatory network security protocols will be covered. Federal standards being rapidly adopted and their importance in the context of healthcare information/ data exchange interoperability among disparate electronic health records systems will be covered. The financial incentives and mandates to meaningfully use EHRs will be covered from the inception of the Office of National Coordinator through currently emerging, open source federal standards. The role of state and regionally developed Health Information Networks and their sustainability in Health IT adoption will be covered. Students will gain understanding of the history of medical records digitization for achieving the IHI’s “Triple Aim” of coordinated, cost-effective care, an improved patient experience, and improved public health based on data analytics. The natural tension between and critical convergence of the provider and the IT network team in assuring the secure exchange of patient data will be explored. This will enable students to recognize the importance of balancing technological advances for patient safety with the maintenance of the physician-patient personal relationship. The role of HIPPA in health information exchange and networking considerations will be covered. An overview of established, large market share EHR vendor systems and the innovative ways to connect those systems to “best of breed” applications will also be discussed. Students will be exposed to the ethical implications of health information exchange data privacy rights versus the potential for public health improvement via data aggregation. The complexities of connecting mobile and personal health monitoring devices and technologies with health information exchange networks will be introduced and described.

Hours:
3