This course introduces students to selected transformational capabilities that are currently impacting healthcare systems and will continue for the foreseeable future. The selected transformational capabilities will be discussed in the context of a healthcare systems thinking-engineering strategy to best leverage the capability for a more cohesive and integrated healthcare ecosystem. The topics that will be discussed include: Personal Wearables and Apps, Personalized Medicine, Digital Health, Data Science and AI/ML, Telehealth & Telemedicine, Predictive Analytics/Forecasting, Virtual/Augmented Reality, Interoperability, Resilient Systems, and Supply Chains. Each transformation capability will be delineated with its unique attributes, applied to selected healthcare ecosystems, and then discussed within a systems thinking-engineering development approach to help demonstrate its overall impact and comprehensive integrated value.
The course materials are divided into modules which can be accessed by clicking Modules on the course menu. A module will have several sections including the overview, content, readings, discussions, and assignments. You are encouraged to preview all sections of the module before starting. Most modules run for a period of seven (7) days.
Introduction, Framework, and Approach |
Transformational Capabilities in Health Overview |
Personal Wearables and Apps |
Personalized Medicine |
Digital Health |
Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (AI) / Machine Learning (ML) |
Telehealth and Telemedicine |
Predictive Analytics / Forecasting |
Virtual/Augmented Reality |
Interoperability |
Resilient Systems |
Supply Chain |
System Health Frontiers |
Final Project |
By the end of this course, you will be able to:
- Delineate critical health system transformational capabilities
- Demonstrate the overall value of transformational capabilities in a health system context
- Determine the impact of transformational capabilities on health ecosystems
- Create an integrated health ecosystem concept leveraging and integrating transformational capabilities using systems engineering principles/approaches
Please see eReserves for all reading materials. There are no text books for this course.
Weekly assigned journal articles.
It is expected that each module will take approximately 8–12 hours per week to complete. Here is an approximate breakdown: reading the assigned sections of the texts (approximately 2–3 hours per week) as well as some outside reading, listening to the audio annotated slide presentations (approximately 2–3 hours per week), and writing assignments (approximately 4–6 hours per week).
This course will consist of the following basic student requirements:
Assignments will include a mix of qualitative assignments (e.g. literature reviews, model summaries). Include a cover sheet with your name and assignment identifier. Also include your name and a page number indicator (i.e., page x of y) on each page of your submissions. Each question should have a repeat of the question, any assumptions, requested answer and any amplifying conclusions/discussion delineated. All Figures and Tables should be captioned and labeled appropriately.
All assignments are due before the follow class period-start.
Late submissions will be reduced by one letter grade for each week late (no exceptions without prior coordination with the instructors).
If, after submitting a written assignment you are not satisfied with the grade received, you are encouraged to redo the assignment and resubmit it. If the resubmission results in a better grade, that grade will be substituted for the previous grade.
Weekly assignments are graded as follows:
Assignments are due according to the dates posted in your Canvas course site. You may check these due dates in the Course Calendar or the Assignments in the corresponding modules. I/We will post grades one week after assignment due dates.
We expect well written and grammatically correct statements since communication is a large part of systems engineering. Grades will be decremented if the answers are note well written and communicated clearly.
A (& +/-) indicates achievement of consistent excellence and distinction throughout the course—that is, conspicuous excellence in all aspects of assignments and discussion in every week.
B (& +) indicates work that meets all course requirements on a level appropriate for graduate academic work. These criteria apply to both undergraduates and graduate students taking the course.
EP uses a +/- grading system (see “Grading System”, Graduate Programs catalog, p. 10). You should contact your Program Chair for guidance on the breakdown used by your program.
100-98 = A+
97-94 = A
93-90 = A−
89-87 = B+
86-83 = B
82-80 = B−
79-77 = C+
76-73 = C
72-70 = C−
69-67 = D+
66-63 = D
Final grades will be determined by the following weighting:
Item | All Points Equal |
Weekly Assignments and Discussion Posts | Cumulative Points |
Final Reflective Assessment | Cumulative Points |
Deadlines for Adding, Dropping and Withdrawing from Courses
Students may add a course up to one week after the start of the term for that particular course. Students may drop courses according to the drop deadlines outlined in the EP academic calendar (https://ep.jhu.edu/student-services/academic-calendar/). Between the 6th week of the class and prior to the final withdrawal deadline, a student may withdraw from a course with a W on their academic record. A record of the course will remain on the academic record with a W appearing in the grade column to indicate that the student registered and withdrew from the course.
Academic Misconduct Policy
All students are required to read, know, and comply with the Johns Hopkins University Krieger School of Arts and Sciences (KSAS) / Whiting School of Engineering (WSE) Procedures for Handling Allegations of Misconduct by Full-Time and Part-Time Graduate Students.
This policy prohibits academic misconduct, including but not limited to the following: cheating or facilitating cheating; plagiarism; reuse of assignments; unauthorized collaboration; alteration of graded assignments; and unfair competition. Course materials (old assignments, texts, or examinations, etc.) should not be shared unless authorized by the course instructor. Any questions related to this policy should be directed to EP’s academic integrity officer at ep-academic-integrity@jhu.edu.
Students with Disabilities - Accommodations and Accessibility
Johns Hopkins University values diversity and inclusion. We are committed to providing welcoming, equitable, and accessible educational experiences for all students. Students with disabilities (including those with psychological conditions, medical conditions and temporary disabilities) can request accommodations for this course by providing an Accommodation Letter issued by Student Disability Services (SDS). Please request accommodations for this course as early as possible to provide time for effective communication and arrangements.
For further information or to start the process of requesting accommodations, please contact Student Disability Services at Engineering for Professionals, ep-disability-svcs@jhu.edu.
Student Conduct Code
The fundamental purpose of the JHU regulation of student conduct is to promote and to protect the health, safety, welfare, property, and rights of all members of the University community as well as to promote the orderly operation of the University and to safeguard its property and facilities. As members of the University community, students accept certain responsibilities which support the educational mission and create an environment in which all students are afforded the same opportunity to succeed academically.
For a full description of the code please visit the following website: https://studentaffairs.jhu.edu/policies-guidelines/student-code/
Classroom Climate
JHU is committed to creating a classroom environment that values the diversity of experiences and perspectives that all students bring. Everyone has the right to be treated with dignity and respect. Fostering an inclusive climate is important. Research and experience show that students who interact with peers who are different from themselves learn new things and experience tangible educational outcomes. At no time in this learning process should someone be singled out or treated unequally on the basis of any seen or unseen part of their identity.
If you have concerns in this course about harassment, discrimination, or any unequal treatment, or if you seek accommodations or resources, please reach out to the course instructor directly. Reporting will never impact your course grade. You may also share concerns with your program chair, the Assistant Dean for Diversity and Inclusion, or the Office of Institutional Equity. In handling reports, people will protect your privacy as much as possible, but faculty and staff are required to officially report information for some cases (e.g. sexual harassment).
Course Auditing
When a student enrolls in an EP course with “audit” status, the student must reach an understanding with the instructor as to what is required to earn the “audit.” If the student does not meet those expectations, the instructor must notify the EP Registration Team [EP-Registration@exchange.johnshopkins.edu] in order for the student to be retroactively dropped or withdrawn from the course (depending on when the "audit" was requested and in accordance with EP registration deadlines). All lecture content will remain accessible to auditing students, but access to all other course material is left to the discretion of the instructor.