Biography
Barbara Hewitt, Ph.D., is a Professor and MHIM Clinical Coordinator in the Department of Health Information Management at Texas State University. She holds a Ph.D. in Information Technology and a B.S. in Computer Science from the University of Texas at San Antonio, along with an MBA from Texas State University. She teaches courses in privacy and security, risk assessment, health information technology, health informatics, and project management.
Dr. Hewitt began her teaching career in the HIM program at Texas State, contributing to the university’s first fully online degree, the BS in HIM. She later expanded her teaching portfolio through service in the Computer Information Systems program at Texas A&M University–San Antonio. Her research focuses on socio‑technical systems in healthcare, and her scholarship appears in leading journals across information systems and health informatics.
Before transitioning to academia, Dr. Hewitt worked as a software developer and systems analyst, including a role as a user analyst at Southwest Texas State University. She continues to support professionals and students in computing and healthcare through competitions and networking events to foster inclusive professional growth in the technology and health information fields.
Dr. Hewitt began her teaching career in the HIM program at Texas State, contributing to the university’s first fully online degree, the BS in HIM. She later expanded her teaching portfolio through service in the Computer Information Systems program at Texas A&M University–San Antonio. Her research focuses on socio‑technical systems in healthcare, and her scholarship appears in leading journals across information systems and health informatics.
Before transitioning to academia, Dr. Hewitt worked as a software developer and systems analyst, including a role as a user analyst at Southwest Texas State University. She continues to support professionals and students in computing and healthcare through competitions and networking events to foster inclusive professional growth in the technology and health information fields.
Research Interests
My areas of research are socio technical systems theory and healthcare. The socio technical systems research evolves around adoption of computers and security. I often explore what motivates individuals to adopt and use different protective measures while using personal computer either for personal use or to work in a hybrid work environment. I explore how security and privacy impact an individual's decision to use healthcare systems including telehealth and patient portals. I have studied knowledge sharing, ethics, and healthy behaviors including using wearable devices, considering genetic testing, and those with diabetes. In a recent qualitative study, we examined how a collaboration between HIM and PT faculty allowed PT faculty to explore the use of health informatics in classes within a DPT program. In a new study, a colleague and I are examining how digitalization in the form of digital tools and digital maturity impacts the collaborative knowledge environment of supply chain workers in a hybrid environment.
Teaching Interests
Computer Security
Project Management
Risk Assessment
Computers in healthcare
Project Management
Risk Assessment
Computers in healthcare