An innovative learning experience for entry to eHealth careers

Area of Science:

• Health Informatics
• Educational Programs

Background:

• Growing need for skilled professionals in health informatics.
• Limited accessible introductory programs for aspiring health informatics trainees.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce Applied Health Informatics (AHI) to individuals with diverse backgrounds.
• To attract new trainees to the field of Health Informatics (HI).
• To provide foundational knowledge in HI concepts, methods, and tools.

Main Methods:

• Development of the AHI Bootcamp educational program.
• Combination of brief on-site and approximately 80 hours of online instruction.
• Focus on core aspects of HI, including planning, implementation, and evaluation of informatics solutions.

Main Results:

• The AHI Bootcamp effectively introduces participants to the field of Health Informatics.
• The program caters to individuals with little to no prior knowledge of HI.
• Participants gain an understanding of HI's role in addressing healthcare challenges.

Conclusions:

• The AHI Bootcamp is an effective model for accessible health informatics education.
• The program successfully orients participants towards further exploration in AHI.
• Innovative educational approaches are crucial for workforce development in health informatics.