HI 5004 Introduction to Clinical Healthcare

Course Type: Basic
Credit Hours: 3

This course assists the student in the area of technical writing, the development of 
scholarly and academic writing abilities. Each student will complete the process of 
generating a written document from topic selection through outlining, drafting, and 
revising. Writing in the field of Biomedical Informatics will be addressed and the genre 
of written discourse in informatics will be explored by the student. The elements of the 
recursive writing process and a review of the technical aspects of writing will also be 
considered. Critical reading, thinking and writing will be emphasized in the course. 
Weekly assignments require writing throughout the course.  A course writing project is 
required such as developing a manuscript for review, submission and possible 
publication. 

The course is designed to provide an overview of the US healthcare system for a) students without any healthcare background and b) students with a healthcare background in a foreign country.  It deals with the components of providing care, such as patients, different levels of healthcare providers, locations of care and special populations/circumstances.  Financing, regulation and reform of healthcare are also discussed.  Current topics of interest, for example translational research and the role of health information technology in healthcare reform, may be included.  Students will review a webinar on a topic, participate in Q/A, complete field activities, and write reports for discussion as a class the following week. 

Prerequisites

HI 5310 Foundations I and consent of instructor. If Foundations I has not been completed, consent of instructor is required. Contact your instructor for approval or any questions you have.

Additional Information

Course Goals

After completing this course, students should be able to:

  • Describe the current state of the US Healthcare System
  • Compare/contrast private practice and safety net healthcare
  • Defend the role of health information technology for each topic area
  • Gain increased understanding of the health care system and the key role of health information technology.