Health Information Systems

Course Syllabus

Welcome

Welcome to Health Information Systems, a course from the Department of International Health at the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health.The practice of public health requires knowledge of population size and characteristics, the causes of mortality and morbidity, and the state of health practice in a community (including nutrition, availability, and the use of medical services). This course introduces you to the sources of such data and probes their strengths and weaknesses. The course will also describe the manner in which individual observations are assembled into population-based indices and the uses of these indices in program planning and evaluation.

Course Description

Systematically presents population-based and provider-based methods by which data are secured and analyzed to provide indicators of health service use, health risk behavior, and outcomes relative to health status. Targets health status indicators as the basis of planning and evaluation across a wide range of health objectives and measurement characteristics examined. Introduces health information resources available through the World Wide Web and develops skills to search and access data through the Internet.

Course Topics

Module 1: Introduction to Health Systems
Module 2: Major Sources for Health Information
Module 3: Evaluating Health Information Systems
Module 4: Fertility Information Systems
Module 5: Mortality Information Systems
Module 6: Morbidity and Nutrition Information Systems
Module 7: Emerging Issues

Course Objectives and Competencies

After successfully completing this course, you should be able to do the following:

State the objectives of a health information system (HIS)
State the types of decisions that HIS are designed to make
State the types of information (typical health indicators) needed for each of the decisions HIS are designed to make
Identify the major systems of health information with special reference to methods of data collection and problems of measurement
Demonstrate the use of different systems of health information for public health practice
Evaluate the strengths and limitations of different systems of health information
Decide the best health information system in a given context for calculating typical health indicators

The competencies addressed in this course are as follows:

Determine the appropriate health information system(s)—for a given country context—for obtaining specific health information
Determine the quality and limitations of different data sources

Course Format

This course is divided into seven modules to be completed over a period of eight weeks (one term). Course activities will include lectures and

A Wiki posting
A Quiz
An interactive LiveTalk session

We will assess your learning for the full course via a Final Paper

Grading Policy

Grades will be allocated on the basis of the following distributions:

Wiki Participation—25%
Quizzes—30%
Final paper evaluating an HIS—45%

25% Wiki, BBS, and LiveTalk participation. For LiveTalk participation you are required to submit a question on the BBS for the specific LiveTalk session 24 hours prior to the LiveTalk. This question may be a clarification of an issue discussed in a module or on a related issue. Also, if you are unable to participate live in a LiveTalk, please notify the TA prior to the session and listen to the archived LiveTalk at your convenience. You will receive credit only if you notify the TA beforehand.

You must submit your quizzes on time. Penalties are as follows for work received late:

One day after the quiz is due—10% penalty
Two days after the quiz is due—20% penalty

No quizzes will be accepted after the quiz answers are made available. Under special circumstances (illness, etc.), the quiz late penalty may be waived, but only with prior permission.

Reading Materials

Please refer to the Online Library for course readings. There is no required text for this course.

Contact Information

Lead Faculty
Bill Weiss, DrPH, MA
bweiss@jhsph.edu
Department of International Health, E8006
410-614-6172

Course Instructor
Abdullah Baqui, PhD
abaqui@jhsph.edu
Department of International Health, E8138
410-955-3850, 410-614-3463
Guest Speakers
Amnesty LeFevre, MS
alefevre@jhsph.edu
Department of International Health, E8140
410-502-2634

Anna Orlova, PhD
aorlova@jhsph.edu
Division of Health Sciences Informatics

TA
Olga Joos, RN, MPH
ojoos@jhsph.edu
Department of International Health

Help

Concerns

Contact

Concerns about course topics and assignments

Please post questions to the BBS

Technical concerns about the functionality and operation of course Web pages (before emailing, please make sure that you can replicate the problem)

DEHelp, the central help system for all tech support inquiries related to DED courses

Technical help on weekends

JHSPH User Support: 410-955-3781

Concerns about your Internet connection

Your Internet service provider (e.g., AT&T, Erols, etc.)

Concerns about your personal software

Your software vendor

Ethical Conduct

The academic ethics code, as discussed in the Policy and Procedure Memorandum for Students, March 31, 2002, will be adhered to in this class.

Disability Support Services

If you are a student with a documented disability who requires an academic accommodation, please contact Betty H. Addison in the Office of Career Services and Disability Support: dss@jhsph.edu, 410-955-3034, or Room E-1140.

© 2009 The Johns Hopkins University. All rights reserved.
Copyright to this collective work of materials is owned by The Johns Hopkins University.
Copyright to individual contributions may be retained by contributing authors.