My
first year, first semester of Masters in Health Informatics was a different
ride. It made me bolder, in the sense that posting my blog on an audience of
more than a thousand people. I exposed
myself to daggers or not.
Develop
interest in life as you see it; in people, things, literature, music - the
world is so rich, simply throbbing with rich treasures, beautiful souls and
interesting people. Forget yourself. – Henry Miller
Truthfully,
when I started MSHI, I began to doubt what I am doing for the past years and
suddenly my experience was in some way irrelevant but so important at the same
time.
I
think that as a gateway to eHealth the HI201 not only it opened the doors of
eHealth but also also opening my interest on different aspects of eHealth on different
practices. Personally, I like this form of learning because I can give out my
opinion on eHealth ideas and reading my fellow student’s blogs gives me so much
perspective. It gives me endless ideas how important Masters in Health
Informatics is. Subjecting my blog post on a group of people who have the same
interest can give me more information on my shared idea, some comments on my
blog posts are of references that I could learn more.
An
example of which is on my first blog post, I wasn’t able to answer the driving
question. It was the first time in my career on eHealth and the time when I
finally doing continuing eduction on my chosen field of health that I began to
doubt if it is what I wanted to do. But the comment of Dr. Alvin Marcelo, that
my experiences were part of the history of the Philippine eHealth Strategic
Framework.
On
the second assignment, where we had to make a concept map about the relevance
of informatics to global health and eHealth. First I had a problem using the
CMAP on a Mac, I was done with my map and saved it, but it didn’t save what I
made. I ended up using Pages. I will
never forget the first assignment, though I was not able to get interaction on
my PMIS, I was able to get comments through my classmates during Google Hangout.
I learned that what I did was not concept map but more of some sort of
flowchart. It looked that way because of the limited capabilities of
Pages. I learned so much from the
hangout, my classmates’ maps were SO MUCH complex than mine and even with my
experience – my concept map was so LIMITED. On RJ Balandra’s concept map it was
on a tech’ Enquiry – I think that Dr. Pauline and Grace’s concept map are mind
blowing! It was so complex and made me realize how I am limiting myself to the
confides of my comfort zone (my work, or any work related ideas). On Jonathan’s concept map, I thought and
commented on his concept map, that his map “almost sums up a great and [too]
broad idea of relevance of informatics in global health and eHealth. I really
like your input on "arising need" - it is very relevant on innovating
solutions because there is a DEMAND on DATA”.
On
the third assignment which we had to develop an infographic that answers the
driving question “What are the factors affecting the advancement of the field
of health informatics in the Philippines?”
It
is my first time making an infographic, I searched the internet how and
different ways for me to make an infographic easier. This time, I was able to make more
interactions online and so with the class. The most memorable comment on my
inforgraphic is that is very community oriented. YES, I am guilty of that.
I
got comments like “This a simple but nice post. Small amount of words but they
deliver enormous information. You have a lot to share since you've experienced
deploying and gathering these data first hand. Also, I really like the way your
icons are selected and how they are arranged around the map.”
“This
really shows where your coming from. I
like how you entered HIS in the picture, though there are two registries
included. The Infogineering model here took off the informatics part but
couldn't see Global Health and eHealth. Adding them in the map would compliment
our understanding”
“My
teachers always told me "Charge it to experience!" well done!”
“I
agree with what the rest commented. Experience really helps in understanding
the factors affecting the advancement of any form of technology. People from
different cultural and social backgrounds may have different views on
technology”
“The
infographic was very concise and provides a unique viewpoint about the factors
affecting HI in PH. We can never use and adopt better technologies and
innovations if basic necessities such as electricity are not taken care of.”
And
my response is “My experience as an implementor is my greatest teacher! Wow,
you were able to see through my bias for the rural communities. And yes, these
are facts, and i experienced these difficulties first hand”
On
my classmates infographics, I like Grace’s piece. I like how she used a
timeline on the development of ICT in effect to informatics. On RJ’s post, due
to his different background from most of us in the class, his posts are most
often is great new learning for me. I commented on his post “! I like how you
went back to your "roots" - IT Human Resource - And as a part of the
NTHC family - I honour you for staying behind to help our country!”
While
JayC’s post is an interesting peace because of how he related “appeal” as a
factor in the advancement of Health Informatics in the Philippines, I thought
that “what got me interested on your infographic is "appeal" - it's
good that you mentioned it, and however it would be very challenging for the
implementors to gather this, because its very subjective and relative to different
stakeholders”.
While
Jonathan’s post I commented “I like how you were able to present these existing
situation of implementing ICT solutions, these data you presented not only
matters for ICT4H but also for other ICT solutions like for example the PCOS
for elections.”
On
our 4th assignment, the driving question was “What are the
challenges of sustainability for health information systems in developing
countries?” It was unfortunate that I was not able to present it during class.
But for those who were able to present in class, Jonathan’s Mind Map. It was
comprehensive – from the role of the stakeholders, the country’s status, the
role of the implementers, as well as the design of the ICT solution.
From
the 5th assignment, things became complicated for me. First I had no
idea about “free market”. Well I did what I can, more than my readings, my
classmates’ posts and reports in class was more informational. In class, it was majority that the government
could not or cannot adequately provide appropriate deployment of the National
Information Infrastructure.
6th
- If a hospital information system in one facility is a complex process by
itself, how much more complex will a national health information system be? How
can government manage this complexity?
Answering
a rhetorical question is difficult. In class it was agreed that hospital
information system is complex. However answering the how can government manage
this complexity. RJ commented on my post that “I agree that IT is not being
maximized as a tool for improving our health care sector. For it to be truly
maximized though, our manual processes and workflows should be first
streamlined and all its complexities sorted out. Automating an inefficient
manual system will result in an inefficient electronic system.”
If
the 6th assignment was difficult, the 7th was much more
difficult. With a goal of understanding all the Enterprise Architecture
frameworks, with limited time would equal to late submission.
Presenting
my the IOS Health App in class was a disaster, I was not able to evaluate it as
an MSHI student but an end user. But I was able to correct that mistake on my
blog.
From
one post to another, and no chance of presenting assignments in class, getting
interaction from my fellow classmates and from the PMIS became scarce. I for one is guilty of not being able to
interact. UNTIL my post on mHealth.
I
got comments like “Nice”
“The nice part would be the alert system for
agencies that are needed to be informed in cases of maternal or neonatal death.
As for the other tabs, there may be too much information that the mobile app
will need to store for it to run in places where there is no reliable
internet.”
“Hi
Abby!
For
a blog post regarding an idea for mHealth, this one is very ambitious and I
admire you for that. It made my blog spot look very simple. Hehehe. :)
Moving
on, the features you cited in this blog I think is very essential these days.
What struck me most is the Policies and Laws module. Many people would just
"do what they are told to", which is saddening for me. At least, with
the Policies and Laws module, they would be more guided with what they are
doing.
My
concern with your idea is the Supply Chain Management. I would like to know
more about this. Knowing the rampant "discrepancies" with inventories
in government agencies, how would you system ensure accuracy of its inventory?
:)
Anyway,
as I have said, good job and well done. :)”
Another
form of submitting assignment for this course is an interaction in Basecamp, and
on Twitter. However the issue on this
the student must track well the interactions to prevent asking the same
questions.
The
four competencies were presented well, on enquiry – overall, the whole course
was well thought of - the drive questions and assignments. The recommended readings and videos are
informative not only to fulfill the assignment but for the practice of eHealth.
It did not only limit me on the recommendations but also, the assignments
prompted me to read more and search more on the topic.
Posting
our assignments to a group of people with similar interests should prompt
participation and interaction from one another. Though online interaction is
limited maybe because of some are too polite or too shy to comment on, and I am
guilty of that.
Producting
infographics, mind maps, concept maps, presentations and formulating relevant
questions made this course more interesting. Using these ways of media, complex
ideas were present in class with more or less different ideas too.
More
than anything, this form of learning improved digital literacy, especially
blogging which entails respecting digital property rights, making it open to
target audience by using hashtags.
Towards
the end of this course, I am still challenged to become bolder on sharing
ideas, not being satisfied on what I am learning from work and school but doing
my own little projects to improve myself to prepare myself to become a health
informatics professional.
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