Master of Science in Health Informatics
Degree Overview
The Master of Science in Health Informatics trains students to facilitate cooperation across the health disciplines by providing a better understanding of the modern technology, data, information, and decision-making used in healthcare. Since the MS in Health Informatics expands cross-discipline understanding in the health field, it can open the door to many different career paths. This degree takes anywhere from a year and a half to three years to complete, depending on total credit hours and whether a student opts for full-time or part-time study.
Benefits
Why should you get your Master of Science in Health Informatics? Below are some benefits of upgrading your degree:
- The MS in Health Informatics equips healthcare professionals to better understand today’s health data, information, and communication technology.
- The degree allows students to work across disciplines, thereby making them more marketable along with facilitating easier career changes.
- Health Informatics programs give students a solid grounding in the role of information technology in the healthcare field, along with teaching business skills related to the use of IT in healthcare.
- The MS prepares graduates to work in a variety of healthcare settings, including non-profit and for-profit, inpatient and outpatient, government agencies, vendor organizations, and consulting agencies.
- Health Informatics students gain a solid understanding of clinical and administrative uses of information technology in the healthcare field, which in turn prepares them to work within today’s rapidly changing technology.
Areas of Study
Individual MS in Health Informatics programs will vary depending on your institution of choice. The topics below are just a sampling of courses you may encounter in your program; for a specific course list, consult your individual school.
- Communication Skills in Health Informatics
- Consumer Health Informatics
- Ethics and Legal Issues in Health Informatics
- Health Care Data
- Health Care Information Security
- Health Care Information Systems
- Health Care IT Vendor Management
- Practicum in Biomedical and Health Information Sciences
- Social and Organizational Issues in Health Informatics
Career Opportunities
Below are several possible career options for qualified MS in Health Informatics graduates. This is not a complete list of career opportunities and serves only as a guide for potential professional pathways.
- Chief Clinical Information Officer
- Clinical Analyst
- Health Informatics Consultant
- Health Informatics Specialist
- Informatics Analyst
- Informatics Professor
- Project Manager
What You Need to Know
Informatics students can choose to specialize in a variety of fields: bioinformatics, public health informatics, organizational informatics, social informatics, and clinical informatics. Students have the option of taking on-campus or online programs. Since informatics is strongly technology-based, online learning is often considered quite appropriate for this field. Some online programs may require occasional campus visits, while others can be entirely conducted over the internet. Consult your school for specific information.
Requirements
Most Master of Science in Health Informatics programs require transcripts from previous colleges, and some require a minimum GPA from undergraduate study. Many programs require two years or more of health care or IT work experience, and some require a writing sample and references. Since requirements vary, do your research to find the right program to fit your background.
Accreditation
There are several recognized accrediting agencies and professional associations for the health informatics industry. Be certain to research the accrediting body before selecting a program.
CAHIIM – Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education
www.cahiim.org
CAHME – Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education
http://www.cahmeweb.org
Professional Organizations
There are a large number of professional associations and advocacy groups for professionals in the health informatics industry. These provide a powerful resource for information.
AUPHA – Association of University Programs in Health Administration
www.aupha.org
ACHE – American College of Healthcare Executives
www.ache.org
ACHCA – American College of Health Care Administrators
www.achca.org
AHIMA – American Health Information Management Association
www.ahima.org