1- Your friend, who is in the same program, but has not studied Epidemiology yet, asks you what Epidemiology is all about. Having just finished studying this course, and being so enthusiastic about it, you decide to be elaborate and explain to her a) what is Epidemiology and b) why is epidemiology so important for HIM professionals. Please explain to her, in your own words, and in 5-7 pages, what Epidemiology is all about, and why is it important to learn it.
Read the following text from “Today’s Health Information Management: An Integrated Approach” book, by Dana McWay, to get some ideas. Then do a little research to learn more about the roles of HIM in epidemiologic studies, and finally, summarize what you have learned in this course in a language that is understandable by someone who does not have this knowledge.

“Research and epidemiology possess a symbiotic relationship; knowledge and use of research principles are essential to the proper design of epidemiological studies, and knowledge and use of epidemiological principles assist in the proper design of research studies.

Both areas are intimately connected with health information management in the modern age. Health information management professionals are extremely knowledgeable about health care data content and structure, including its collection, analysis, storage, and retrieval. Each of these functional areas is an essential component of both research and epidemiology. In light of this connection, two roles envisioned by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA)- the clinical data specialist, and the research and design support analyst- are now in operative form throughout the United States. Some health information management professionals design and conduct studies that concern the clinical, financial, and administrative aspects of health information management, and others support studies in different areas. Whether acting in the direct capacity of conducting one’s own studies, or in the support capacity of assisting another’s research or epidemiological efforts, the knowledge and skills a health information management professional possesses with regard to health care data content and structure, database management, and statistics offer considerable advantages to researchers at all levels.

The discipline of health information management requires professionals to understand the concepts of research and epidemiology.”

2- Point out two things that you learned in this course, that you think will be useful when you graduate and start your new career. Please briefly explain why and how you envision using that knowledge. Please limit your answer to 5 lines per item.

3- Were your learning expectations from this course met?