Essay 1: The Informatics Opportunity
Due: September 17, 2017 by 11:59PM UTC-12. Submit your essay as a PDF (“Essay 1 – <gt_username>.pdf” format) via T-square.
Background
In lessons 1-5 you learned about the current state of and the challenges faced by the US Healthcare system. You also learned about the current state-of-the-art and challenges faced by health informatics ‘in the real world’. This essay provides you an opportunity to demonstrate mastery of those concepts and connections.
Skills Required
Proficient English reading, writing and research skills. Strong suggestion that you use the recommended reading for background and use short quotes from it as appropriate. Provide at least five references to back up your key points.
Project Length
Essay should have no more than the maximum word count of 800 words. We suggest ~750 words. This essay must be single spaced, with 11-point font and submitted as a PDF. The word limit will be enforced — only the first 800 words of your essay will be graded.
Essay Questions:
Describe in detail any specific challenge faced by the US healthcare system that you find interesting (~200 words). Describe how current health informatics tools and systems address the challenge you chose and indicate where there is a need for improvement (~200 words). Be as specific as possible about the opportunities for improvement and innovation. Look for and cite innovations that are new to the healthcare informatics market that addresses the challenge you selected (~200 words). Describe the strengths and weaknesses of at least one of these innovations (~200 words).
Citations:
For this essay, the citation rules won’t be as strict – 1) since its the first essay and 2) this information was added after the “open” date. We prefer APA format citations, but you are free to use other formats. If you have additionally questions on this, please post on Piazza.
Essay 2: Data Standards in Healthcare
Due: October 15, 2017 by 11:59PM UTC-12. Submit your essay as a PDF (“Essay 2 – <gt_username>.pdf” format) via T-square.
Background
Data standards are a requirement for any information health system. In healthcare there are a variety of commonly used data standards as well as a variety of proprietary data formats. For this assignment we will focus on the history and growth of several data standards and how they have both helped, and hindered, healthcare data collection. While we will primarily focus on the U.S. coding standards it is also important to realize that not all coding systems are universally adopted, even within the U.S.
Skills Required
Proficient English reading, writing and research skills. Strong suggestion that you use the recommended reading for background and use short quotes from it as appropriate. Provide at least five references to back up your key points.
Project Length
Essay should have no more than the maximum word count of 800 words. We suggest ~750 words. This essay must be single spaced, with 11-point font and submitted as a PDF. The word limit will be enforced — only the first 800 words of your essay will be graded.
Essay Questions:
Briefly describe the need for data coding standards and how they have been applied in the healthcare industry. (~100 words) Next, identify the potential benefits of coding standards. For example, how data standards are used with EHR interoperability, clinical health research, etc. (~100 word). Also identify the potential pitfalls of coding standards (~100 words). Next, research any three (3) of the following coding standards and describe how they are used in healthcare, the benefit they provide, and an update as to their current usage and future changes. (~400 words total for your discussion of three of these standards: ICD, CPT, LOINC, SNOMED and NDC) And finally, describe areas of opportunity you have identified while conducting your research. This may include a lack of coding standards, misuse of coding standards, or a better way to utilize existing or new coding standards (~100 words).
Feel free to include images and diagrams in your response. If necessary, add an appendix to the end of your response. Additionally, please cite all sources used to complete this assignment. You should have at least 1 source used in your response.
Citations:
Please use the APA citation format.
Essay 3: Frontiers of Health Informatics
Due: November 5, 2017 by 11:59PM UTC-12. Submit your essay as a PDF (“Essay 3 – <gt_username>.pdf” format) via T-square.
Background
In lessons 10-12 you learned about some of the major areas of development in the application of health informatics. You also learned about the unique challenges and opportunities presented by each of these areas.
Skills Required
Proficient English reading, writing and research skills. Strong suggestion that you use the recommended reading for further background and use short quotes from it as appropriate. Provide at least five references to back up your key points.
Project Length
Essay should have no more than the maximum word count of 800 words. We suggest ~750 words.
This essay must be single spaced, with 11-point font and submitted as a PDF. The word limit will be enforced — only the first 800 words of your essay will be graded.
Essay Questions:
Select one of these areas: mHealth; Public/Population Health; or big data/analytics. As specifically as possible, describe why is this a particularly exciting area for future research and commercial development in health informatics? [200 words] What specific role do you feel FHIR and SMART on FHIR apps could play in the further development of this area? [200 words] Find one particularly interesting new idea/tool/system in this area and explain why you feel it has great potential and what challenges it must overcome to achieve that potential. [200 words] Explain why you feel it will succeed or fail. [200 words]
Feel free to include images and diagrams in your response. If necessary, add an appendix to the end of your response. Additionally, please cite all sources used to complete this assignment. You should have at least 1 source used in your response.
Citations:
Please use the APA citation format.