Health information science is a hybrid curriculum that encompasses multi discipline including
Basic health sciences,
Information & Communication Technologies (ICT),
HIV/AIDS and infectious diseases
LIBRARY & information sciences
In 2017/2018 academic year HIS programme was started under Ministry of Health at CEDHA-TANZANIA
The program intends to train competent health information specialists with the skills to manage the changing landscape of Tanzanian and other developing nations health information needs.
AIMS OF THE PROGRAMME
The Health Information Science training programme was established to produce competent Health Information Science professional who possesses relevant knowledge, skills and attitudes in the design and management of health information systems in health training institutions and care settings. The programme will produce personnel who will discharge duties in information collection, processing, storage and dissemination of health information and other related information
Purpose of the Programme
This level is meant to provide basic health information science knowledge, skills and appropriate attitudes to students. All modules are fundamental and are intended to build students’ knowledge and skills necessary for acquiring competences for management of Health Information Science;
instil motivation for life-long learning and good foundation for professional advancement studies in Health Information Science
Program Intend to
1.Establish a foundation in professional practice and career advancement in HIS field
2.Equip students with the appropriate basic knowledge, skills and attitudes relevant to HIS practice
3.Equip students with high level of skills, knowledge and understanding to undertake health information science responsibilities.
4.Promote creativity and innovation in response to challenges associated with health information management practice, training and healthcare delivery
5.Promote teamwork culture, critical thinking and problem-solving skills in HIS
6.Promote a good sense of citizenship, accountability and responsibility
7.Promote professional ethical practice and medico-legal aspects of health records and information science
8.Provide life-long learning behavior for HIS personnel and advancement of the profession
9.Provide a wider outlook of the learning content and context so as to increase learners’ advantages into regional and international labour markets.
Expected responsibilities
1. To assist in providing health information during surveillance and rapid response to public health threats
2. To Maintain health records in and health information resources centre
3. To support client’s health information needs on learning, teaching and research
4. To assist in maintaining Health Management Information System. For example DHIS 2, GoT-HoMIS
5. To promote conduct marketing of health information resources and services through e-networking market.
6. To provide health information literacy training to clients such as students, staffs, patients.
7. To design and manage database for health information services resources
8. To assist in planning, developing, maintaining and operate computerized health information resource center
9.To conduct and collect health information user’s statistics to get total number of patients admitted and discharged in health facilities.
10. To ensure proper arrangement of health data and information resources through filling, shelving, tracing by using file cabinet, shelves, computer
Where to Work/ Working Places
1. National Hospital settings
2. Zonal Referral hospitals
3. Regional Referral hospitals
4. District hospitals
5. Health Centers
6. Dispensaries
7. Academic and health research institutions
8. Local and International Health Organization
9. Non-Governmental Organization
10. Faith-Based Organization – Health
Private health institutions
11. HIV/AIDS Department In Hospital Or Non Organization
12. Statistical departments
Working Department
1. Health Records Department/Unit/Section (Referral Hospital, Regional Hospitals, District Hospital, Health Centres and any other health Institutions)
2. Health information Resource Centre (National Hospital, Referral Hospital, Regional Hospitals, District Hospital, Health Centres, Dispensaries and any other health Institutions).
3. Health Management Information Systems Department/Unit at District, Regional and National level.
4. Medical library and health information resources centres
5. Health insurance organizations. For examples NHIF, NSSF, CHF
6. Medical research department for examples NIH (National Institute of Health), NIMR (National Institute for Medical Research), IHI (Ifakara Health Institute).
7. HIV/AIDS Department Inin Hospital Oror Non OrganizationNon-Organization as Data clerks
8. Non-government organization and government organization [ AMREF, WHO, EGPAF]
9. Statistical departments. Examples National Bureau of Statisticsoutcomes
Expected Impacts
1. Increased the quality of healthcare services delivery through Saving time and reduce the length of stay
2. Increase Saving time and reduce the length of stay
3. Data quality management through efficient data collection, analysis and interpretation and analytical skills
4. Production of competent human resource for health through sharing health information skills such as employee relation, teamwork and collaboration
5. Reduction of HIV/AIDS infections through the power of relevant health-related information related information
6. Reduction of Support in inaccuracies inhealth data collection, analysis during -related research through competent Health information skills using SPSS, EPI infoand innovation
7. Reduction of operational cost such Medical errors in billing, registration, coding systems through monitor vulnerable population
The role of these Health Information Specialists will be to
1. Provide evidence based medicine resources to clinicians
2. assist medical and nursing students
3. Provide appropriate information resources to patients, families, and public
4. Assist in the organization of medical records
5. facilitate the transition to electronic systems for medical records management
6. Management of health information systems and databases
Competencies for a diploma program in health information science
A three year program should cover a number of learning operations
YEAR 1
Studies on assisting health workers in providing health information health facilities
1. fundamental of communication skills
2. Basics of first aid and personal protection
3. occupational health and safety,
4. Basic computer application,
5. personal development skills,
6. ethics and professionalism,
7. health information processing (i.e., cataloging and classification)
8. basics health records,
9. basics of health sciences library operations
YEAR 2
Studies on maintaining health information system to health institution and support other members of healthcare team in the provision of healthcare services to clients
1. customer care
2. biomedical terminologies,
3. application of ict’s in health information services
4. preservation and conservation of health information resources,
5. health information systems design
6. application of biomedical terminologies in health information services
7. health information collection development
8. Disaster management
9. health information management
10. Basic of HIV/AIDs
YEAR 3
Studies on organizing and managing health information services in broad activities at all level of health management information systems
1. Introduction to leadership and management
2. marketing of health information services
3. entrepreneurship
4. biostatistics
5. demography and health surveillance
6. project management
7. quality management
8. teaching methodology
9. health information literacy
10. statistical applications in data analysis
11. research methodology
General Roles
1. To address health information needs of patient-centered health care
>Consumer health
>Reduce health disparities
>Support patient participation in their own health care
>Information on Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs)
>Ensure public input
2. To provide health information needs for evidence based decision making
3. To provide health information needs for policy decision making
4. Medical records
>Reduce errors
>Identify, compile, abstract and code patient data using standard classification systems
>Review information for completeness, accuracy and compliancy with the regulations
5. To assist in surveillance and rapid response to public health threats
6. To assist first responders during emergencies
7. To chair health information committees and participate in IRBs
8. To manage the health information department, resource Centre, health sciences library, etc.
9. To plan, develop, maintain and operate varieties of health information indexes, storage and retrieval systems to collect, classify, store and analyze health information
10. To support health information needs on learning, teaching and research.
Vision
To have competent Health Information personnel who will provide health information services effectively at different health training and care settings to cope with the existing and emerging health information issues
Mission
To establish a conducive and sustainable training environment that will allow students and graduates to perform competently at their relevant levels and aspire for attainment of higher knowledge, skills and attitudes in promoting healthcare services.
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
Holders of Certificate of Secondary Education Examination (CSEE) with four (4) Passes in non-religious Subjects including “D” Passes in Chemistry, Biology and Physics/Engineering Sciences a Pass in Basic Mathematics and English Language is an added advantage.
PROGRAMME DURATION
This is a three years Health Information Science training course, using NACTE approved curriculum. It is divided into three NTA levels, 4, 5 and 6. Each level is done in one academic year, divided into two semesters. A candidate who qualifies for this course will be enrolled after verification by NACTE.
The NTA Level of programme has a total of 40 weeks of study, which are divided in two semesters. Each semester consists of Eighteen (18) weeks for theory and practical training and two (2) weeks for end of semester Examinations.
COLLAGE OFFERED HIS COURSE IN TANZANIA
1. CENTRE FOR EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN HEALTH ARUSHA (CEDHA)
2. MWANZA COLLAGE OF HEALTH ALLIED _(LAKE ZONE HEALTH INSTITUTE)
