The programme consists of nine modules, six taught modules and three independent study modules leading to the dissertation.

Module 1:       Research Methods

Module 2:       Health Informatics in Clinical Practice

Module 3:       Clinical measurement and evidenced based medicine

Module 4:       Developments in Informatics

Module 5:       Strategic Development

Module 6:       Human and Organisational Issues in Informatics

Modules 7

to 9:     Independent study and Research thesis

This module is a critical analysis of the informatics perspectives of healthcare practice. It is an introduction to the concepts of Clinical Information and the informatic issues that managers, clinicians and informaticians are currently facing. The module will explore local and national initiatives in clinical information management and evaluate audit tools suitable for monitoring and evaluation. It will also examine issues relating to Clinical Governance and Risk Management and incorporate a critical review of clinical coding systems and data quality.

This module is a critical analytical review of current developments in information and communications technologies and their possible impact on health informatics and healthcare delivery. In particular the module examines the electronic health record, the use of Internet technologies, the development of telehealth, and human-computer interaction. Issues of confidentiality and security of data are also explored with particular reference to NHSnet, local intranets and the global internet.

This module examines current approaches to the development of organisational strategy including the identification of associated information systems and technology strategies. Hard and soft approaches to information requirements are critically compared. It will explore issues related to strategic analysis and decision making, financial issues and power in organisations.

Human and organisational issues in informatics.

This module is a critical analytical review of contemporary organisation theory and the approaches to bringing about change supported by information system and technology. It seeks to establish a clear understanding of the current approaches to change management with particular emphasis on organisational change, benefits and learning. The module also critically compares the various approaches to evaluation of change projects concentrating on those with a significant information systems and technology content. It not only explores the theory of change management to achieve successful implementation of corporate strategy but also the cultural issues involved in implementing change in an organisation.

This module provides students with the opportunity to reflect on the nature of scholarly research, to identify the place of their particular discipline in the range of intellectual investigation, to identify particular and relevant methods and skills, and to develop those skills and to begin their implementation in a significant and agreed topic of research. The module provides a theoretical introduction of the research skills needed to execute successfully a sustained piece of substantial research and to prepare and present it in a scholarly and professional form.

A distinctive achievement of postgraduate study is the independent work, which each student undertakes. The production of a dissertation offers students the opportunity to experience research, study, reflection and critical evaluation in a focused area of interest.