PUB371 Transition to Professional Health Information Management Practice


To view more information for this unit, select Unit Outline from the list below. Please note the teaching period for which the Unit Outline is relevant.


Unit Outline: Semester 2 2024, Kelvin Grove, Internal

Unit code:PUB371
Credit points:12
Pre-requisite:PUB359
Equivalent:PUB364
Coordinator:Maryann Wood | mt.wood@qut.edu.au
Disclaimer - Offer of some units is subject to viability, and information in these Unit Outlines is subject to change prior to commencement of the teaching period.

Overview

This is one of the final three units prior to graduates commencing work as a health information management professional. Recognising that your level of expertise is at the beginner practitioner level, this unit is designed to provide you with practical experiences in health information management through work shadowing at your placement site. You will also develop professional skills in critical reflection about HIM practices that help define you as a health care professional and set you on a pathway of continuing professional development. It will instill and nurture your development in the areas of personal qualities, values, attitudes and behaviours which are fundamental to HIM practice within the broader context of health care. These strategies and experiences will support your transition into the workplace.

This is a designated unit which is essential to your course progression. Designated units include professional experience units, units requiring the development of particular skills, and units requiring demonstration of certain personal qualities. If you fail to achieve a satisfactory level of performance in a designated unit, you may be excluded from enrolment or will be put on academic probation. If you fail a designated unit twice within your course, you may be excluded. Supplementary assessment is not available on designated units.

Learning Outcomes

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

  1. Explore the role and concepts of continuous improvement and development in health information management practices;
  2. Appraise and adopt a critical and enquiry based approach to the practice of health information management;
  3. Contribute to the professional health information management knowledge base and research programs;
  4. Promote a commitment to self directed professional development and life-long learning; analyse the moral, ethical, legal, social, economic, and political implications of providing and managing health information.

Content

You will engage in, and experience, the following:

  • Professional Conduct - Codes of conduct and ethics, communication, patient focus, confidentiality and information security obligations, working in a team with other health care professionals
  • Professional Growth - Career development
  • Evidence Based Practice - Critical appraisal of information and its use in a healthcare environment
  • Your Role in the Profession - Professional Association;
  • You as a Health Information Manager in the Australian health care system;
  • Development of independent HIM practices and understanding and utilising the value of partnerships

Learning Approaches

This unit is a work integrated learning activity. You will engage in experiential learning strategies in the health facility setting. You will be given the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in a variety of health information activities through work shadowing. Practical experiences obtained during work integrated learning in this unit are designed to give you opportunities to develop further reflective practice skills and strategies that will be helpful as your professional career develops. Students will also engage with academic staff through online support sessions during the semester.

Feedback on Learning and Assessment

Formative
You will receive regular feedback and support from academic staff and your placement supervisors, aimed at identifying strengths and opportunities for improvement in your HIM practices. It is also expected that you will demonstrate self-assessment and identification of learning needs as you encounter unfamiliar situations.

Summative

You will submit two work shadowing reports during the placement period. You will also complete a research activity relating to an HIM issue in your placement site and produce a report on your findings. Feedback on these documents will constitute your summative assessment.

Assessment

Overview

There are two assessments to be completed throughout the semester. This unit will normally be undertaken in the same semester as PUB373 Integrated Health Information Management Practice and PUB370 Practical Clinical Classification and the requirements of the three units combined will involve a total of 4 days x 12 weeks (or equivalent depending on student placement plans) of work integrated learning in a health care environment. In the part time mode this unit will be undertaken with PUB370 Practical Clinical Classification and will involve a combined total of 2 days x 12 weeks (or equivalent depending on student placement plans) of placement attendance.

Unit Grading Scheme

7- point scale

Assessment Tasks

Assessment: Placement Workbook

There are two components to this assessment item. You will be required to provide a summary report of all activities undertaken during your practical placement in weeks 6 and 12 (or equivalent depending on student placement plans). Included in these summary reports will be your reflections on how your university learning translates into the real world. 

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

Weight: 50
Length: 1500 words for each report
Individual/Group: Individual
Due (indicative): Weeks 6 and 12 (or equivalent according to student placement plans)
Related Unit learning outcomes: 1, 2, 4

Assessment: Research report

You will be provided with a topical health information management issue and will explore the issue through the way it is managed at your placement site and reported in the literature. You will write a comprehensive report on your findings for mock submission to your placement agency. 

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

Weight: 50
Length: 2500 words
Individual/Group: Individual
Due (indicative): 12 weeks after the commencement of the placement (or equivalent depending on student placement plans)
Related Unit learning outcomes: 2, 3, 4

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.

Requirements to Study

Requirements

Hepatitis B, COVID-19, Measles, Mumps, Rubella, Varicella, and Pertussis vaccinations, blue card 

HIM Placement T-shirt 

Criminal history check 

Students who are required to undertake placements off campus may incur additional costs (for example travel and accommodation).

Blue Card

A blue card is required to complete this unit. A blue card confirms that you have passed a screening of your criminal history (the Working with Children Check) and have been approved to work with children and young people. For more information on the blue card and how to apply please visit the QUT website.

Costs

There is a cost for vaccinations and the criminal history check.

Students who are required to undertake placements off campus may incur additional costs (for example travel and accommodation).

Resources

There is no prescribed text for this unit.

Risk Assessment Statement

WORKPLACE HEALTH AND SAFETY ISSUES

Placement agencies are covered by their own Workplace Health and Safety requirements and policies. Details of these are outlined in their agency profile held by the School.

During your placement you are required to conduct yourself in a safe and professional
manner, avoiding any risk taking behaviours.

The University's student insurance policy specifically covers the range of activity included in the professional practice placement.

You are required to hold a valid Blue Card (Working with Children Check) and provide evidence of vaccination status before commencing this field placement.

INSURANCE COVER
The University has taken out personal accident insurance to cover students engaged in work experience programs. Students involved in professional practice are covered under the conditions of this scheme including cover under the University's legal liability policy, in the event of an action of negligence involving personal injury or property damage being brought against the University. Information will be forwarded to agencies involved in the professional practice program informing them of the QUT insurance cover.

The personal accident insurance cover provides cover for death or injury with capital benefits on a sliding scale up to $35,000 depending on the nature of the injury but does not provide for weekly or medical benefits. This policy has been taken out because students involved in work experience programs from the University are not eligible for normal workers' compensation cover.

The Student Guild has a separate insurance cover for injury to students. You can access this
by contacting your Guild.

Course Learning Outcomes

This unit is designed to support your development of the following course/study area 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: Placement Workbook, Research 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: Placement Workbook, Research 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: Placement Workbook, Research 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: Placement Workbook, Research 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: Placement Workbook