Healthcare IT Foundations

Learning objectives by module

Unit 2: Healthcare Environment

• Module 2: Healthcare Delivery Organizations
  • Describe the administrative and functional organization of entities that deliver healthcare in the United States in both inpatient and outpatient settings.
  • Describe the roles of and customers served by various types of healthcare organizations.
  • Describe the services provided to unique populations, including underserved populations.
  • Explain how healthcare organizations interact with each other and with patients to provide appropriate levels of care.
  • Explain how Healthy People 2020 advances health promotion and disease prevention.
  • Explain public health and how it has improved healthcare.
  • Explain the basic characteristics and organization of the US healthcare delivery system.
  • Identify current and future trends in the US healthcare delivery system and their potential impact on healthcare organizations and populations served.
• Module 3: Healthcare Payment Systems
  • Analyze factors responsible for escalating healthcare expenditures in the United States.
  • Compare and contrast models of healthcare financing in the United States.
  • Describe healthcare financing structures, including insurance plans, third-party payers, Medicare, and Medicaid.
  • Describe the history and role of the health insurance industry in financing healthcare in the United States.
  • Describe the main state and federal laws regulating US healthcare insurance organizations and discuss their impact on the healthcare system.
  • Describe the trends in healthcare financing and their impact on various populations.
  • Distinguish between public and private funding for healthcare.
  • Explain a typical billing process and the use of coding and code sets.
  • Identify different fee-for-service and episode-of-care reimbursement methodologies used by insurers in the claims payment process.
  • Identify methods of controlling rising medical costs.
• Module 4: Roles of Healthcare Professionals
  • Describe the changing roles of and interactions between health professionals.
  • Describe the education, training, certification, licensure, and roles of nurses, advanced practice nurses, licensed practical nurses, medical assistants, and medication aides.
  • Describe the education, training, certification, licensure, and roles of paramedics, emergency medical technicians, dental professionals, mental health professionals, and case managers and social workers.
  • Describe the education, training, certification, licensure, and roles of physicians, including those in primary care and other specialties.
  • Describe the primary roles of a health information management professional.
  • Explain terms used in healthcare and in health professionals’ education and training, including clinician, patient, disease, and syndrome.
  • Identify key elements of an effective job description.
• Module 5: Government Regulation
  • Describe key components of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and current issues of patient privacy and security in the United States.
  • Describe legal aspects of medicine involving the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, professional standards in healthcare, and medical malpractice.
  • Describe the provisions of the ARRA HITECH Act relative to Adoption of EHRs.
  • Describe the provisions of the ARRA HITECH Act relative to meaningful use.
  • Explain the roles of accreditation entities, regulatory bodies, and professional associations in healthcare in the United States.

Unit 3: Technology Environment

• Module 6: Health IT Applications
  • Describe the impact of developments in public health informatics, bioinformatics, and translational research on healthcare processes and associated ethical concerns.
  • Describe the impact of third-party payers on implementation of HIT systems.
  • Describe the key trends impacting the development of health IT over the past two decades.
  • Describe ways to keep abreast of new developments in health IT.
• Module 7: Electronic Health and Medical Records
  • Describe the systems and network requirements to support effective EHR implementation.
  • Differentiate an electronic medical record (EMR), an electronic health record (EHR), a computerized patient record (CPR), and a personal health record (PHR).
  • Explain how the use of an EHR system can affect patient care, safety, efficiency of care practices, and patient outcomes.
  • Explain the components, types, and functions of information systems and how they are used in the healthcare setting.
  • Identify attributes and functions of an EHR.
• Module 8: Clinical and Financial Applications
  • Describe the overall flow of data throughout the healthcare organization and the healthcare system.
  • Describe the purpose, attributes, and functions of specific clinical applications.
  • Describe the strategies used by healthcare organizations to ensure integration of functions.
  • Explain how electronic information applications are currently used in various healthcare settings.
  • Explain the critical elements needed to integrate billing, financial, and clinical systems.
  • Identify common barriers to implementation and adoption of healthcare information systems and strategies to overcome these barriers.
  • Identify how clinical applications can affect patient care, safety, quality, and efficiency as well as patient outcomes.
  • Summarize the administrative, billing, and financial systems in the healthcare environment.
• Module 9: Consumer Health Informatics
  • Describe and define consumer health informatics.
  • Describe the benefits and challenges of consumer health informatics.
  • Describe the emergence of personal health records and their implications.
  • Describe the ongoing trends occurring in consumer health informatics and in the consumer health information technology market.
  • Describe the role of technology in patient engagement in patient-centered care.
• Module 10: Systems Architecture and Components
  • Describe a computer network and how medical and point-of-care devices fit in the system.
  • Describe the advantages and limitations of Web services.
  • Describe the functions of the main elements of HIT systems architectures and how they interact.
  • Describe the general trends in IT infrastructure and architecture in the healthcare environment and how regulations are shaping these trends.
• Module 11: Health Information Exchange and Standards
  • Describe secure and private techniques for handling patient information.
  • Describe the current standards that are being applied to patient information.
  • Describe the principles and methodologies underlying standards for health data interchange regulations and practices.
  • Identify ways in which meaningful use requirements support health information exchange.

Unit 4: Advanced Topics in Clinical Informatics

• Module 12: Introduction to Clinical Informatics and Data Analytics
  • Describe the field of clinical informatics.
  • Describe examples of the ways that clinical informatics can advance healthcare quality and safety.
  • Describe how data analytics is used healthcare and how it is beneficial.
  • Describe key functions of data analytics.
  • Differentiate common quality improvement tools and their associated visualization methods.

Unit 5: HIMS Analysis and Design

• Module 13: Clinical Process and Workflow Analysis
  • Analyze a healthcare scenario and identify the components of clinical workflow.
  • Analyze an existing workflow process map in terms of the information that could be generated and the sequence of steps that are being communicated.
  • Create a process map for a healthcare system (or system component) using correct symbols and conventions.
  • Describe the purpose of process analysis and redesign in clinical settings.
  • Describe the role of a practice workflow and information management redesign specialist.
  • Explain how healthcare process analysis and redesign and meaningful use are related.
  • Explain the value of process mapping.
  • Interpret standard process mapping symbols and conventions.
  • Recognize potential impacts of HIT implementation on workflow and of workflow analysis on HIT implementation.
• Module 14: Business, User, and Technical Requirements
  • Describe how business and user requirements relate to each other, and identify strategies to resolve conflicts between different stakeholder requirements.
  • Describe the technical requirements of healthcare systems, and describe the roles of businesses and users during a healthcare systems analysis.
  • Identify specific formats, standards, and examples of best practices that apply to requirements development and documentation.
  • Identify stakeholders and present their roles in the requirements development and validation process.
  • Identify the roles and responsibilities of analysts during the development and validation of requirements.
• Module 15: Usability and Human Factors
  • Apply methods for measuring mental workload and information overload.
  • Describe how human factors analysis can be applied to the study of medical devices.
  • Describe the study of human factors as they apply to usability.
  • Describe the systems-centered approach to error and patient safety and the different dimensions of the concept of human error.
  • Explain how cognitive, physical, and organizational ergonomics can be applied to human factors engineering.
  • Explain the impact of HIT usability on user satisfaction, adoption, and workarounds, including error rates and unintended consequences.
  • Explain usability and its relationship to HIT systems.
  • Explain usability as it pertains to EHRs, and describe common challenges.
  • Identify strategies to prevent or address HIT usability obstacles.
• Module 16: Systems Analysis, Planning, and Design
  • Describe and compare conceptual models that apply to the design process.
  • Describe and compare the three design life cycle models.
  • Describe process redesign and key processes in a clinical scenario.
  • Describe the concepts of process variations and exceptions.
  • Describe the purpose of process analysis.
  • Explain the main elements of a user-centered design approach.
  • Identify the key elements of readiness assessment.
• Module 17: Project Management
  • Describe best practices to support project cost management activities.
  • Describe best practices to support project time management activities.
  • Describe how project quality is assessed.
  • Describe key documents to manage expectations and define success of a project.
  • Describe the importance of an organizational approach to IT decision making.
  • Describe the key elements of project management.
  • Describe the project planning documents and their importance to the project.
  • Describe the range and characteristics of HIT projects.
  • Identify and describe each component of the project management plan.
  • Identify best practices to support project procurement activities.
  • Identify the roles and responsibilities of a project manager.

Unit 6: HIMS Selection and Acquisition

• Module 18: System Selection
  • Describe the main steps and desired outcomes for the systems selection process.
  • Describe the role of the ONC Health IT certification program.
  • Describe use cases and relate them to functional requirements.
  • Explain the benefits and constraints of systems/software purchase versus leasing or subscription or in-house development based on specific HIT projects and contexts.
  • Explain the key steps and criteria in the evaluation process, including interoperability with existing systems and need for customization.
  • Identify the key steps and criteria in the proposal selection process in the context of health IT, including systems compliance to healthcare technology standards.
  • Interpret user and systems requirements, and evaluate candidate systems and subsystems against these requirements.
• Module 19: System Acquisition
  • Describe how leadership, organization, and management encourage change and prepare users for the EHR system.
  • Describe the contract negotiation process.
  • Describe the EHR system acquisition planning process.
  • Describe the process for evaluating an EHR system.
  • Describe the process for selecting new technology.
• Module 20: Interoperability Standards and Certification
  • Describe benefits and challenges related to EHR systems and health IT certification.
  • Describe data and communication standards that support communication between disparate systems.
  • Describe health information exchange benefits, challenges, and approaches.
  • Describe the roles of key entities involved in establishing standards related to clinical software and medical devices.

Unit 7: HIMS Implementation and Management

• Module 21: Systems Implementation
  • Define the steps of the software development life cycle (SDLC) and the purpose and importance of each.
  • Describe different models of the SDLC and their key differences.
  • Describe the challenges, strategies, and approaches to consider for an effective EHR implementation plan.
  • Describe the human, system, and organizational factors that influence the effectiveness of an implementation project.
  • Describe the importance of pilot testing and postimplementation processes.
  • Describe the roles and characteristics of an effective EHR implementation team.
  • Explain user acceptance testing (UAT).
  • Identify key elements of the system testing process.
• Module 22: End-User Training and Support
  • Construct a lesson plan using appropriate instructional approaches to the needs analysis.
  • Describe the characteristics of adult learners and factors that impact training design and learning outcomes.
  • Describe the five phases of the ADDIE model of instructional design.
  • Identify what training is and what trainers do.
  • Write learning objectives that use Bloom’s taxonomy to classify learning from the simplest to most complex.
  • Write measurable objectives for a training program.
• Module 23: Systems Monitoring and Maintenance
  • Describe effective processes and procedures for system backup and restoration and for system and data decommissioning.
  • Explain effective processes and procedures for support and maintenance, including upgrades, of HIT systems.
  • Explain ways to create fault-tolerant systems.

Unit 8: Privacy and Security

• Module 24: Privacy, Security Policies, and Compliance
  • Describe regulatory requirements for securing electronic health data.
  • Describe rules relating to public health agencies and protected health information.
  • Describe the background of the HIPAA legislation.
  • Describe the key concepts of information security.
  • Describe the major changes in privacy and security requirements as a result of HITECH and the reasons the changes were needed.
• Module 25: IT Security Principles and Strategies
  • Describe additional wireless security issues.
  • Describe common threats to information security.
  • Describe safeguards against common security concerns.
  • Identify process and technological methods to mitigate information security threats.
• Module 26: Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity
  • Describe security requirements encountered in the healthcare setting.
  • Explain elements of disaster preparation.
  • Explain elements of disaster recovery.
  • Explain the concepts of and requirements for risk management.

Unit 9: Leadership and Planning

• Module 27: Leadership and Change Management
  • Analyze challenges of leading in a hybrid HIT organization.
  • Compare and contrast the concepts and practices that relate to leadership and management.
  • Describe the characteristics and competencies of successful managers and leaders in the HIT environment.
  • Explain the importance of change management to the success of HIT system implementations.
  • Explain the roles of motivation and group dynamics in successful management of HIT implementation.
• Module 28: Quality Standards
  • Analyze the ways that health IT can either help or hinder quality improvement.
  • Describe how decision support and decision support tools can improve quality of care.
  • Describe quality improvement as a goal of meaningful use.
  • Describe the basic concepts of reliability as it relates to healthcare.
  • Describe the benefits and shortfalls of common types of alerts and clinical reminders.
  • Describe the five major considerations in developing a science of safety in healthcare.
  • Describe the importance of measuring quality and health IT’s role in quality improvement.
  • Describe total quality management.
  • Describe what makes organizations highly reliable.
  • Explain healthcare quality and quality improvement (QI).
  • Explain the components of the healthcare system that have an impact on quality.
  • Identify the current challenges in healthcare quality.
  • Identify the features of a quality culture and approaches for creating a quality culture.
• Module 29: IT Strategic Planning
  • Describe how the business strategic plan intersects with the IT strategic plan, and the roles of business and IT stakeholders.
  • Describe the role of the IT strategic plan and how the plan impacts all aspects of the healthcare organization.
  • Explain the general process, key elements, and contributors for the development of an IT strategic plan.

Unit 10: Professionalism and Communication Skills

• Module 30: Business and Communication Ethics
  • Describe how diversity in patient populations and healthcare providers impacts healthcare delivery and communication.
  • Explain how ethics and standards impact the profession of health information technology.
  • Explain the elements of project communication planning that contribute to a successful project.
  • Explain the role of ethics in the healthcare environment.
• Module 31: Teams and Team Building
  • Analyze team conflict and performance.
  • Describe guidelines for building and leading teams.
  • Describe the characteristics of successful teams.
  • Describe the roles of teams in healthcare and the application of collaborative tools and techniques.
  • Describe ways that HIT design can support or serve as a barrier to effective communication in teams.
  • Explain the roles of teams in delivering quality healthcare services.
• Module 32: Professionalism and Customer Service
  • Describe the different components of HIT customer service.
  • Explain the use of metrics in HIT customer service.
  • Explain strategies for ensuring positive, productive customer service interactions in an HIT environment.
  • Identify ways to assist angry or difficult customers in a professional, productive manner.
  • Describe strategies for clear, effective written communication.