Digital Health in Clinical Practice (HLTH7002)

Course overview

This course introduces students to the evolving landscape of healthcare and the growing influence of digital technologies. It begins with an overview of health systems, exploring how access, equity, and clinical needs shape care delivery. Students then examine the foundations of digital health, including telehealth, core technologies, and their expanding role in clinical practice.

The course highlights how digital tools, particularly robust interoperable electronic medical record systems, support clinical decision making and effective patient management through improved access to 'right information on the right patient at the right time. It also explores how digital technology supports a patient’s right to equitable healthcare access and places patients central to their own health management through telehealth, remote monitoring, mobile health, electronic personal health records, and home‑based models of care.

Students investigate how multidisciplinary teams use digital solutions to coordinate care for complex patients, and they analyse emerging technologies such as AI and machine learning to facilitate proactive, predictive medicine. Real‑world examples of successful digital health implementation at organisational and national levels provide insight into what drives meaningful change.

Key challenges—including interoperability, privacy, security, compliance, and economic considerations—are examined alongside strategies for planning and evaluating digital health initiatives. The course concludes with a review of major concepts to prepare students for final assessment and real‑world application.

Teaching staff will host two live sessions (via Microssoft Teams) during the semester to help students prepare for assessment tasks 2 and 3. Details will be posted on the course assessment page.

Course contact

Course staff

Timetable

Additional timetable information

This course is delivered online, so there is no class timetable available on SI-net. The learning activities are outlined in Section 4 of the Course Profile and further details are provided through the course Learn.UQ (Blackboard) site.

Aims and outcomes

Course Aims: This course introduces students to planning, implementing and evaluating digital health interventions in clinical practice. Students will identify the needs of ICT and its increasing role in healthcare. Students will investigate a range of e-health technologies in the areas of clinical practice, health education, health administration and research. Throughout this course, we will address several key questions:

1. Why do we need digital health technologies?
2. How is technology reshaping healthcare?
3. How do we implement digital health initiatives in clinical practice?
4. How do we sustain digital health interventions in clinical practice?

By the end of this course, students will be able to develop comprehensive plans for digital health interventions, implement and evaluate digital health technologies in clinical practice, analyse the impact of digital health technologies on healthcare delivery and understand the role of ICTs in healthcare and clinical practice from a critical lens.  

Learning outcomes

After successfully completing this course you should be able to:

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment details

Assessment Task 1: Online MCQ

• Online

Mode

Written

Category

Essay/ Critique

Weight

30%

Due date

27/03/2026 5:00 pm

Learning outcomes

L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06

Task description

Submission guidelines

Via Turnitin link on the Course Assessment page Learn.UQ (Blackboard)

Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

The maximum extension allowed is 14 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.

A maximum extension of 14 days for each assessment item will be approved to ensure course progression and timely feedback. 

Students must apply via the formal channels.

Please see 10. Policies & Guidelines

Late submission

A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.

Please see 10. Policies & Guidelines

Assessment Task 2: Letter to the editor

• Online

Mode

Written

Category

Essay/ Critique

Weight

30%

Due date

24/04/2026 5:00 pm

Learning outcomes

L01, L02, L03, L04, L05

Task description

Submission guidelines

Via Course Assessment page (learn.uq.edu.au)

Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

The maximum extension allowed is 14 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.

A maximum extension of 14 days for each assessment item will be approved to ensure course progression and timely feedback. 

Students must apply via the formal channels.

Please see 10. Policies & Guidelines

Late submission

A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.

Please see 10. Policies & Guidelines

Assessment Task 3: Video Presentation

• Online

Mode

Oral, Written

Category

Presentation

Weight

40%

Due date

29/05/2026 5:00 pm

Learning outcomes

L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06

Task description

Submission guidelines

Via link on the Course Assessment page (learn.uq.edu.au)

Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

The maximum extension allowed is 7 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.

A maximum extension of 7 days for each assessment item will be approved to ensure course progression and timely feedback. 

Students must apply via the formal channels.

Please see 10. Policies & Guidelines

Late submission

A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.

Please see 10. Policies & Guidelines

Course grading

Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.

Additional course grading information

Students are required to complete and submit all Assessment items to pass this course.

Calculation of Final Grade

The percentage mark for this course is reached by calculating the weighted average percentage mark achieved across the marked assessment tasks. The total of the weighted assessment tasks for the course will be rounded to two decimal points if required, with the final mathematical rounding to an integer at the end yielding a percentage mark. A mark of x.5% or greater will be rounded up to (x+1)%. A percentage mark of less than x.5% will be rounded down to x%.

Supplementary assessment

Supplementary assessment is available for this course.

The final grade awarded will be based on the results of the supplementary assessment only, and a passing grade will be awarded if, and only if, the student receives at least 50% of the marks on the supplementary assessment. 

Additional assessment information

Please note that all submission dates for assessments are in Brisbane time - Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST).

To pass this course you need to submit all Assessment items. You do not have to pass each assessment piece individually but need to gain 50% or more to pass overall.

Note - half marks may be given.

Artificial Intelligence

Artificial Intelligence (AI) provides emerging tools that may support students in completing some assessments. Students may appropriately use AI in completing their assessment tasks for this course unless otherwise indicated by the Course Coordinator. Students must clearly describe and reference any use of AI in each instance.

A failure to reference AI use may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.

Please be aware that assessments in this course have been designed to be challenging, authentic and complex. Whilst students may use AI and/or MT technologies, successful completion of assessment in this course will require students to critically engage in specific contexts and tasks for which artificial intelligence will provide only limited support and guidance.ﾠ

Learning resources

You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.

Library resources

Library resources are available on the UQ Library website.

Learning activities

The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.

Policies and procedures

University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:

• Student Code of Conduct Policy
• Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy and Procedure
• Assessment Procedure
• Examinations Procedure
• Reasonable Adjustments for Students Policy and Procedure
• AI for Assessment Guide
• Recording of Teaching Policy and Procedure

Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.

Course guidelines

School of Public Health (SPH) Guidelines for late submission of progressive assessment - Preamble 

To apply for an extension to the due date for a piece of progressive assessment (eg assignments, oral presentations and computer-based assignments) students should complete the online request at https://my.uq.edu.au/information-and-services/manage-my-program/exams-and-assessment/applying-assessment-extension?p=2#2   

Information regarding deferral of in-semester exams and end-of-semester exams is available from https://my.uq.edu.au/information-and-services/manage-my-program/exams-and-assessment/deferring-exam   

If requesting an extension on medical grounds, a medical certificate must be provided. The extension will be approved for the number of days included in the medical certificate that the student was not fit to study or work, eg if the medical certificate is for 3 days only, an extension will be approved for 3 days maximum regardless of the student's request for further days.  

If requesting an extension using a Student Access Plan (SAP) as evidence, a maximum of 7-day extension will be approved in the first instance. Updated medical documentation, as well as a copy of the SAP, is required if requesting an extension for more than 7 days.  

A student may have a maximum of three extension requests approved for a single assessment task.     

An extension for an assessment item due within the study period in which the course is offered, must not exceed four weeks in total.  

The following SPH guidelines are consistent with the UQ policy. However, the SPH Guidelines  contain specific rules and interpretations for SPH courses, and requests for extension and penalties for late submissions will be judged according to the guidelines outlined in this document. You should read both the information in your my.UQ at the following link: https://my.uq.edu.au/information-and-services/manage-my-program/exams-and-assessment/applying-assessment-extension  and the SPH guidelines (below) before submitting a request for an extension. The SPH Guidelines apply to all courses offered by the School of Public Health unless the Course Profile explicitly states otherwise. 

SPH Guidelines for late submission of progressive assessment 

Initial extension for an individual item of assessment – the SPH Student & Academic Administration Team and/or the Course Coordinator decides. 

This could be for medical or compassionate reasons, or if, in the opinion of the Course Coordinator, there are exceptional circumstances. 

Acceptable and unacceptable reasons for an extension are listed at the following link, along with the required evidence to be provided: https://my.uq.edu.au/information-and-services/manage-my-program/exams-and-assessment/applying-assessment-extension?p=1#1  

A request for an extension to an assessment due date must be submitted through my.UQ as soon as it becomes evident that an extension is needed, but no later than one calendar day after the assessment task submission due date and time.   

If applying for an extension after the due date and time of the assessment item, your request may not be approved. An explanation as to why your request was not submitted prior must be included.  

If approved, a new due date will be set. This would generally be no later than 7 days after the original due date, however this can be modified to account for the circumstances of the request and the time that would have been lost from studies. 

If the new due date is past the date for submission of end-of-semester results, the student will receive an INC (incomplete) result. 

Second and all subsequent extensions for an individual item of assessment – the SPH Student & Academic Administration Team and/or the Program Convenor together with the Course Coordinator decides. 

This would only be approved for exceptional circumstance with supporting documentation. 

• Online requests must be made at least 24 hours prior to the approved due date from the first extension. 
• The SPH Student & Academic Administration Team and/or the Course Coordinator will consult with the Program Convenor, who will make the final decision. 
• If approved, the new due date would generally be no later than 7 days after the first extension due date. 
• The Program Convenor should consider if remedial or other support should be offered to the student. 
• The Program Convenor should provide a report on these matters as needed at SPH Examiners’ Meetings. 

A student may have a maximum of three extension requests approved for a single assessment task.     

An extension for an assessment item due within the study period in which the course is offered, must not exceed four weeks in total.  

Please Note: To support course progression, extensions that total more than 14 calendar days from the original due date of an assessment item will only be approved in very exceptional circumstances. These requests are assessed and approved or denied on a case-by-case basis.  

If you have been ill or unable to attend class for more than 4 weeks in a semester, we advise you to carefully consider whether you are capable of successfully completing your courses this semester. You might need to consider Removal of Course. 

Penalty for late submission 

Submission of assignments, practical reports, workbooks, and other types of written assessments after the due date specified in the Course Profile will receive a penalty. 

The penalty will be a deduction of 10% RELATIVE PERCENTAGE per day (24 hour period or part thereof, including weekends and public holidays) or for work graded on a 1-7 scale, a deduction of one grade per day, e.g. If the original mark is 73%, then 10% relative percentage is 10% of this value, ie 7.3%, The final mark for this assessment item after applying the penalty for 1 day late submission would be 73 -7.3 = 65.7% The same outcome is achieved by multiplying the original score by .9; ie 73 x .9 = 65.7% 

The penalty for multiple days late is the relative percentage multiplied by the number of days late.  

A submission that is not made within 10 days of the due date will receive a mark of 0% for that assessment item. 

Where a student has sought more than one extension, the due date for calculating the penalty will be the due date for the most recently approved extension. 

Submission of Medical Certificates 

Students are responsible for ensuring that any medical documentation they submit is authentic and signed by a registered medical practitioner. Such practitioners can be identified via the AHPRA website. Also note that: 

• Not all online medical services are staffed by registered practitioners 
• If the registration status of the practitioner cannot be verified, then an alternative practitioner should be sought 
• Students will be held fully responsible for all documentation they submit, even if done so in ignorance of the practitioner's registration status 

Medical documentation may be subjected to an audit by the University. 

SPH Assessment Guidelines 

The School of Public Health assessment tasks have been designed to be challenging, authentic and complex.  While students may use AI technologies, successful completion of assessment in this course will require students to critically engage in specific contexts and tasks for which artificial intelligence will provide only limited support and guidance.  

A failure to reference AI use may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.  

To pass this assessment, students will be required to demonstrate detailed comprehension of their written submission independent of AI tools.