Information Technology in the Health Care System of the Future

The healthcare system in the US has been in the midst of a rapid transition in response to changing trends and patterns of care. The growing emphasis on evidence-based medical practice, continuous quality improvement, clinical and cost-effectiveness, and risk management have led to a sea change in medical practice that has been stressful for clinicians, patients, and administrators. As care becomes more tightly managed, it becomes a challenge for clinicians, administrators, and patients to balance time, money, resources, and clinical outcomes. Can emerging technologies help solve these complex problems? How has the demise of the dot.com industry effected these trends and slowed the proliferation of potential solutions? This innovative, trans-faculty course will teach the student how information technologies are shaping and redefining the health care marketplace through examining aspects related to 1) improved economies of scale, 2) greater technical and business efficiencies in the delivery of care to patients, 3) advanced tools for patient education and self-care, 4) network integrated decision support tools for clinicians, and 5) e-health applications and e-commerce. Students are required to take this course in conjunction with HST 923, the tutorial/practicum portion of the course, where they will work in interdisciplinary teams (including students in medicine, business, law, engineering, computer science, media, public health, and government) to analyze, develop, and present an innovative solution to a current or future clinical management program or health care problem which will incorporate (but is not limited to) management techniques, services, and technologies as presented during lectures and laboratories. Students' proposed solutions will draw upon their understanding of tools and principles acquired during the course and will be presented as an application design on the final day of the course. Opportunities to interact with corporate sponsors will enhance the emphasis on practical solutions to real world problems.Sponsored driven projects in past years have included those from Pfizer Health Solutions, Merck, Johnson and Johnson, Mass General, and Warner Lambert. (Note: A special project will be organized and supported by the faculty this year to help students identify ways to support efforts to combat bio-terrorism through improved uses of clinical and bioinformatic systems.