Healthcare Information Management Systems Concentration Curriculum Choices: Evaluating the CIO Perspective

Journal of Information Systems Education, Winter 2003 by Lang, Richard D

ABSTRACT

The need for rigorous and relevant education in healthcare information management systems (HIMS) has been well documented. HIMS curriculum planners must continually assess the needs of the industry to ensure that HIMS programs are current and applicable. Additionally, HIMS concentration programs, designed to augment health administration, management, and allied health curriculum, must offer only the most important HIMS knowledge areas due to the limited number of courses that can be included in this format. Therefore, HIMS program planners must continually assess employer perceptions regarding program content importance and relevance. A survey was conducted to determine the HIMS knowledge areas that are deemed most important by healthcare CIOs. The results of this study were then compared to a similar study conducted in 1998 to determine if there have been any significant changes in CIO perception regarding HIMS knowledge area importance.

Keywords: Curriculum Development, Health Informatics, Health Administration, HIMS, CIO, Minor, Concentration, Health Education, Health Information Technology.

1. INTRODUCTION

As Information Technology (IT) continues to expand by leaps and bounds, knowledge deficits in this discipline are becoming more and more a major impediment to the strategic and tactical planning responsibilities of healthcare managers. In addition, workers with IT knowledge are in great demand. Healthcare information management systems (HIMS) practitioners are keenly aware of the IT personnel shortage. HIMS curriculum planners can address this need by preparing healthcare professionals with the IT skills and knowledge necessary to fill entry level HIMS management and analytical roles. Moreover, students enrolled in health administration and management related programs could become better prepared for today's workforce by electing to enter into a minor or concentration in healthcare informatics or HIMS.

2. BACKGROUND

A review of the existing health administration programs show that although many offer a survey course in HIMS, very few have created an HIMS specialization, concentration, or post-graduate certificate options. The lack of academic focus for formal HIMS education is perplexing considering the number of MBA programs that have recognized the importance of offering an MIS concentration. Many academic business programs offer students a valuable option of supplementing traditional business curriculum with relevant study in the management of technology.

Other healthcare related professions have embraced information technology as a core requirement in academic preparation. Specifically, the medical profession has added information technology as a required learning component in many academic medical programs (Chastian 2002; Salas and Anderson 1998). Advanced HlMS applications are assuming a greater role within the modern healthcare delivery system and there is an increasing need for members of the medical and other healthcare professions to receive appropriate education in these areas. Additionally, the lack of management involvement and ownership of IT projects has been cited as a major impediment in the successful application of IT in healthcare (Martin et al. 1998; Feurer et al. 2000; Ummel 2003).

Formal HIMS preparation for healthcare administration (HAD) students can help cultivate an important appreciation of IT so that, as new healthcare administrators, they can become knowledgeable participants in the HIMS planning and implementation process. However, the number of reported HIMS academic programs are not adequate for the large number of people who require the training (Kinn 1996; Buckeridge and Goel 2001; Staggers et al. 2001; Junium et al. 2001). Thus, providing more advanced and concentrated HIMS education could lead to increasing opportunities for health professionals both in the range of education offered as well as new employment opportunities. Idea generation during the design phase should include input from members of faculty, students, businesses, and professional leaders (Diamond 1998; Lee and Gilmour 1977). Previous studies have assessed the employer preferred skill sets for core undergraduate healthcare informatics programs and full graduate medical informatics degrees (Panko and Valenta 2000; Valenta 1993, 1996; Hoffman and Ash 2001).

Developing and maintaining a relevant HIMS concentration requires a systematic approach for creating a program that will meet the specific needs of its constituency and at the same time fit into the course offering limitations of a concentration or minor. Due to the limited number of credit hours available for degree concentrations (e.g., a typical minor course load requirement may consist of: 25 credits, 7-8 courses for baccalaureate minor programs or 18 credits, 6 courses for a graduate degree concentration) curriculum planners need to make sure that the most appropriate and relevant courses are offered. Thus, the curriculum selection process for any program should weigh heavily upon external factors such as the importance that potential employers place on the various skills and knowledge areas to be offered. Moreover, existing programs should continually monitor curriculum choices by assessing the changes in perspectives as industry dynamics evolve (Panko and Valenta 2000; Valenta. 1993, 1996). Therefore, a continual assessment and evaluation, regarding healthcare CIO preferences for HIMS education, will provide important insight for developing a condensed but effective HIMS academic program.