• To develop a critical appreciation of research and research methodologies in the field of Informatics in support of healthcare;

• To critically analyse and evaluate a range of tools and techniques to review the implementation of Health Information Systems;

• To critically apply such knowledge and skills in the conduct of an original creative piece of work.

By the end of their programme, students will have:

• Developed an understanding of and skill in utilising a range of subject methodologies and become aware of the different and complementary ways of studying;

• Planned and managed the organisational development required to ensure that the predicted benefits associated with information systems and technology are fully realised;

• Contributed to and improved the research base of health informatics in the area of human and organisational issues;

• Become skilled in independent learning and research appropriate to postgraduate level of study;

• Acquired a specialist subject vocabulary and understanding which enables them to engage in informed discussion in their chosen field with postgraduate peers and tutors;

• Read widely within their field of study and used that reading to inform their written work and contributions to general discussion, seminars and tutorials;

• Planned the management of the acquisition and implementation of information systems and technology in healthcare organisations.

To introduce and critically explore the main applications of health informatics that support the delivery, management, and evaluation of care.

To examine

	current approaches to corporate strategy development in the health (and other) sectors.
	appropriate developments in information and communications technologies and in health informatics and to relate them to information requirements of health care professionals and health care organisations.
	approaches to achieving organisational change where information systems and technology are significant drivers

To analyse

the nature of culture and change and its role in achieving successful implementation of corporate strategy.

• different approaches to requirements analysis and development of integrated information systems strategies for healthcare organisations.

To investigate

the nature of the organisational impact of information systems.

• opportunities and imperatives for change.
• ways to develop integrated information systems and technology strategies that support the corporate strategy.

• the organisational implications of various approaches to the procurement and implementation of information systems and technology

Transferable Skills

Students will develop through their participation in this programme the transferable skills of:

• Research skills, including the locating and evaluating of materials;
• Organisation of materials for written work and presentations;
• Critical analysis and evaluation skills
• Report writing skills
• Information Technology skills

Specific Skills in

• assessing the effectiveness and efficiency of existing information systems
• environmental analysis
• the application of health informatics to clinical practice
• the critical analysis of organisational culture
• the critical analysis of technology developments and their implications for health informatics
• the evaluation of change projects involving the introduction of information systems and technology
• the internal analysis of organisations
• the process of identifying information requirements
• the process of introducing change in practice
• the use of the Internet