Introduction to Digital health from Coursera

What's inside

Syllabus

Introduction to Digital Health

This module will introduce the key concepts and definitions in digital health. You will soon learn that it is a rapidly changing and emerging field. We will also ask for your thoughts early in this week about your own understanding of digital health. You will then be introduced to the growth in digital health technologies, the global distribution of these technologies and the inequalities that exist in terms of access to, and usage of, different forms of digital health technologies to include smartphones, social media and access to the internet. Given this introduction, you will then be introduced to key examples of how digital health projects have been implemented badly, with an example from the UK through the National Programme for IT (NPfIT) and examples of where it has been extremely successful, for example, Estonia.

Electronic Health Records and Learning Health Systems

In this module, you will firstly be introduced to Electronic Health Records and will learn about what they are, how they have been used and the opportunities and challenges to their use. The focus will then turn to Learning Healthcare Systems, identifying the key components of a good Learning Health System, and analyse some examples of a Learning Health System through strong and weak examples. You will then hear from an expert working at the interface of statistics, data science, and digital health through his work on improving health care safety and quality. Interoperability, a key concept describing how data can be shared across health systems is examined. There will be a variety of learning activities including readings and interactive activities to complement your learning in this module.

Introduction to Digital Health Technologies – Part I

In this module, you will start to be introduced to a range of digital health technologies and their use and application in public health and healthcare globally. The focus of this week will be on mobile applications, wearable technologies and health information systems. You will learn about what they are, examples of how they have been used and advantages and disadvantages to their use. You will also be provided with a real-world case study on the use of a mobile application for Ebola contact tracing and monitoring in Sierra Leone in 2015 during the Ebola epidemic and will be introduced to the opportunities and challenges of applying digital health technologies for epidemic preparedness and response. There will be a variety of learning activities to complement what you have learnt including readings and interactive activities.

Introduction to Digital Health – Part II

In this module, you will be introduced to other digital health technologies such as telehealth and telemedicine, social media, machine learning, artificial intelligence, gamification and behavioural sciences and big data. You will explore these areas through videos, supported readings, reflective questions and interactive activities that assess the role, uses, advantages and disadvantages of these technologies in public health and healthcare globally. This builds on the digital health technologies that you learn about in the previous module.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Covers the fundamentals of digital health as an emerging field

Provides an in-depth understanding of various digital health technologies like mHealth, telehealth, AI, and big data

Introduces Learning Health Systems and Electronic Health Records, which are essential digital health components

Emphasizes the role of digital health in global public health, including epidemic preparedness and response

Relates the concepts to real-world use cases, providing practical insights into digital health applications

Reviews summary

Well-received digital health intro

According to students, this course is a well-received introduction to digital health. It is engaging and informative, with great videos and interesting readings. Learners appreciate the feedback and quizzes, which help them track their progress. Overall, this course is a great option for those who want to learn more about digital health.

Feedback and quizzes help track progress

"I also liked the feedbacks and numerous quizzes as you go. I received a huge amount of preliminary knowledge before starting my graded accredited course and I am very thankful for that."

"This course challenges your learnings through its quizes after every module."

"It is hard to read scientific article from home."

Informative videos and readings

"The materials covered were easy to understand and on par with the detail needed to make this applicable in real world work settings."

"I appreciated the mix of media, readings, videos and quizzes to help me grasp this subject matter."

"I really appreciated the role of digitalisation and I believe the importance of learning about it at this day and age in a world that is developing at a unprecedented pace."

Focuses on public health rather than specific digital health tools

"For on-the-job usage the course could be (much) shorter and more practically oriented."

"I had hoped to learn more about specific digital health tools to potentially add to our program."

"Many of the use cases that highlight uses in 3rd world countries seem to focused on public health rather than the actual digital health technologies."

Some readings and case studies are outdated

"Comprehensive introduction to Digital Health. Mostly based on self-study of academic papers, many 10+ years old, as well as recorded video interviews."

"One was called "The State of Telehealth" and dated 2016. Even without the pandemic, telehealth has come a long way in the past five years; and that progress should be highlighted."

"Another was about social media, from 2013..."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Introduction to Digital health with these activities:

Review your knowledge of databases

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Retrieving data is a fundamental skill in digital health

Browse courses on Databases

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Review your notes from a previous database course
Complete a few practice SQL queries
Create a small database of your own

Follow a tutorial on how to use

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Data mining and predictive analytics are essential skills for digital health professionals

Browse courses on Data Mining

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Find a tutorial on data mining or predictive analytics
Follow the tutorial step-by-step
Complete the exercises at the end of the tutorial

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Career center

Learners who complete Introduction to Digital health will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Health Informatics Specialist

Health Informatics Specialists use their knowledge of healthcare and information technology to design, implement, and manage health information systems. This course provides a foundation in digital health technologies, including mobile applications, wearable technologies, health information systems, telehealth, telemedicine, machine learning, artificial intelligence, and big data. This knowledge can be valuable for Health Informatics Specialists as they work to improve the quality and efficiency of healthcare.

See salaries and explore the career path for Health Informatics Specialist

Healthcare Consultant

Healthcare Consultants analyze and evaluate healthcare systems, identify areas for improvement, and develop and implement solutions to improve patient care and outcomes. This course provides a comprehensive overview of digital health, including the key concepts and definitions, various types of digital health technologies, and their use and application in public health and healthcare globally. This knowledge can be valuable for Healthcare Consultants as they work to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of healthcare systems.

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Data Scientist

Data Scientists use their knowledge of statistics, data analysis, and machine learning to solve problems and make predictions. This course provides an introduction to machine learning, artificial intelligence, and big data in the context of digital health. This knowledge can be valuable for Data Scientists as they work to develop new and innovative solutions to improve healthcare.

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Health Educator

Health Educators develop and implement educational programs to promote healthy behaviors. This course provides an overview of the key concepts and definitions in digital health, as well as various types of digital health technologies. This knowledge can be valuable for Health Educators as they work to promote healthy behaviors and improve the health of their communities.

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Epidemiologist

Epidemiologists investigate the causes of disease and outbreaks. This course provides an overview of the key concepts and definitions in digital health, as well as various types of digital health technologies. This knowledge can be valuable for Epidemiologists as they work to investigate and prevent disease outbreaks.

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Healthcare Administrator

Healthcare Administrators plan, direct, and coordinate the delivery of healthcare services. This course provides an overview of the key concepts and definitions in digital health, as well as various types of digital health technologies. This knowledge can be valuable for Healthcare Administrators as they work to plan, direct, and coordinate the delivery of digital health services.

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Health Policy Analyst

Health Policy Analysts analyze and evaluate health policies and programs. This course provides an overview of the key concepts and definitions in digital health, as well as various types of digital health technologies. This knowledge can be valuable for Health Policy Analysts as they work to develop and implement effective health policies.

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Medical Writer

Medical Writers create and edit written materials about medical and health-related topics. This course provides an overview of the key concepts and definitions in digital health, as well as various types of digital health technologies. This knowledge can be valuable for Medical Writers as they work to create and edit written materials about digital health.

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Clinical Research Associate

Clinical Research Associates manage and conduct clinical trials. This course provides an overview of the key concepts and definitions in digital health, as well as various types of digital health technologies. This knowledge can be valuable for Clinical Research Associates as they work to manage and conduct clinical trials of digital health interventions.

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Public Health Officer

Public Health Officers work to protect and improve the health of communities. This course provides an overview of the key concepts and definitions in digital health, as well as various types of digital health technologies. This knowledge can be valuable for Public Health Officers as they work to improve the health of their communities.

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Health Economist

Health Economists analyze the cost and effectiveness of health care interventions. This course provides an overview of the key concepts and definitions in digital health, as well as various types of digital health technologies. This knowledge can be valuable for Health Economists as they work to evaluate the cost and effectiveness of digital health interventions.

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Project Manager

Project Managers plan, execute, and close projects. This course provides an overview of the key concepts and definitions in digital health, as well as various types of digital health technologies. This knowledge can be valuable for Project Managers as they work to manage digital health projects.

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Health Information Manager

Health Information Managers oversee the management and use of health information. This course provides an overview of the key concepts and definitions in digital health, as well as various types of digital health technologies. This knowledge can be valuable for Health Information Managers as they work to manage and use digital health information.

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Business Analyst

Business Analysts analyze and evaluate business processes and systems to identify areas for improvement. This course provides an overview of the key concepts and definitions in digital health, as well as various types of digital health technologies. This knowledge can be valuable for Business Analysts as they work to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of healthcare systems.

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Software Engineer

Software Engineers design, develop, and maintain software systems. This course provides an overview of the key concepts and definitions in digital health, as well as various types of digital health technologies. This knowledge can be valuable for Software Engineers as they work to develop new and innovative digital health solutions.

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