CAHIMS study plan

Define the systems development life cycle (SDLC) phases and compare at least three methodologies (waterfall, agile, hybrid) in writing.

Identify the roles and responsibilities of key stakeholders in a healthcare IT project (e.g., clinical users, IT staff, vendors, project sponsor).

Explain the purpose and components of a requirements traceability matrix.

List and describe at least five techniques for gathering user requirements (e.g., interviews, observation, surveys, focus groups, document analysis).

Differentiate between functional and non-functional requirements and write examples of each for a clinical system.

Describe the process of creating use cases and user stories for healthcare software.

Explain the purpose and basic elements of data flow diagrams (DFDs) and entity-relationship diagrams (ERDs).

Summarize common system testing types (unit, integration, system, user acceptance) and when each is performed.

Explain the role of interoperability standards (HL7, FHIR) in system integration.

Describe the purpose of an interface engine and common interface types (e.g., ADT, ORM, ORU).

Identify key security and privacy requirements for healthcare systems (HIPAA, HITECH) and how they influence system design.

List the steps in a system implementation and go-live process, including cutover strategies.

Define clinical informatics and its core models (e.g., DIKW, clinical workflow analysis).

Describe the electronic health record (EHR) and its key functions (CPOE, eMAR, clinical documentation, results management).

Explain the role of standardized terminologies (SNOMED CT, LOINC, ICD-10) in clinical systems.

Identify common clinical decision support (CDS) types and their purposes (e.g., alerts, order sets, reference information).

Analyze how informatics supports patient safety and quality improvement (e.g., reducing medication errors).

Explain the role of usability and human factors in health IT design and evaluation.

Describe methods for evaluating clinical information systems (e.g., usability testing, clinical outcomes, user satisfaction).

Summarize the stages of the data lifecycle and the importance of data governance in healthcare.

Define project management and compare predictive (waterfall) and adaptive (agile) approaches in healthcare IT.

Describe the project management life cycle (initiation, planning, execution, monitoring/controlling, closing).

Explain the purpose and components of a project charter and a work breakdown structure (WBS).

Identify key stakeholders and communication strategies for a healthcare IT project.

Describe techniques for estimating project time, cost, and resources (e.g., analogous, parametric, three-point).

Explain the process of risk management, including risk identification, analysis, and response planning.

Summarize quality management concepts and tools (e.g., quality planning, assurance, control, cause-and-effect diagrams).

Outline the steps for project closure and lessons learned.

Review and integrate key concepts from all three domains through practice questions and scenarios.

Complete a timed practice exam covering all domains and analyze results to identify weak areas.

Create a personalized summary sheet of critical formulas, standards, and frameworks.

Develop a test-day strategy including time management and question-answering techniques.