Two years ago, AUPHA announced receipt of a grant from the Health Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) for the development of a health IT curriculum for graduate programs in health administration. Additional funding for the project was generously provided by Siemens in 2011.
The HIMSTA Task Force determined eight knowledge domains and related competencies, and then designed 14 modules of content. Feedback from numerous Program Directors and faculty was requested which helped influence and shape the curriculum significantly. The curriculum will be released for beta testing later this month and, following completion, will be reviewed and disseminated at no cost to faculty throughout the AUPHA membership to ensure widespread use of the materials.
Each module is designed to cover 9 to 10 hours of learning and includes, at a minimum:
- One or more lectures with PowerPoint presentations (10-20 minutes in length)
- An Instructor’s Manual and Syllabus
- Discussion and Assessment Questions
- Readings
The project has been guided by a Task Force of faculty, each an expert in health IT education, who continue to work on this project:
- Mark Diana, PhD, Assistant Professor and MHA Program Director, Tulane University
- Al Hamilton, PhD, Assistant Professor, George Washington University
- Kevin Leonard, PhD, Associate Professor, HPME, University of Toronto
- Brian Malec, PhD, Professor, Department of Health Science, California State University Northridge
- David Masuda, MD, MS, Lecturer, University of Washington
- Karen Wagner, DBA, Professor and Associate Dean for Student Affairs, Medical University of South Carolina
- Kendall Cortelyou Ward, PhD, Department of Health Professions, University of Central Florida
- David Wyant, PhD, Associate Professor, Weber State University
Following the work of the Task Force, additional faculty responded to a call for proposals and developed these modules for this curriculum:
Domain 1: Information Management
- Module 1A: Introduction
Eta Berner, EdD (and colleagues), University of Alabama at Birmingham
- Module 1B: Data and Information
Christian Lieneck, PhD (and colleague), Texas State University
Domain 2: Strategy and Planning
- Module 2A: Strategy Formulation
Win Phillips, PhD, University of Missouri
Domain 3: Assessment, System Selection and Implementation
- Module 3A: Purpose, Adoption, and Use of Healthcare Information Systems
Suzanne Boren, PhD, University of Missouri
- Module 3B: Organizational Commitment
Patricia Alafaireet, PhD, University of Missouri
- Module 3C: Selection
Eta Berner, EdD (and colleagues), University of Alabama at Birmingham
- Module 3D: Implementation
Patricia Alafarieet, PhD, University of Missouri
Domain 4: Management of Information Systems and Resources
- Module 4A: Change Management
Jonathan DeShazo, PhD (and colleagues), Virginia Commonwealth University
- Module 4B: Management of the IS Function
Jonathan DeShazo, PhD (and colleagues), Virginia Commonwealth University
Domain 5: Assessing Emerging Technologies
- Module 5A: Innovative Uses of Technology
Mark Gaynor, PhD (and colleagues), St. Louis University
Domain 6: Assessment of the Value of IT
- Module 6A: Assessment of the Impact of IS on the Organization
Brian Malec, PhD, California State at Northridge
Domain 7: Security and Privacy
- Module 7A: Security and Privacy
Mark Gaynor, PhD (and colleagues), St. Louis University
Domain 8: Systems and Standards
- Module 8A: Information Systems
Win Phillips, PhD, University of Missouri
- Module 8B: Standards
Mark Gaynor, PhD (and colleagues), St. Louis University
CEO John Lloyd and Lydia Middleton, AUPHA CEO & President, served as advisors to the project. A special thanks to Margaret Schulte, DBA, who continues to serve as project manager.
Curriculum content will be updated periodically as healthcare information management and systems technology evolves, pending funding availability. A train-the-trainer program is under development to facilitate curriculum and content understanding. If your program is interested in participating in beta testing, please contact Margaret Schulte at mfschulte530@gmail.com
AUPHA extends their appreciation and gratitude for all involved in this project.