Data analytics based positioning of health informatics programs

The Master of Science in Computer Information Systems (CIS) with concentration in Health Informatics (HI) at Metropolitan College (MET), Boston University (BU), is a 40-credit degree program that are delivered in three formats: face-to-face, online, and blended. The MET CIS-HI program is unique because of the population of students it serves, namely those interested in gaining skills in HI technology field, to serve as data analysts and knowledge-based technology drivers in the thriving health care industry. This set of skills is essential for addressing the challenges of Big Data and knowledge-based health care support of the modern health care. The MET CIS-HI program was accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM) in 2017

An Evaluative Study of a Health Information Management Program Following a Significant Curricular Change

The advent of electronic health records (EHRs) has led to significant changes in the role of those who managing patient health information, Health Information Management (HIM) professionals. These changes have further led to significant changes in the educational training required for HIM professionals, leading to new curriculum requirements. Based on the need for well-prepared professionals in the changing HIM environment, it is essential to insure that educational programs are effectively preparing students for the new roles they will be expected to fill. This study is an in-depth case study of the HIM academic program at Illinois State University. The purpose of this evaluative study is to complete a program review and evaluation to determine the impact of the recent required curriculum change on the program at Illinois State University. This study used a utilization-focused evaluation framework that included evaluation capacity building. The study specifically assessed the ability of the recent curriculum changes to adequately prepared students for the current HIM field as well as the effects of the changes on the program as a whole. This evaluative study was designed to go beyond just the use of metrics, such as enrollment, retention, and RHIA exam pass rates but to also delve deeper into the issue through surveys, interviews, and focus groups to collect data on the perceptions of students, graduates, and employers. Through the study major themes were identified related to the perceptions of the curriculum changes on the ISU HIM Program and student preparedness. These included perceptions of student satisfaction and student preparedness, perceptions of the new curriculum, concern about loss of parts of the old curriculum, and future needs for the ISU HIM program and for HIM in general. While many of the findings were expected, there were some surprising or unexpected findings, such as concern about loss of parts of the old curriculum, and close alignment between area of interest or career path and perceptions of the new versus old curriculum. This study provides a model for future evaluation of the ISU HIM program as well as HIM academic programs in general

Mix IT Up!: a blending of community informatics and youth services librarianship to further social justice in library and information science education

Mix IT Up! is a library and information science (LIS) education initiative blending theories and approaches in community informatics and youth services librarianship in order to further social justice agendas. It is based on collaboration with community partners who share similar interests and objectives. Prior to launching Mix IT Up!, community members identified a pressing need to engage with local youth more effectively. Mix IT Up! was developed to address this critical gap. From 2011 to 2015, Mix IT Up! enabled a broad array of community-based connections and projects related to youth advocacy and information technologies—the “IT” in the title—and provided robust opportunities for LIS students to gain experience in community engagement. Mix IT Up! serves as a model of effective practice in LIS education.published or submitted for publicatio

Positive disruption: healthcare, ageing and participation in the age of technology

Australia is on the cusp of two of the greatest disruptive transformations in history: the ageing of the population and a technological revolution. How the nation manages with both of these prospects will determine its fortune. These two phenomena will cause a ripple effect across the Australian economy and society, but Australia is now at the point where it can choose how it will react and rectify the exposed problems and inefficiencies caused. It is expected that productivity growth will slow in coming years, in part due to Australia’s working age dependency ratio dropping from 7.3 in 1974- 75 to just 2.7 by mid-century. But the advent of health innovations and lifestyle changes for many Australians has resulted in longer life expectancies, and a greater level of health for a greater proportion of life. This translates into a longer period of time spent in retirement in an active and healthy state for many Australians. With even a small growth in productivity, enormous benefits could be seen over the long term. For example, this report notes that an increase in labour productivity of 0.3 percentage points per year from 2013-4 to 2059-2060 could increase the cumulative sum of GDP by $13 trillion over that period. The transition into the information age has also brought about changes in work styles. Rather than working largely laborious jobs, many Australians are now employed in white collar, knowledge industry jobs that are less taxing on the body as we age. So too, the traditional distinction between full and part-time work is becoming increasingly blurred through technology-enabled workplace flexibility, with a continuum of work options becoming available throughout life. However, the cost of health becomes exponentially higher as we age. The federal government currently spends 4.1% of GDP on health, but that figure could rise to 7% by 2060. The ageing of the population is anticipated to account for about 10% of growth in health expenditure: pharmaceutical and public hospital spending on those over the age of 85 is more than four times the spending on an average person across all other age categories. In spite of this, targeted investment in healthcare technologies and treatments we know to be effective, such as joint replacements and medicines for diabetes and mental health, is essential to maintaining a productive workforce throughout life. All these require a concerted and coordinated effort to ensure Australia remains a prosperous nation well into the future. This report proposes a series of recommendations to address the various inefficiencies within our current systems, and the emerging conditions caused by an ageing nation and our greater dependency on technology

Innovate Magazine / Annual Review 2007-2008

https://scholarworks.sjsu.edu/innovate/1004/thumbnail.jp

Library Trends 42 (2) 1993: Education for Library and Information Management Careers in Corporate Environments

published or submitted for publicatio

Characterising the health and social care segment of the BCS (The Chartered Institute for IT) membership and their continuing professional development needs

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to identify and characterise the health and social care membership of the British Computer Society (BCS), an international informatics professional organisation, and to determine their ongoing development needs. METHODS: A prepiloted online survey included items on professional regulatory body, job role, work sector, qualifications, career stage, BCS membership (type, specialist group/branch activity (committees, event attendance)), use of BCS.org career planning/continuing professional development (CPD) tools, self-reported digital literacy and other professional registrations. The quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics in JASP V.0.9.2 to report frequencies and correlations. RESULTS: Responses were received from 152 participants. Most were male (n=103; 68%), aged 50–59 years (n=41; 28%), working in England (n=107; 71%) with master’s or honours degrees (n=80; 53%). Most were either new (5 years or less; n=61; 40%) or long-term members (21 years or more; n=43; 28%) of BCS. Most were not interested in health specialist groups (n=57; 38%) preferring non-health specialist groups such as information management (n=54; 37%) and project management (n=52; 34%). DISCUSSION: This is the first paper to characterise the health and social care membership of an IT-focused professional body and to start to determine their CPD needs. There are further challenges ahead in curating the content and delivery. CONCLUSION: This study is the starting point from which members’ CPD needs, and ongoing interest, in being recognised as health and social care professional members, can be acknowledged and explored. Further research is planned with the participants who volunteered to be part of designing future CPD content and delivery

Educating the academic librarian as a blended professional: a review and case study

Purpose This paper aims to explore the phenomenon of the hybrid information specialist in the academic library setting. It does this in relation to curriculum development for preparatory and continuing professional education for librarianship and makes particular reference to the contemporary iSchools movement. Design/methodology/approach The paper reviews trends and developments in academic information services and the information science academy in the context of continuing technological advances and educational change. It presents a case study of curriculum development and portfolio renewal, using the specialist roles of digital library manager and information literacy educator to show how the principles of interactive planning can be applied in articulating an academic strategy to meet the changing demands of educational institutions, professional bodies and employers. Findings There are significant parallels between professional education and professional practice in the shifting boundaries, expanded portfolios and challenged identities evident in the current information marketplace. A combination of continuous incremental development with periodic fundamental review enables professional educators to meet the changing mandates of different stakeholder groups. When combined with a strong professional focus, the breadth and depth of multidisciplinary expertise found in a researchled iSchool facilitates the design of specialised pathways and programmes for practitioners moving into blended roles. Practical implications Practitioners intent on careers in academic libraries should consider the opportunities and demands of hybrid blended roles when choosing educational programmes and pathways. Originality/value The paper provides a conceptual framework to illustrate the nature of emergent professional roles and current challenges facing professional educators. Ackoff's interactive planning theory is used to illuminate the problem of academic planning in complex pluralist contexts. © 2010, Emerald Group Publishing Limited. All rights reserved

Educating the academic librarian as a blended professional : a review and case study

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