PUB358 Digital Health Perspectives

Unit Outline: Semester 1 2024, Kelvin Grove, Internal

Overview

Knowledge of digital health information systems is essential for those working in healthcare. It is important that healthcare professionals appreciate contemporary technological trends, especially those relating to the transition from paper based to electronic health records, while understanding the possibilities and challenges that technology brings to the healthcare. This includes familiarity with contemporary health technologies, an understanding of core concepts of information standards and interoperability and appreciation of issues around information integrity and security. Understanding these principal concepts involves recognising the organisational dynamics associated with technology implementation. This unit emphasises both technical and social aspects of technology implementation and its use in healthcare organisations. This unit aims to bridge the communication gap which often appears between the health care professional and computer specialists.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:

1. Analyse digital health concepts such as information standards, enterprise architecture and interoperability that form the basis of every healthcare organisation's eHealth journey;
2. Apply key principles in the application of digital technologies in healthcare at organisational, national and global scale;
3. Identify and discuss socio-technical challenges and opportunities associated with digital health implementation and use in healthcare organisations;
4. Critically examine and synthesise research evidence to suggest appropriate digital health applications for the real world benefits across different domains in healthcare (e.g. hospitals, in-home care, personal wellness etc).
5. Work ethically, respectfully and collaboratively with team members to promote ethical and culturally safe professional practice in digitally enabled healthcare environments.

Content

Learning Approaches

Teaching approaches to this unit have been based on the principles of adult learning theory and practice, and will use flexible learning approaches.

The unit will be delivered via blended learning which allows students to experience the majority of unit material and lectures online, combined with four blended lectures (conducted face to face and via zoom simultaneously) scheduled throughout the semester. The tutorials will provide an opportunity to consolidate learning via practical case-driven discussions and group activities. The in class presentation (Part A of second assessment) is a verified identity assessment as all students are required to be present synchronously either face to face or virtually with their cameras switched on.

The unit is designed to provide a balance between breadth, for example through coverage of topics in lectures, online sessions and readings; and detail, achieved, for example, through specialising in topics of particular interest in the assessments. Each week you are required to undertake a set of readings for the specific topics, and/or other self-directed activities, such as critically reflecting upon your current work practices. Online activities, lectures and tutorials will support your development of knowledge on key issues in the topic areas. You will receive embedded support for learning, specifically from the QUT library around developing skills how to design evidence search strategy and effectively use academic databases for finding high quality literature, which are essential skills for successful completion of assessment 2.

Feedback on Learning and Assessment

Feedback on the activities conducted in self-paced online materials, lectures and tutorials will form the basis of the formative assessment. In addition, individual written and oral feedback associated with the marking of assessments will constitute summative assessment for the unit.

Assessment

Overview

Formative: You will work on case-studies presented during the lectures, and receive feedback and peer-based review on your responses.

Summative: Assessment will comprise two assessment items: a real-world case study analysis and a research evidence report with a proposal presentation

Unit Grading Scheme

7- point scale

Assessment Tasks

Assessment: Real-world Case Study Analysis

 As a future health manager, you will be required to have skills to synthesise information from diverse sources (media, government reports, research) on a real-world digital health implementation issues and develop recommendations on how you can successfully address them in your organisation.

This authentic assessment item will allow you to develop these essential real-world skills by conducting a critical analysis of a real-world case study within an digital health implementation context. You will be expected to choose from a list of available case studies and critically analyse the design and implementation issues associated with it. Each case study presents details of issues real world healthcare organisations face while implementing or using complex digital health systems like Electronic Health Records (EHRs) at local, national and global level. 

This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.

Assessment: Presentation and Evidence Report

This assessment aims to harness your professional abilities to critically upraise primary research evidence and present an evidence-based case for an innovative digital health technology.  You and your team will choose an innovative real world digital health solution, present the proposal for your digital health innovation to your peers and prepare an evidence report that presents the benefits case for that solution for future healthcare services. This therefore is a two-part assessment, the first part is a synchronous in-class presentation, and the second part is an evidence report product. 

The first part of this assessment (in-class presentation) is not eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions. The second part (evidence report) is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.

Academic Integrity

Students are expected to engage in learning and assessment at QUT with honesty, transparency and fairness. Maintaining academic integrity means upholding these principles and demonstrating valuable professional capabilities based on ethical foundations.

Failure to maintain academic integrity can take many forms. It includes cheating in examinations, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, and submitting an assessment item completed by another person (e.g. contract cheating). It can also include providing your assessment to another entity, such as to a person or website.

You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.

Further details of QUT’s approach to academic integrity are outlined in the Academic integrity policy and the Student Code of Conduct. Breaching QUT’s Academic integrity policy is regarded as student misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.

Resources

Resource Materials

Other

Pre-reading learning materials will be developed as part of the preparation for the unit.

There is no specific text for this unit.

References to case studies, readings and other materials will be provided.

Risk Assessment Statement

There are no out of the ordinary risks in this unit apart from those associated with substantial computer-based work.

Course Learning Outcomes

PU51 Bachelor of Health Information Management

1. Critically evaluate and apply theoretical and technical perspectives on health information management (HIM), applicable to professional practice to solve routine and emergent problems. [Knowledge, Practice]
   Relates to: Real-world Case Study Analysis, Presentation and Evidence Report
2. Initiate effective approaches for engaging in critical thinking, decision making and problem solving that reflect diverse perspectives and culturally safe and responsive practice, encompassing evidence-based HIM solutions. [Practice, Values/Disposition
   Relates to: Real-world Case Study Analysis, Presentation and Evidence Report
3. Employ digital capabilities in accessing, evaluating, utilising and communicating digital health information across a range of stakeholders, and intra- and inter-professional contexts that demonstrate independence, accountability, creativity and initiative as a HIM professional. [Practice, Values/Disposition]
   Relates to: Real-world Case Study Analysis, Presentation and Evidence Report
4. Exercise judgement in the context of HIM, informed by sustainable, legal, ethical, and professional perspectives that promote social inclusivity, multidisciplinary collaboration and reflective practice. [Values/Disposition, Knowledge, Practice]
   Relates to: Real-world Case Study Analysis, Presentation and Evidence Report
5. Reflect critically on performance and feedback to identify self improvements and action learning opportunities, while building productive professional relationships across diverse stakeholders. [Practice, Values/Disposition]
   Relates to: Presentation and Evidence Report