Masters in Health Informatics Programs
What Can a Master’s Degree in Health Informatics Do for You?
When technology first turned health informatics into a viable specialty in healthcare, it was a small field that was entrusted to a few computer-savvy professionals working in administrative positions. However, technology has changed much over the years, and the importance of keeping data safe has increased. As a result, many facilities and care providers have a growing need for highly educated health informatics specialists.
A Master’s degree in healthcare informatics is well-suited to a variety of individuals. If you have studied health informatics at the undergraduate level, a Master’s in healthcare informatics may be the next logical step for you. If you have worked in a healthcare position, this degree may be a way to use your previous experience while exploring new opportunities. Pharmacists, mental health workers, nurses, physical therapists, and more may be interested in graduate-level informatics study.
With an advanced informatics degree, you may be able to apply for the Registered Health Information Administrator credential through AHIMA.
A Master’s degree in health informatics reflects the highest level of training and knowledge in this field. If you are ready to take on this challenge, use our list of schools below to contact health informatics programs.
What Do Health Informatics Master’s Degree Programs Entail?
To start working toward a Master’s in health informatics, you must already have a Bachelor’s degree. Many schools require this degree to come from either healthcare or computing, as the concepts taught at this level can be extremely difficult to grasp if you have no prior experience in either field. At minimum, a program will require the completion of 30 credits, although requirements may be stricter at some schools.
Typically, tuition costs at Master’s in health informatics programs are higher than they are in an undergraduate program. However, if you currently work in the healthcare industry, you may look into tuition assistance or reimbursement through your employer.
There are other types of financial aid available, as well. The AHIMA Foundation awards merit-based scholarships of $2000 each to graduate healthcare informatics students.
Although Master’s in health care informatics programs tend to explore the same topics and skills as an undergraduate program, your courses should explore these topics in more in-depth ways. Some of the core courses you may be required to take include Clinical Data Acquisition and Analysis, Research in Health Analytics, Computer Security and Health Informatics, Database and Knowledge Management, and Telemedicine.
What Can I Do With a Master’s Degree in Healthcare Informatics?
Earning a Master’s degree in health informatics indicates a high level of understanding and skill in this field, so you may find that you qualify for more prestigious jobs that require more responsibility or management skills. Some of the job titles that you may encounter include chief information officer, compliance officer, and clinical data analyst.
Working at this level may involve a good deal of critical thinking. Experts in the field note that high-level professionals in this specialty should be able to get a bird’s eye view of healthcare, analyze data to find areas of concern, and come up with initiatives for the improvement of care (USF Health).
Graduate study may often lead to leadership positions. Between 2012 and 2022, O*Net anticipates a 23% increase in medical management jobs (2015). They report an average salary of $92,810 per year (O*Net, 2015).
If you are ready to use your passion for this field to shape its future and make a difference, get started now and contact Master’s in health informatics programs for more information.
