Healthcare informatics is a field that is a still-evolving profession. It prepares students to use, and to link healthcare acquisition, storage, retrieval, and communication to improve the safety and quality of patient care.
What is Healthcare Informatics?
Healthcare informatics, an important and evolving aspect of healthcare, is further defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), who quotes a description as ‘the systematic application of information, computer science, and technology to public health practice, research, and learning.’
There has been extensive research conducted into the field of healthcare informatics, and its effectiveness and application to healthcare. Researchers of a study published on the National Institutes of Health site examined the use of informatics and information technology tools, and its impact on public health delivery.
Top 5 Healthcare Informatics Certifications
Rank | School | Location |
---|---|---|
1 | Miami-Dade College | Miami, Florida |
2 | Arizona State University | Tempe, Arizona |
3 | Columbus State University | Columbus, Georgia |
4 | University of Chicago | Chicago, Illinois |
5 | University of Missouri | Columbia, Missouri |
Researchers reviewed 60 articles, and determined that there is a recent surge in healthcare informatics adoption. The researchers concluded that “Education and training programs are now available to equip public health students and professionals with skills in public health informatics.” They further stated that, “public health must invest in workforce development and capacity through education and training in informatics.”
The AIMA, dedicated to improving health through education, science and practice, established healthcare informatics certification for professionals in health informatics that practice or seek to practice at an advanced level. Earning a certificate or degree in healthcare informatics allows graduates to respond to the need for trained healthcare informatics professionals.
Best 18 Healthcare Informatics Certifications
Miami-Dade College
Students enrolled in the Miami-Dade College Healthcare Informatics Specialist Certificate program have the opportunity to complete the program in as little as one year. Students have the opportunity to become employed in a vital role at a variety of healthcare organizations.
Become an important liaison in the field of healthcare informatics by demonstrating expertise in the computerization of health data, and the implementation of medical record systems. Students gain knowledge in areas such as medical terminology, electronic medical records, and health information management. Students also participate in real-world experiences at local medical facilities.
Students that want to continue their education after completing the certificate program often go on to complete a degree at the school, which applies credits from this program towards an associate’s degree.
School Overview
Arizona State University
Enroll in the Professional Certificate in Health Informatics program at Arizona State University and complete the requirements in a self-paced, online format. The program stresses the importance of having a foundational understanding of healthcare informatics, and how data is used so that it drives healthcare systems and design. The program focuses on areas such as big data analytics, workforce development and redesign in health systems engineering, and computer assisted clinical support.
The program is ideal for healthcare clinicians, healthcare managers or administrators, biotechnology industry professionals, and other individuals working in the healthcare or pharma industries.
School Overview
Columbus State University
The Columbus State University Health Care Informatics Graduate Certificate program provides students with hands-on experiences to solve current problems in the healthcare industry. Some areas addressed include systems analysis and design, decision support, database management, project management, and data analysis.
Examples of courses in the program includes Process Improvement in Healthcare, Health Information Exchange Standards and Models, and Applied Statistics and Data Mining.
School Overview
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago offers a Certificate in Healthcare Informatics that prepares students for an understanding of healthcare and technology on a global basis, with cutting-edge knowledge and skills. Graduates have the ability to investigate the dynamics and challenges of the global healthcare ecosystem, and different points of interaction for patients. Students also gain a variety of other skills in the eight-week, open enrollment program.
School Overview
University of Missouri
The School of Medicine at the University of Missouri offers a Graduate Certificate in Health Informatics for professionals such as nurses, physicians, healthcare managers, information system designers, and others that have an interest in learning about healthcare informatics. Students in the program recognize the importance of being committed to the application of information technology to improve the safety and efficiency of health services.
Students take courses such as Consumer Health Informatics, Information Security, Evaluation, and Policy, and Decision Support in Health Care Systems.
School Overview
Louisiana Tech University
Students that enroll in the master’s degree in health informatics and information management at Louisiana Tech University often choose the program after first completing the Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management program. The undergraduate program is designed for individuals that want to work in healthcare informatics careers, either immediately after graduating from the program, or in preparation for continuing their studies in the field at the graduate level.
The bachelor’s degree program focuses on the development of skills in healthcare informatics and the management of the systems that are used to collect, store, disseminate, retrieve and communicate information related to the support of clinical or business decision-making in healthcare. Students complete on-campus coursework as well as engage in practice site requirements.
Graduates are eligible to sit for the registration exam of the American Health Information Management Association.
School Overview
University of California at Davis
The University of California at Davis (UC Davis) provides students in its Health Informatics Master Degree program the opportunity to prepare for a career in research, teaching, or information management in healthcare organizations, or in academia. The program prepares graduates to further develop as independent and applied professionals in broad career opportunities.
The intense, comprehensive curriculum provides students with advanced skills that aligns with their current skills. Students gain the experiences and preparation to excel in healthcare positions or leadership. The program consists of 55 credit hours of study, along with a mandatory project or thesis.
School Overview
University of Wisconsin Milwaukee
The University of Wisconsin Milwaukee offers a Certificate in Health Care Informatics for undergraduate students that want to prepare for graduate study through the school’s Master of Science in Health Care Informatics program. The program is also ideal for students that would like to pursue the certificate post-baccalaureate.
Some course examples include Introduction to Healthcare Databases and Technologies, Computational Tools for Healthcare Professionals, Introduction to Diagnostic Medicine, and Legal Aspects of Information Products and Services.
Students have 1.5 years to complete the online certificate program.
School Overview
University of Illinois Chicago
The University of Illinois Chicago offers a Master of Science in Health Informatics and Post-Master’s Certificate in Health Informatics. Students that earn the post-bachelor’s Certificate in Health Information Fundamentals at the school likely have an interest in continuing their education to earn the online master’s degree, which has no GRE requirement.
The program provides graduates with an advanced perspective in the field of healthcare informatics, and the knowledge and skills to work in healthcare informatics leadership positions. Graduates also gain a comprehensive, and real-world approach to working in healthcare informatics.
School Overview
University of Central Florida
The University of Central Florida Master of Science in Healthcare Informatics program is delivered in an online format. It prepares graduates to become leaders in the field, and to gain preparation in healthcare database management, biostatistics, systems analysis, and other areas. Graduates have the ability to efficiently manage patient data, to maintain health systems, and to manage projects and facilitate data-sharing for better patient outcomes.
Graduates have a 93 percent job placement rate.
School Overview
University of South Florida
The University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine provides students with the opportunity to earn a master’s degree in Health Informatics in an online format. The university recognizes the fact that the need for healthcare informatics professionals is surging, and offers an opportunity for students to graduate from a ‘top-tier medical school.’
The program addresses both the technological and operational aspects of the profession of health informatics, and prepares graduates for senior-level positions. Learn to manage the electronic health records acquisition and implementation, and to integrate electronic medical records with patient care, and to provide a higher quality of care. Students also gain the skills to assess functions, limitations, opportunities, and the challenges of information technology in healthcare environments. There are a variety of additional skills and knowledge gained that graduates can immediately apply in healthcare informatics.
School Overview
Temple University
Temple University offers the Health Informatics Certificate (Graduate) program through the Temple College of Public Health for students that want to quickly learn the practical skills that they need to either enter the healthcare informatics profession, or to advance their current healthcare career. The curriculum prepares graduates to have an increased understanding in areas such as data standards and vocabularies, the evaluation of health information technology, security and privacy requirements, and a variety of other areas that are crucial to the healthcare informatics profession.
Students have the option of completing the certificate program as an independent program, or to supplement their primary graduate degree in the College of Public Health. Students that maintain a minimum of a 3.25 GPA while in the program can gain entry to the MS in Health Informatics program.
School Overview
Chatham University
The Chatham University Master of Science in Healthcare Informatics program provides knowledge of blending healthcare and technology into one program. The master’s degree program is offered completely online, and also includes an Informatics immersion experience in online health informatics. The school accepts applications for the program on a rolling basis. Sample courses in the 30-credit hour program includes Virtual Engagement to Improve Health, Foundational Analytics and Telehealth I & II. Three certificate of completions (12 credit programs) are offered in Healthcare informatics, Healthcare Analytics and Telehealth. All 12 credits will transfer into the graduate informatics program upon completion.
School Overview
Lipscomb University
Lipscomb University prepares graduates to meet the increasing demand for highly-qualified professionals in the field of healthcare informatics through its 15-credit hour certificate program, and the 42-credit hour Master of Science in Health Care Informatics. Students gain the opportunity to express their passion for enhancing and transforming health care delivery and patient outcomes. Students choose one of four concentrations, including Digital and Mobile Health, Block Chain Management, Data Management and Predictive Analytics, or Healthcare Administration/Management.
The school points out that once students become certified, they will join the many other program graduates that have gone on to enjoy a rewarding career in the field, working in positions that features leading-edge healthcare information technology. The school boasts a 99 percent job placement rate.
School Overview
Drexel University
The Certificate in Healthcare Informatics Online program at Drexel University is an online post-baccalaureate program that provides health professionals with the knowledge to use technology in an effective manner to provide exceptional patient care by staying organized, and up to date. The program is designed for current information professionals, clinical personnel, and health care support personnel that want to increase their knowledge and skills in healthcare informatics.
School Overview
Adelphi University
The Adelphi University Healthcare Informatics Certificate program is an advanced graduate certificate program that prepares students for careers in health and medical informatics positions at a variety of medical facilities. The program was developed on the model of the International Medical Informatics Association (IMIA). Graduates work in positions in hospitals, clinics, academia or other healthcare settings.
The programs follows an interdisciplinary approach that integrates concepts of health informatics, information systems, business, data security and analysis, and organizational and project management, focusing on delivery within a healthcare framework. The school also indicates that students have the opportunity to gain knowledge and skills through experiences with the university’s cutting-edge remote health monitoring systems, and by having access to the high-tech robotics laboratory.
School Overview
University of San Diego
The University of San Diego Certificate in Health Care Informatics program is a 21-credit hour program. Students take courses such as Systems Analysis and Design for Healthcare Informatics, and Advanced Healthcare Information Management.
The university also offers an online Master of Science in Healthcare Informatics program.
School Overview
Healthcare Informatics Certification Ranking Methodology
We researched healthcare informatics programs across the country and then developed a list of the top certificate and degree programs. We included the best accredited programs, and ranked the schools on our list in ascending order by the tuition rate. It is important to note that the tuition is subject to change as schools periodically change their tuition rate. The tuition is for one credit hour of instruction, and does not include mandatory fees or other costs associated with attending the school.
Please contact us if you would you like to have your school included in our rankings, or if you work at one of our listed schools and need to update your information.
Do you need help finding the right college or university? We can help you with that, based on your selected program.