Projects in health informatics - from idea to specification, 5 credits

Bachelor of science or professional qualification of at least 180 credits within health care, biomedicine, technology, data and software engineering or informatics. Furthermore, knowledge in English equivalent to English B (with at least the Pass grade) is required.

On completion of the course, the students should be able to:

Knowledge and understanding

• explain how to run a project in an interactive process.

Skills and ability

• work effectively in interdisciplinary, multidisciplinary and international teams.
• independently and creatively initiate, lead and manage a health informatics (HI) development project in its first stages.
• apply the theories to a real project in health care.
• through models and charts/diagrams describe the user requirements and business processes before and after the possible introduction of HI-systems.
• compile and present a specification with the surrounding documentation and demonstrate a paper prototype of an IT-based support in health.

Assessment ability and attitudes

• explain, take a standpoint and critically select the non-functional requirements that the proposed solution should hold and evaluate, justify and argue for and against selections.

A main idea is to link together all courses from the gone year and allow the students to exercise/practise the skills and thus develop their potential for professional activities.

The course is based on a real problem that is identified for example through earlier case studies or from the students' own earlier experiences. The students initiate a development project that should be solved according to the following procedure: Start from an idea - define a problem - carry out a pilot study (gather user requirements/describe the business processes) - suggest a solution - test a prototype - complete a specification in a standardised way.

Working groups of 6-8 students work independently under supervision. The groups will consist of students who have different background (technology/healthcare) and take different positions in the (group)organisation.

- Students who have technical background should be able to define, describe and discuss problems, explain, discuss and decide the technical aspects of the project such as choice of architecture, choices of development method and choices of notation ways.

- Students who have background in healthcare should be able to define, describe, discuss problems, explain, discuss and consider aspects such as specific requirements related to specific medical conditions, specific requirements related to health care organisations and legal/ethical aspects.

The students present their results in continuing formative seminars. The course is completed with a demonstration of a paper prototype.

The examination is based on three different parts:
- Project Management (A-F) - written assignment.
- Specification (A-F) - written assignment.
- Presentation (Fail/Pass) - oral presentation.

To pass the course you must pass all parts. The final grade for the course becomes the mean/average

Compulsary participation
Participation in the seminars and group activities is compulsory. The course director assesses if and, in that case, how absence can be compensated. Before the student has supplement in in accordance with the course director's instructions, the student's grades for the course will not be registered. The absence of a mandatory activity could mean that the student can not make up for this until the next time the course is offered.

After each course, there will be at least 6 occasions for examination within a 2-year period after the end of the course.

Course evaluation will be carried out in accordance with the guidelines established by the Board of Education.

The course is given in English.