Introduction to Health Care Information Management

What’s the Difference Between Health Informatics and Nursing Informatics?

Nursing informatics is a subspecialty of nursing and falls under the broader health informatics umbrella. Nursing informatics deals directly with patient care and is geared toward nurses who want to improve patient safety through the use of computer science, information technology and nursing science. You can read more details about the program differences in this blog post.

If you’re a nurse, you can choose whether to advance your studies with an MSN in Nursing Informatics, or an MS in Health Care Informatics. If you plan to continue working in a patient-facing role, you might find that the MSN provides more growth opportunities with your current employer (and even a bump in pay, depending on your union contract). If you are moving away from a clinical role and find that you enjoy functions such as data analytics and information technology, you may find that the MS in Health Care Informatics will serve you quite well. One important note: at University of San Diego, the MSN program is only offered in the traditional campus-based format, whereas the MS program is offered both online and on campus.

What does this degree program prepare me to do?

Our M.S. in Health Care Informatics program was designed with input from health system employers who recognized the need for professionals to help implement and optimize electronic medical records, secure patient data, train staff members on the use of EHRs, and help improve patient outcomes and enhance the patient experience by leveraging robust data analysis skills. Employers were looking for health informaticists who understood the unique challenges of working with healthcare data, and who could take a leadership role in developing and improving systems and processes. Read the blog post What Skills Do You Need for a Successful Career in Health Care Informatics? to get a clearer picture of the knowledge and skills you’ll need to work in the field, and take a look at our Program Curriculum for an inside look into what you’ll be learning as a student in the M.S. in Health Care Informatics program.

Where do graduates typically find employment upon graduation?

Graduates of our program are employed with hospitals, clinics, medical devices companies, health insurance companies and data/analytic companies. They are employed as clinical analysts, data management professionals, clinical information systems specialists, EHR implementation managers, in managerial roles and in marketing and sales for medical device companies.

After program completion, is there a certification available?

Graduates of our program are prepared to sit for certification by HIMSS. Nurse informaticists can also seek accreditation through the American Nurses Credentialing Center. Read more about the different certifications offered for professionals working in health informatics.

I’m completely new to healthcare and informatics. Will this degree help me enter the field?

USD’s MS-HCI program is extremely well-suited to both early careerists as well as professionals in other disciplines looking to make a career change. The health informatics specialization starts with two foundational courses that will help you better understand the healthcare field, health information systems, and data/privacy issues. You’ll then take classes that provide a wide range of technical, analytical and leadership skills that will prepare you for certification as well as employment. Our curriculum is aligned with the key competencies required by employers, ensuring you will have the knowledge and confidence to succeed in your new career.

Is a GRE or GMAT required for admission?

No! Neither the GRE nor the GMAT are required for admission to the MS-HCI program.

What is Health Care Informatics?

The health informatics field resides at the intersection of computer science, information management, and healthcare. Its purpose is the automation, management and improvement of health information in the support of health care delivery. The field has been growing rapidly due to advancemets in electronic medical records and cloud computing. You can learn more about the field as well as the career potential, by reading this blog post: What is Health Informatics? [Definition + Jobs and Salary Information]

Another good resource is this post: Opportunities in Health Informatics are Vast for Those with a Master’s Degree.

Can I work while completing this program?

Yes, both our on-campus and online programs were designed to be completed while working full time. For online students, the flexible one-class-at-a-time format allows you to do your coursework and participate in the discussion topics from wherever you are, at whatever time works best for you. Read more about things you should consider before earning your degree online. Students in the campus-based program can choose to attend class two or three days a week, and most classes are held in the evenings.

How much time do I need to spend studying each week?

Study time will vary based on the course and your comfort level with the material being presented. Most online and part-time campus students say they spend about 20 hours per week completing their coursework and participating in discussion boards. For full-time, campus students, the time investment is greater.

What is unique about the program at the University of San Diego (USD)?

Our approach to graduate-level health informatics curriculum is unique for several reasons.

• Choose from three specializations that allow you to develop your health care leadership, programmatic and analytic competencies while addressing contemporary issues in informatics such as population health analysis, clinical documentation and workflow optimization.
• Our advisory board of industry experts guide the development and continual refinement of our curriculum, ensuring that we are preparing students with the skills they need to be successful in the workforce.
• You can choose to attend classes in person, or earn your degree 100% online
• Our curriculum has been approved by HIMSS and prepares students to sit for the certification. You’ll learn practical, up-to-date skills and knowledge that is aligned with the needs of employers.
• USD is a regionally accredited, top 100 university. Regional accreditation is considered the gold standard in assessing the quality and consistency of a higher education program.

What if my GPA is slightly below the minimum? Do I still have a chance to get accepted?

Absolutely! We understand that you are more than your undergraduate GPA . Your undergraduate GPA may potentially be offset by work experience, an admission essay, or fulfillment of a graduate-level course to show readiness for success in your graduate degree. During your admission interview, our Academic Director will explore your career goals and identify any ways our team might be able to better support you through your graduate studies. Ultimately, our goal is your success. We want to ensure that the students who are admitted to our program have the experience, tools and resources they need to graduate from the program and pursue their career goals.

Is a degree or work experience in health care required for admission?

Your bachelor’s degree can be in any discipline, and health care experience is not required. If you have not worked in health care, you will be required to complete an online medical terminology course which is not part of the degree curriculum. This will help give you a foundational understanding of the terms and concepts discussed throughout the program.

I already work in health informatics but would like to advance. Will this degree help?

Absolutely – adding a health informatics master’s degree to your resume is likely to help increase your opportunities for promotion. We specifically designed our Health Care Leadership track with professionals like you in mind. It is ideally suited for professionals who already have a strong foundation but would like to develop the specialized skills required to lead a successful team and oversee complex human and technology systems. The Leadership track offers exposure to critical areas required of a health care leader, including health care law, management, finance and strategic planning.

What is the difference between the on-campus and the online degree programs?

Whether you attend online or on-campus, you’ll find the faculty and curriculum substantially the same. Below is a list of the primary differences:

• The online program is 37 units; the on-campus program is 42 units
• The cost per unit also varies: $935/unit online vs. $1,580/unit on-campus
• Campus-based students also have additional fees associated with being on campus (health services, parking, etc)
• Online students take one accelerated class at a time, and each class lasts just 7 weeks. On-campus students take 2-3 classes concurrently and follow a more traditional semester pace.
• On-campus students attend a seminar course which isn’t required for online students
• New students may start the online program in Fall, Spring or Summer, but the on-campus program only accepts new students in the Fall and Spring.
• Minor differences in coursework exist for each track.

Please refer to the specialization pages for more information about specific courses included in each track.