Uniformed Services University

BID4001, Clinical Informatics Elective

Course #: BIC4001, Clinical Informatics Elective
Department: BID
Duration: 4
(Pass/Fail): P

Description: With the introduction of the electronic health record and information systems/technologies in the clinical environment, the need for physicians to guide implementation is critical. Currently, a new physician board specialty in clinical informatics is under review for adoption.

This clinical informatics elective is offered to provide medical students with some training and exposure to clinical informatics. The student(s) will be mentored by the top clinical informaticians currently serving in the Military Health System. The student(s) will receive training on information systems, work alongside the clinical informatics staff developing tools/templates, participate in meetings with clinic personnel about their informatics needs, shadow their preceptor in command meetings with policy implications, and like activities.

The elective offers the student(s) exposure to clinical informatics while concurrently providing the MHS the opportunity to identify emerging physicians who might, at some point in the future, desire to serve as Chief Medical Information Officers (CMIOs) or other leaders in the new field.

Objectives:

• Successfully complete available training in health information systems (e.g. AHLTA, Essentris, CHCS);
• Complete a clinical informatics-related project under supervision of the preceptor;
• Shadow the preceptor as he/she attends high-level meetings within the command/ services/departments where policy implications of information needs are discussed; and
• Develop technique in assessing information needs in the clinical environment.

Potential Sites: Walter Reed National Military Medical Center

Preceptor: LTC Nhan Do, USA, MC, Nhan.do@us.army.mil , (202) 591-5623

USU Department Coordinator: Ron Gimbel, PhD (rgimbel@usuhs.mil; 301-295-3077)