A Bachelor’s in Health Informatics teaches students about healthcare information management, medical coding and billing, maintaining patient records, health leadership and creating healthcare information structures aimed at improving service delivery.
The Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM) is the relevant body overseeing accreditation matters for degree programs in the field. A typical Bachelor’s in Health Informatics degree program will include coursework related to technology in healthcare, computer science, management principles, healthcare quality assurance, database and system design, statistics in healthcare, ethical and legal issues, medical terminology, hospital accountancy, healthcare billing and coding systems, research methods, etc.
If you are an aspiring healthcare and health information management professional, then the information available here is definitely for you. Read on to find out what a Bachelor’s in Health Informatics degree entails.
What Is Health Informatics?
Health Informatics is the study of the relationship between information technology and healthcare management. It teaches students about the uses, impact and applications of IT within the healthcare industry. A dynamic and multi-disciplinary field, health informatics is set to grow significantly in the years to come as the world becomes more dependent on digital solutions and information technology.
What Careers Can You Pursue with a Bachelor’s in Health Informatics?
You can take up various jobs after completing a Bachelor’s in Health Informatics. The most common ones include Healthcare Consumer Advocate, Medical and Health Services Manager, Medical Coding and Billing Specialist, Clinical Data Analyst, Medical Records and Health Information Technician. Below are recent salary details for a few of these occupations.
Medical and Health Services Managers
Medical and Health Services Managers are responsible for planning and coordinating the activities of healthcare providers.
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Annual Median Salary, 2019: $100,980
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Annual Mean Salary, 20189: $115,160
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Predicted Growth (2018-2028): 18%
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State with the Highest Salary, 2019: District of Columbia – 150,040
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State with the Highest Employment Level, 2019: California - 36,940
Medical Records and Health Information Technicians
The role of Medical Records and Health Information Technicians involves collecting, sorting and managing healthcare data. At the time of writing, figures for 2019 were not available for this category.
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Annual Median Salary, 2018: $40,350
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Annual Mean Salary, 2018: $44,010
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Predicted Growth Rate, 2018-2028: 11%
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State with the Highest Salary, 2018: New Jersey - $54,020
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State with the Highest Employment Level, 2018: California -21,970
Note: These figures have been obtained from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.
What to Expect from a Health Informatics Degree Program?
With a Bachelor’s in Health Informatics, you will be able to obtain comprehensive theoretical knowledge as well as learn the practical implementation of areas like Healthcare Statistics, Medical Billing and Coding, Quality Assurance in Healthcare, Management Principles, Systems and Database Design, Legal and Ethical Issues, IT in Healthcare, Research Methods and Medical Accounting, etc.
How to Choose a Health Informatics Program?
When picking a particular undergraduate degree program in Health Informatics, it is important to thoroughly consider factors like program curriculum, specialization options, total fee, possible future employment opportunities, final projects, location of the college/university and accreditation, etc.
Bachelor’s degree programs in health informatics are usually accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM). Some of the top schools to get a Bachelor’s in Health Informatics from include the University of Illinois at Chicago, Kent State University, Indiana University, Purdue University, etc.
Bachelor’s in Health Informatics Admission Requirements
Different schools may have slightly different admission requirements for the Bachelor’s in Health Informatics program. In general, however, High School Diploma or GED (General Educational Development) Certificate holders having sufficient mathematics, management and computer science skills are eligible for enrollment. Applicants will also need to have sufficient SAT (Scholastic Assessment Test) or ACT (American College Testing) scores in accordance with the threshold established by their preferred schools.