Information:

Module information

Details

Title
Systems Development & Design
Type
Specialist
Module code
S-HI-S2-2
Credits
10
Requirement
Compulsory

Aim of this module

This module will provide an opportunity for trainees to develop and apply detailed understanding of the different approaches to the specification, design, development, testing and implementation of clinical systems in the context of formal project management methodologies.

Work-based content

Competencies

# Learning outcome Competency Action
# 1 Learning outcome 1,2 Competency

Complete preliminary analysis including requirements gathering exercise and analysis

Action View
# 2 Learning outcome 1,2,3,4 Competency

Draft a project plan and apply appropriate project management principles to a project

Action View
# 3 Learning outcome 3,5,6 Competency

Develop a small application as part of an Improvement to an existing information system or database

Action View
# 4 Learning outcome 5,6 Competency

Perform user testing, including: end to end testing

Action View
# 5 Learning outcome 5,6 Competency

Complete a validation or verification plan

Action View
# 6 Learning outcome 6 Competency

Develop standard operating procedures (SOPs) or other user or technical documentation for a system development change and provide training

Action View
# 7 Learning outcome 6 Competency

Plan and carry out the deployment of a system development change or upgrade in a controlled fashion, taking into account the impact on existing functionality and clinical service

Action View
# 8 Learning outcome 2 Competency

Appraise and risk assess a commercially supplied clinical information management system, including plans for disaster recovery (DR) and business continuity (BC)

Action View
# 9 Learning outcome 6 Competency

Liaise with third party software providers or an external provider to solve system development or technical issues

Action View
# 10 Learning outcome 7 Competency

Devise and write project documentation to introduce interoperability between existing systems

Action View

Assessments

Complete 2 Case-Based Discussions

Complete 2 DOPS or OCEs

Direct Observation of Practical Skills Titles

  • Install a software update following the release process from a development/test environment to the live environment.
  • Plan the initial steps to maintain business continuity in response to IT failure according to local disaster recovery plans.

Observed Communication Event Titles

  • Report on a project at a project meeting where clinical system requirements are discussed and agreed.
  • Complete a requirement gathering exercise with another healthcare professional.
  • Present conclusions from a requirement gathering exercise for authorisation for a system development.
  • Provide training to another healthcare professional on a system development change.

Learning outcomes

# Learning outcome
1

Perform and document a system requirements-gathering exercise and develop a specification of requirements.

2

Critically appraise a systems design/development plan to determine suitability of existing services.

3

Select and apply systems development and project management methodologies to a range of projects.

4

Summarise the clinical requirements for a system development project considering all stakeholders.

5

Critically evaluate and manage a system development project within the context of a formal project management methodology.

6

Implement new applications and upgrades to an existing application using controlled methodology.

7

Critically evaluate the flow of information between systems and organisational boundaries to identify opportunities where interoperability and system integration can improve outcomes.

Academic content (MSc in Clinical Science)

Important information

The academic parts of this module will be detailed and communicated to you by your university. Please contact them if you have questions regarding this module and its assessments. The module titles in your MSc may not be exactly identical to the work-based modules shown in the e-portfolio. Your modules will be aligned, however, to ensure that your academic and work-based learning are complimentary.

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of this module the trainee will be able to:

  1. Critically evaluate different approaches to systems development within the broader cycle of development, deployment and maintenance of healthcare systems.
  2. Critically evaluate different approaches to the development of an enterprise-wide business architecture and the relevance of such architectures to systems design and requirements gathering.
  3. Compare and contrast the different tools available to a systems analyst to elicit, analyse and record requirements, and critically appraise an existing approach that they are familiar with.
  4. Describe and appraise the relationship between requirements, acceptance criteria and system testing, and determine a range of key success criteria.
  5. Discuss and justify the importance of patient record, data and interoperability ‘standards’ in the design of healthcare information systems.
  6. Evaluate the impact of different technical architectures on potential solution designs and on procurement strategy.
  7. Explain the reasons why IT projects may fail and be able to discuss how different models of change management, system design and approaches to procurement might contribute to greater success.
  8. Demonstrate an integrative understanding of the risks associated with systems development, and how these are managed at each stage of the cycle.

Indicative content

  • Critical appraisal of past and current projects
  • Description of main system design methodologies, e.g. Agile and Waterfall
  • Description of main requirements analysis methodologies
  • Domain enterprise architecture framework and methodologies
  • Building on best practice examples, an explanation of the key stages and activities within the lifetime of an informatics procurement activity
  • Description of best practice procurement approaches, including an appreciation of legal aspects of public sector procurement
  • An explanation of the logical relationships and dependencies between key stages and activities within the lifetime of an informatics system design/development or procurement activity
  • Evaluation of informatics systems design/development/procurement
  • Risk management methods and use

Clinical experiences

Important information

Clinical experiential learning is the range of activities trainees may undertake in order to gain the experience and evidence to demonstrate their achievement of module competencies and assessments. The list is not definitive or mandatory, but training officers should ensure, as best training practice, that trainees gain as many of these clinical experiences as possible. They should be included in training plans, and once undertaken they should support the completion of module assessments and competencies within the e-portfolio.

Activities

  1. Attend a project meeting for a prospective or ongoing systems development project, appreciate the roles of those attending the meeting and how the team communicates.
  2. Shadow a healthcare professional using an informatics system in their routine clinical work, appreciate the benefit the system brings to the clinical activity.
  3. Attend a clinic session related to the work of your department.

Module assigned to

Specialties

Specialty code Specialty title View
Specialty code SBI1-3-26 Specialty title Clinical Informatics [2026] Action View
Specialty code SBI1-3-27 Specialty title Clinical Informatics [2027] Action View