Health Information Management and Data Analytics

This course introduces students to the interdisciplinary field of health informatics, covering the foundations of health data, information systems, and digital health in the Canadian context. Students explore the role of informatics in improving healthcare delivery, decision-making, and patient safety. The course also addresses emerging trends such as mobile health (mHealth), telehealth, and patient-centered technologies. Students gain exposure to digital transformation strategies, change management, and ethical considerations when implementing informatics solutions in real-world healthcare settings.

Students explore the key principles and practices of managing health information in clinical settings. Topics include medical terminology, clinical documentation, records retention, legal health records, and quality assurance methods in HIM. The course highlights the lifecycle of health records, interdisciplinary communication, and compliance with Canadian HIM standards. Additionally, students examine best practices in documentation workflows, chart audits, and performance monitoring within healthcare organizations.

This course focuses on Canadian coding standards and classification systems. Students develop practical skills in applying ICD-10-CA and CCI for clinical coding, abstraction, and data categorization to support reimbursement, research, and planning. Emphasis is placed on coding accuracy, consistency, and the use of classification systems for population health analysis. Students also explore advanced coding scenarios, case study abstraction, and the integration of computer-assisted coding tools.

Students study the structure, design, and use of electronic health records (EHRs). Emphasis is placed on data quality principles, data governance frameworks, and interoperability of health information systems. The course introduces students to vendor systems, data entry standards, audit trails, and quality improvement techniques in digital health records. Students also gain hands-on experience in navigating EHR interfaces and conducting real-time data validations and corrections.

Students examine legal and ethical issues in Canadian health information management, including PHIPA, access and disclosure regulations, informed consent, and the role of the health information custodian. Case studies emphasize real-world applications. The course also addresses organizational responsibilities, confidentiality breaches, and ethical dilemmas in HIM practice.

Students learn to interpret, analyze, and visualize health data using industry tools. Topics include exploratory data analysis, dashboards, storytelling with data, and applying analytics to clinical and administrative decision-making. Students also explore key performance indicators (KPIs), predictive modeling, and techniques for presenting findings to non-technical stakeholders. Projects include real-world health datasets and public health dashboards used by Canadian institutions.

This course provides a comprehensive overview of Canada’s healthcare delivery models, funding structures, and the role of informatics in public health surveillance, disease prevention, and population health management. Topics include social determinants of health, public health databases, and emergency preparedness systems. Students analyze case studies in outbreak tracking, vaccination monitoring, and data exchange among provincial systems.

Students gain foundational knowledge of relational databases, SQL queries, data modeling, and database design tailored to healthcare environments. Hands-on activities reinforce skills in managing health datasets securely. The course covers database normalization, integrity constraints, secure access protocols, and relational joins. Students also create basic health database schemas to simulate common clinical applications.

Students build statistical literacy by exploring descriptive and inferential statistics, probability, hypothesis testing, regression, and the interpretation of health data. Real-world datasets are used to analyze clinical trends. Emphasis is placed on applying statistical reasoning to support quality improvement, research, and decision-making. Students gain proficiency in statistical software tools to support healthcare data analysis.

Students explore the principles of project planning, implementation, and evaluation with a focus on health information governance, stakeholder engagement, documentation standards, and risk management in health data projects. Students use project management tools and frameworks to simulate real-world scenarios. Additional focus is placed on governance policies, audit compliance, and documentation tracking in health information systems.

This course introduces students to AI applications in diagnostics, predictive modeling, personalized medicine, and healthcare operations. Topics include machine learning basics, data bias, and ethical considerations in health AI. Students also evaluate the potential of AI for enhancing patient care and operational efficiency while discussing regulatory and privacy implications. Tools such as natural language processing and computer vision are also introduced through healthcare-specific use cases.

Students engage in a supervised 200-hour capstone project that simulates professional HIM practice in healthcare or public health environments. This project enables students to integrate informatics, analytics, and governance skills to solve real-world challenges. Students develop a comprehensive report, present findings, and reflect on competencies acquired throughout the program. Career readiness, professional communication, and industry expectations are embedded in the experience.