HITS: Health Information Technology Scholars Program

The Health Information Technology Scholars Program (HITS)
A year long faculty development program.

The increasingly complex healthcare environment requires the use of electronic health records and other technology tools that support knowledge management and clinical decision making as well as promote quality and safety. Clinical training and education is seen as the crucial element for changing the culture of healthcare practices to support the national IT agenda. We believe this training needs to start with faculty. This one-year scholars program will assist faculty to develop and integrate a variety of technologies in their own curriculum. It is designed to prepare nurse educators with the knowledge, skills and attitudes to transform education to meet current and future practice requirements as they relate to information technology. Although faculty teams (two or more faculty per institution) are encouraged, individual applications will be accepted. The HITS program is a one-year program and will be repeated annually.

The program is in four phases:

Phase I - January: Participate in web-based modules and eCommunity discussion groups designed to introduce health informatics and other technologies that enhance teaching and learning practices. These modules will advance knowledge and assess your level of understanding of these technologies. Discussions on eCommunities will be moderated by experts to guide your learning.

Phase II - Onsite Workshop: Attend a 3 day workshop held annually each spring to immerse scholars in the HITS program. The workshop will be rotated each year among the collaborating institutions to target diverse audiences, and to build and enhance networks at the community level. The workshop will have a common core curriculum, break out sessions presenting technology enhanced curricula projects with demonstrations and applications, field trips to technology rich environments, mentoring/consultation sessions and networking opportunities. Continuing Education Credit will be awarded by the NLN. The second workshop will be March 5-7, 2009 in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Phase III - April - June - Continue planning and development of institutional specific project through continuing study of advanced online modules and participation in eCommunities led by mentors. Webinars also will be conducted during this time to share experiences, advance learning and provide support for scholars. The outcome of this phase is an approved technology enabled project to be implemented in the fall (or summer) semester at your respective institutions.

Phase IV - June - December - Implement, evaluate and disseminate an integrated technology project at the scholar's respective institutions in summer/fall semester. During this phase scholars will participate in the eCommunities discussions and goal attainment evaluation strategies.

For additional information regarding the HITS program please contact:

Kelly Oldridge, koldridge@kumc.edu, 913.588.3362 or
Helen Connors, hconnors@kumc.edu
Diane Skiba, diane.skiba@uchsc.edu
Pamela Jeffries, pjeffrie@iupui.edu
Mary Ann Rizzolo, mrizzolo@nln.org.

The Health Information Technology Scholars Program (HITS) A year long faculty development program.

The Health Information Technology Scholars Program (HITS)
A year long faculty development program.