This course has been designed to provide foundational knowledge about the healthcare industry for information technology (IT) professionals working in (or aspiring to work in) the healthcare industry. After an introduction to the U.S. healthcare system from a stakeholder perspective, students learn about the information and communication needs of key interdependent stakeholders: healthcare providers (hospitals, physicians), suppliers of surgical and non-surgical equipment and drugs, third-party insurers and payers (including government), and the healthcare consumer (patients). The course materials include readings by current thought leaders, in-depth case studies, background summaries prepared by the instructor, and public Web-based resources. Students gain up-to-date knowledge about current healthcare IT solutions used by key players in the healthcare value chain, and also learn about resources for understanding future IT-related trends in this fast-changing industry. This course is also a pre-requisite for three MIS courses that focus on specific types of HIT applications and the process changes and healthcare data needed to support them: MIS 686, MIS 687, and MIS 688.
