IS 460/660 Healthcare Informatics is related to an area which is becoming more and more important every day. Why is it so? According to the data presented by CMS, Since 2004, the National Health Expenditures (NHE) increased from 1,855.4 Billion Dollars (B), which was the 15.6% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), to 2,702 B in 2011 (17.3% of GDP). NHE in 2019 is projected to be 13,382 B (19.3%). Although the estimates beyond 2019 are not published, it can be easily argued that if NHE increases at the same rate, given the crucial nature of health care, there will be considerably less resources left for other areas important to our society in the future decades.

In this large picture, there has been a bi-partisan support for Health Information Technology (Health IT) with the hope that it can help reduce some of the healthcare costs while positively contributing to the quality of care and health outcomes. On the other hand, using IT to create sustained benefits presents complex issues caused by the unique characteristics of health settings, professionals, organizations, laws, etc., in addition to the technical ones. As a result, when it comes to Health IT, there are many interesting and important interdisciplinary and applied topics well-worth to learn and discuss.

IS 460/660 will discuss the major areas of Health IT outlined below. It will also include a number of guest speakers who will be chosen from the prominent leaders of the Health IT community in the Baltimore-Washington area. The three major course objectives are that the students will:

• Develop a broad knowledge of Health IT
• Understand the challenges and opportunities associated with adopting and meaningfully using Health Information Technology
• Establish familiarity with the related literature, terminology, and concepts which will enable them to communicate with the other Health IT professionals more effectively and efficiently

Textbook:

Health Informatics: Practical Guide for Healthcare and Information Technology Professionals (Fifth Edition) by Robert E Hoyt, Nora Bailey, and Ann Yoshihashi

The course topics will include

• Health Informatics Overview
• Healthcare Data, Information, and Knowledge
• Electronic Health Records, Practice Management Systems
• Health Information Exchange
• Data Standards
• Architectures of Information Systems
• Health Information Privacy and Security
• Health Informatics Ethics
• Consumer Health Informatics
• Mobile Technology in Health

NOTE: The students taking this course will be able to make a transition to the second course Healthcare Informatics - II in Spring 2013 easily, if they would like to explore certain topics in depth.

Be the Change You Wish To See in the World!

Apply to become an AmeriCorps VISTA

with UMBC’s Service-Learning Program!

Through partnership with the Maryland-Washington, DC Campus Compact (MDCCC), the AmeriCorps VISTA position will provide leadership in the design and implementation of the Service-Learning & School-Family Connections MDCCC-VISTA project and will serve as the liaison between UMBC and its school partner.  The MDCCC-VISTA will meet with teachers and administrators to devise a plan for increasing student engagement in the Homework Club and will create surveys and assessments to ensure that data is measured on a regular basis.  The Information Workshops for parents will address the school’s commitment to provide school-family support.  The MDCCC-VISTA will meet with school administrators and parents to create a curriculum plan for the sessions that she or he will also implement and facilitate; surveys and other assessments will be created to ensure that data from sessions is assessed.  The MDCCC-VISTA will also recruit UMBC students to participate in service-learning activities that leverage the resources of the campus to meet the volunteer needs of local community programs.   

What is AmeriCorps VISTA?

• AmeriCorps VISTA is the national service program designed specifically to fight poverty. 
• VISTA members serve as full-time volunteers, organizing and implementing programs that build the capacity of organizations while making resources available to communities in need.

What are the benefits of serving as an AmeriCorps VISTA?

• The VISTA member will receive health insurance, a travel allowance (for work-related meetings and events), and a taxable living allowance of approximately $13,000 for their year of service.
• After successfully completing the service year, the VISTA will be eligible to receive either $1,200 in cash or an AmeriCorps Education Award of $5,550 that can be used toward the repayment of student loans or school tuition.  

What are the eligibility requirements to be a VISTA?

• A Bachelor’s Degree and driver’s license is required by the start of the VISTA year.
• Commitment to provide one year of full-time service (8/15/12-8/14/13).  
• Desire to work on-campus and with a local school partner to combat poverty.

How can I apply?

• Complete the enclosed Intent to Apply Form and email it to Clare Greene (clare6@umbc.edu) in the Service-Learning Program at The Shriver Center at UMBC.  Only emailed submissions will be accepted.  Eligible applicants will be contacted for an interview.
• For more information about the AmeriCorps VISTA program, visit: http://www.americorps.gov/for_individuals/choose/vista.asp.

ALL INTENT TO APPLY FORMS MUST BE EMAILED TO clare6@umbc.edu

By 5pm on Friday, April 27^th, 2012.

On March 28th Leslie Morgan—professor of sociology, co-director of the UMBC/UMB Ph.D. program in gerontology, and one of the nation’s foremost scholars of aging—will present the annual Lipitz Lecture, a Social Sciences Forum event (4:00 p.m. UC Ballroom Lounge). Morgan is UMBC’s 2011-12 Lipitz Professor, an honor that seeks “to recognize and support innovative and distinguished teaching and research in the Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences.”

Leslie Morgan’s latest publications include Quality Assisted Living (see preview video) and the Baltimore Sun op-ed “Questions to ask before choosing assisted living.” Her lecture will explore the complex influences of longer lives on society and on all of us as aging individuals. She argues that pervasive ageism continues to drive anxiety and avoidance of aging and society remains challenged to find meaningful, positive social roles for the growing cadre of older adults.

The Apple Push Notification Service provides a high-speed, high-capacity interface, so you should establish and maintain an open connection to handle all your notifications. Connections that are repeatedly opened and closed will affect the performance and stability of your connection to the Apple Push Notification Service and may be considered denial-of-service attacks. You should also connect regularly to the feedback service so you don’t send notifications to devices that no longer have your app installed. Learn more about connecting to the Apple Push Notification Service.