DSM9410 - HEALTH INFORMATION MANAGEMENT

Module Identifier	DSM9410
Module Title	HEALTH INFORMATION MANAGEMENT
Academic Year	2002/2003
Co-ordinator	Mrs Christine J Urquhart
Semester	Available all semesters
Assessment	Semester Assessment	report in two partsof between 1,000 to 1,500 words each	100%

Learning outcomes

After studying this module you should be able to:

identify and explain some of the organisational and policy factors which affect the structure of health information services;
discuss the information needs of health professionals and their clients;
discuss patterns of information behaviour including patterns of use, and likely uptake of particular services;
describe the structure of databases such as MEDLINE, conduct effective searches and explain some of the common problems for users of such databases (MSc ILS students in particular);
illustrate the range of data, information and knowledge required for health care, and explain how such data is recorded, stored and retrieved for various categories of usage and users (Records Management students need to focus on this, but it also applied to MSc ILS students).

Brief description

Health information management deals with a very broad view of the word 'information'. If one takes the 'value-added' framework for definitions of data, information and knowledge (Taylor, 1986), then it is relatively easy to visualise how the monitoring measurements, say blood glucose measurements for diabetic patients, start out as data. One of the difficulties of preparing this module is the rate of change in healthcare information. Biomedical research as practised in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries is competitive, fast moving and the growth in 'bio-informatics' is very rapid. Pharmaceutical company information services have to be very innovative as good quality information, delivered speedily, is vital to a company's success. There is a need for good quality information services and information products for health and biomedical researchers, health professionals and consumers of healthcare. Any information professional working in healthcare copes with the effect of national and organisational policy changes in health care organisations, the ethical aspects of health information provision, and the pressures of providing innovative services on a limited budget. The work is challenging, but many information professionals think health care is a very rewarding and enjoyable area of information management.

Reading Lists

Books
** Essential Reading
Gray, J.A. Muir. (1997) Evidence-based healthcare: how to make health policy and management decisions. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone
Klein, R. (1995) The new politics of the NHS. 3rd. London: Longman
Spurgeon, P. (1993) The new face of the NHS. Harlow: Longman
Additional reference to a number of sources is made at each unit.