Business Technology
   Health Informatics

Length of program: 10 weeks, noncredit course, offered quarterly

Next available session: Winter 2012

This course is offered entirely online!

Completion Award: Recognition of Attendance to be provided upon completion of required hours

Become trained quickly in the kind of computerized health information systems that are being installed by hospitals and medical offices across the western states. The electronic systems will replace inefficient paper records and allow health providers to quickly review and update a patient's medical history. Patients who have had to move, had to change doctors, or required emergency medical attention know the importance of getting medical records transferred quickly and how difficult that is to accomplish in a paper-based system.

Suggested Background:

There are two tracks: one for health care professionals, and one for IT professionals. Individuals should possess a minimum of a two-year degree and/or current experience in health care, information technology, or both. Registrants are not required to be licensed clinical professionals.

Program Goals:

Upon successful completion of the program, the student will be able to:

• Document the workflow and information management models of the practice
• Conduct user requirements analysis to facilitate workflow design
• Develop revised workflow and information management models for the practice, based on meaningful use of a certified EHR product
  Revised models will anticipate implementation of:
  • General practice automation (e.g., appointment scheduling) to the extent not yet implemented
  • Electronic documentation and results review
  • Computerized Provider Order Entry (CPOE)
  • Clinical Decision Support (CDS)
  • Health information exchange to include:
    • Sending of lab orders and receipt of results using CPOE
    • Quality improvement and reporting
    • E-Prescribing
  • Other EHR functionalities as required by the Stage 1 Meaningful Use definition for 2011 and its evolution into Stage 2 in 2013 and Stage 3 in 2015
• As the practice implements the EHR, work directly with practice personnel to implement the revised workflow and information management model
• Working with practice staff, develop a set of plans to keep the practice running if the EHR system fails
• Working with practice staff, evaluate the new processes as implemented, identify problems and changes that are needed, and implement these changes
• Design processes and information flows for the practice that accommodate quality improvement and reporting

Career Opportunities:

Employment opportunities for graduates of approved health information technology programs are excellent. Changing standards and governmental regulations cause the volume and complexity of the health record system to be dynamic and challenging. Types of facilities utilizing health information technology professionals include those providing inpatient care, ambulatory care, long-term care, psychiatric care, cancer registry, and medical insurance providers.

Courses:

Spokane Community College is the only college in the region participating in this grant and space is limited. Interested students should fill out the Interest Form. The start date is Jaunary 9, 2012. There will be some scholarships and financial assistance opportunities available for students as well.

Funded by the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
ARRA Grant # 90CC07701

Persons with Disabilities
In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, accommodations for students with disabilities will be considered at the student's request. The student will be required to register with the Disability Support Services office and provide documentation of disability. Once the student is qualified by the DSS Manager as having a disability, requested accommodations will be considered. Accommodations for the classroom, laboratory, or clinical setting will be considered according to reasonableness. Accommodations that compromise patient care, or that fundamentally alter the nature of the program or activity, are not considered to be reasonable. A student denied accommodation may request an individualized determination to assure that the denial is not a result of disability discrimination by contacting the Manager of Disability Support Services and Testing at 533-7498. Contact the SCC Disability Support Services office to obtain a copy of the procedures for appeal of an accommodation denial. Other than accommodation issues, procedures for student grievances including academic dismissal are outlined in the following SCC website: www.scc.spokane.edu/?concerns.

For additional information, please contact Disability Support Services.

	Additional Information
	If you have questions regarding this program, please contact Mysti Reneau.
	Email:	MReneau@scc.spokane.edu
	Phone:	(509) 533-7213 or 1-800-248-5644 ext. 7213
	» Complete the online interest form for this program You can also submit an online information request or get our address to write for more information.