Global Utilities

School of Public Health

Health Information Management - Health Informatics

What is Health Informatics?

The Health Informatics Society of Australia describes Health Informatics as "an evolving socio-technical and scientific discipline that deals with the collection, storage, retrieval, communication and optimal use of health related data, information and knowledge. The discipline utilises the methods and technologies of the information sciences for the purposes of problem solving and decision-making thus assuring quality healthcare in all basic and applied areas of biomedical sciences for the community it serves."

Australia is rapidly introducing electronically shared health records that will be available throughout the country and accessed through secure means. Our students are prepared to work in this exciting and expanding area of information management.

Health Informatics Subjects

The Bachelor of Health Information Management at La Trobe University offers the most extensive range of Health Informatics subjects at the undergraduate level in Australia.

Although all subjects in the Bachelor of Health Information Management reflect the increasing use of technology in health care, the following table provides an overview of the content of the specific informatics subjects in the course.

Unit Code
Title

HIM11HIA

Health Informatics A
Introduction to Information Technology and Health Data - use of IT tools, and understanding of health data.

HIM12HIB

Health Informatics B
Health Information Management IT Systems - use and scope of common health information systems and reporting mechanisms

HIM21HIC

Health Informatics C
Health Database and Data Quality - use and design of databases for health care, manipulation of health data and processes for improving and assessing health data quality and data representation.

HIM22HID

Health Informatics D
Health Information Systems Management and Functionality - functional analysis of systems across the whole of health care, from primary care services such as general practice, community health, district nursing to tertiary care - hospital waiting lists, emergency department systems, appointment systems, pathology and radiology systems to develop skills in the management of these systems.

HIM32HIE

Health Informatics E
Analysis, Evaluation, Management and Strategic Planning of Health Systems - identification of strategic imperatives for health information systems, development of user requirements, evaluation of software and hardware options, implementation and change management for information technology.

HIM41HIF

Health Informatics F
Electronic Health Records, management and use of shared health records, including internet based tools, interoperability standards for information sharing, decision support systems and data representation requirements for health terminology and classification.

Return to top of page.

Useful Health Informatics Websites

Health Informatics Society of Australia
http://www.hisa.org.au/

Health Online
http://www.health.gov.au/healthonline/

HealthConnect
http://www.healthconnect.gov.au/

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare
http://www.aihw.gov.au

HealthSMART
http://www.health.vic.gov.au/healthsmart/

Return to top of page.

Key Health Informatics Journals

Computers in Healthcare
Health Management Technology
Journal of Nursing Informatics
Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association

Return to top of page.

IT Facilities for Students

The Faculty of Health Sciences Computer Laboratories are available to Health Science students Mondays - Fridays. The laboratories are located on level 4 of the Health Sciences 3 building, and offer the following software products for student use:

Microsoft Office
Microsoft Project
Microsoft Visio
Expert Care Planner
Medical Director
3M Codefinder
HealthWiz
SPSS
Endnote
NCCH ICD10-AM browser
PrimeCODER
Trureq
Subset of Victorian Admitted Episodes Dataset
Health System Archetype builder

The University's Computer Studyhall Bundoora

Studyhall facilities are available to all students, 7 days per week. The Studyhall web page provides information on opening hours and facilities.
http://www.latrobe.edu.au/studyhall/

Bachelor of Health Information students are expected to establish a free student email account to facilitate communication between staff and students. Information on establishing accounts is available from the Studyhall web page.
http://www.latrobe.edu.au/studyhall/email.html

Computer training courses are available free of charge to all Latrobe University students, using the International Computing Drivers Licence (ICDL) syllabus. This course is incorporated in the curriculum of the first year subject HIM11HIA Health Informatics A.
http://www.latrobe.edu.au/cbt/

La Trobe University staff and students are expected to comply with the University's Computing Regulations and the Internet Code of Practice.
http://www.latrobe.edu.au/its/regulations.htm

Return to top of page.

Content Approved by: Course Coordinator
Page maintained by: Website Administrator
Last Updated: 4 July, 2008

Health Informatics

What is health informatics?

Health informatics subjects

Useful Websites

Key health informatics journals

IT facilities for students

HIM

HIM Home Page

Course Handbook