Post Graduate Diploma in Public Health Informatics (PGDPHI)

The PG Diploma Program in public health informatics is approved by UNMC Center for Continuing Education and offers Certificate in Public Health Informatics. The University of Nebraska Medical Center, Center for Continuing Education is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians and other non-healthcare professionals.

The University of Nebraska Medical Center, Center for Continuing Education designates this enduring material for a maximum of 120 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

The University of Nebraska Medical Center, Center for Continuing Education designates this enduring material for a maximum of 12 continuing education units (CEUs).

Rationale

Public health informatics has been defined as the systematic application of information and computer science and technology to public health practice, research, and learning. All people working in public health field require knowledge of Information Technology (IT). Hence there is a need to acquire knowledge, skills and abilities to organize information for public health purposes, leveraging technology within public health setting. To meet this growing demand, there is a need for a targeted contextual public health informatics program that can fulfill the needs of the professionals both nationally and globally who are interested to utilize technology to improve population health outcomes.

Educational Objectives

• At the conclusion of this activity, participants should be better able to:
• Define informatics concepts and categories
• Explain the information system architecture in public health
• Design and evaluate health information systems
• Describe privacy, confidentiality and security issues relevant to health information systems
• Understand the utilization of Public Health Decision Support Systems
• Analyze the role of technology mediated Public Health Surveillance for Non-Communicable Diseases
• Describe the Web based approaches to health education and health promotion
• Evaluate quality and content of health information on the internet
• Disseminate electronic communication of public health messages using various
• Apply the knowledge acquired through the course work to an informatics related research project focused on a topic to public health relevance

Target Audience

The course is targeted for graduates and professionals from all disciplines as well as Medicine, Para-medical, Public Health/Health Management, Health Promotion, Nutrition, Epidemiology, Microbiology, Engineering, Information Systems and Computer Science, Statistics and Economics to name a few disciplines.

Learning Format

The online learning program includes 4 courses and a research project. The aim of the research project is to apply the skills acquired during the courses in a real environment:

• Introduction to Public Health Informatics
• Foundation of Health Information Systems
• Computer mediated Health Education and Health Promotion
• Applications of Public Health Informatics
• Research project

Each course duration is 10 weeks and classes will be held over the weekend. Each class will be of 2 hours. Additional reading material will also be provided with each lecture. Course evaluation will involve multiple approaches including quizzes, midterm, final exam, presentation and participation in the discussions. The users have to participate in the synchronous learning sessions so that there is a live interaction between the course instructors and the students enrolled into the program. To receive a certificate in Public Health Informatics one has to complete all the four courses and a research project. The research project is 12 weeks duration during which the student has to conceptualize the study proposal, design a research study, sample size justification, data collection procedures and statistical analysis and publication of research findings in an international peer reviewed scientific journal. If an individual completes certain courses and not the entire course then he will receive a credit for the course completed. An individual can complete the certificate with a gap no more than 6 months of first joining the course.

Credit

The University of Nebraska Medical Center, Center for Continuing Education is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians and other non healthcare professionals.

The University of Nebraska Medical Center, Center for Continuing Education designates each enduring material for a maximum of 120 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ for healthcare professionals. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

The University of Nebraska Medical Center, Center for Continuing Education designates each enduring material for a maximum of 12 continuing education units (CEUs).

Faculty

Ashish Joshi, MD, MPH

Center for Global Health and Development and Department of Health Services Research Administration

College of Public Health UNMC

Cancellation Policy

Cancellations received within 3 business days or less left before the classes start time will be charged a 50% tuition fee.

Disclaimer

These are not transcript academic credits and do not apply toward any academic degree program.