Healthcare Data Management and Interfaces

Overview

This course provides healthcare professionals and students in health informatics with a comprehensive understanding of healthcare data management and interfaces. Participants will learn about key standards such as CDA, CCD, and USCDI, and how to apply these standards to ensure accurate and interoperable health records. The course will also cover the differences between structured and unstructured data and their implications for patient care. In addition, learners will explore HL7 v2, HL7 FHIR, and SMART on FHIR, and gain hands-on experience using SNOMED CT, LOINC, and RxNorm for structuring health data. The course will evaluate the role of ontologies in semantic interoperability, identify challenges in interoperability, and propose solutions. Finally, participants will assess the potential of blockchain and IoT applications for secure health data exchange.

Syllabus

Fundamental Healthcare Data Standards

This module introduces the foundational data types and standards that enable healthcare information exchange. Learners will explore the difference between structured and unstructured data, examine the evolution of HL7 standards (V2, V3, CDA, C-CDA, CCD), and study modern interoperability frameworks including HIE, FHIR, SMART on FHIR, and USCDI. Through case-based discussions, learners will understand how these standards support consistent data representation, sharing, and reuse across clinical, administrative, and research domains.

Common Data Models and its Challenges

This module focuses on the application of data standards in research and operational healthcare environments. Learners will study widely adopted research data models such as OMOP and PCORnet, understanding their structure, use cases, and alignment with FHIR resources. The module also explores real-world challenges in mapping inconsistencies and technical integration issues.