What project did you work on?
I worked on the Surgical Transitions Remote Patient Monitoring Program for St Joseph's Hopital in Hamilton, Ontario. The program utilizes digital health technology to monitor patient post-surgery at home while facilitating administration of care and communication between patient and the healthcare team. Digital technology was leveraged for the Surgical Transitions Remote Monitoring Project and patients were provided with a digital health kit (which included devices such as a tablet with data plan, blood pressure machine, pulse reader, weight scale, digital thermometer) that transmit vital sign readings and health survey in real-time for review by the remote monitoring nursing team. Scheduled video visits are incorporated into the project done by nurses and doctors to complete health assessment.
What did you learn that will help you in the future?
The project management office is where I am currently completing my practicum. Here I've been able to develop new skills in finding digital solutions. I have been intricately involved with coordinating and managing activities for a technology project. This aligns with my learning objectives to work toards achieving core competencies for Health Informatics in Canada. I have acquired knowledge, tools, and skills to become a better project manager and is inspired to complete the Project Management Professional (PMP) certification in the future.
Were there any challenges?
Due to COVID-19 pandemic, this practicum placement has been virtual and has resulted in a delayed start for other projects that I planned to be working on. Even though I've had a virtual placement and a delayed start to various projects, the team has been supportive. Even for delayed projects we have worked together to plan activities, tasks and deliverables for when the projects resume.
What advice would you give to someone thinking about doing a program with a practicum component?
Once you have fully understood the delivery of the program methodology, you should start thinking about the type of experience you would like to gain from your practicum component. If you are a non-working or working professional, it is advisable to engage in practicum activities that would advance your career and leadership. Identify core competencies for the respective program or profession that you would like to achieve and work towards achieving them during your practicum experience.
Why did you pick this program?
Opportunities in Health Informatics are vast and diverse. I have an aptitude for both adopting and supporting the adoption of new technologies and workflows and life-long desire to contribute more to the healthcare system and to help improve patient care and experience in whatever way I possibly can. As a registered nurse, I saw the opportunity to leverage informatics as the catalyst to create change. From there, I decided to transition into the Health Informatics profession. In 2019, I enrolled in the Master of Health Informatics program which was marked as the start of my exciting new journey in becoming a leader in Health Informatics. Shortly after enrollment, I started my new career path as a Clinical Informatics Specialist with my current employer and I could not be happier. Today, I am very happy with my progress and the many successful implementation projects that I lead so for.
I am excited to share that I am the ONE Project Site Lead for my organization. The ONE (one person, one record, one system) Initiative is a northeast region-wide transformational technology project to improve the delivery of patient and family-centered care through the creation of a single electronic Health Information System (HIS), built with a common set of standards. The ONE initiative’s goal is to enhance safe, evidence-based patient & family centered care through clinical transformation enabled by workflow redesign supported by the technology eco-systems. Meditech Expanse is the EHR chosen for the ONE initiative.
Would you recommend this program? Why?
Yes, the Master of Health Informatics program is designed to advance your career in the health care industry and become a phenomenal leader and professional in managing digital health solutions relevant to the health care system. It offers a practicum component to help candidates with and without a healthcare, computer and or informatics background to experience and gain knowledge and expertise in a -Informatics and public health settings. The icing on the cake, MHI program is flexible for the working professional and is completed online as a part-time or full-time student.