The course stresses the C Programming language as the main tool for program development in health informatics. Top ics include basic computing environments, basic computer architecture, C Programming, introductory data structures and algorithms and their implementation in C. To familiarize the student with the prerequisite mathematics needed for studies in medical informatics, programming examples explore and stress knowledge of linear algebra, calculus, differential equations, probability and statistics. The course focuses on the general systems theory applied to health care systems and information technology. Computer-based information system operation and management functions in the context of various professional settings, impact of information technology on health care management are reviewed and discussed. Demonstrations of current health information systems, emphasizing design, system components, data structures and database management are conducted.
Students practice on existing systems in various health care settings.
Bioinformatics Database Systems 3 credits Study of database design and management in relation to human genome and similar projects. The course emphasizes software tools and techniques for scientific data management. The course introduces the students to the fundamentals of biomedical signals processing and image processing. Techniques including image digitization, display, and processing algorithms are discussed. Particular emphasis is given to areas related to computer systems, processing methodologies, and display of images.