Health Informatics, Medical Informatics, Bioinformatics

Health Informatics enhances the development and assessment of tools used representing medical data, aiding medical decision making, defining medical language and classification systems, as well as computer aided learning and healthcare IT strategy.

The demand for workers who understand health care, information systems, and technology is growing rapidly. The US Department of Labor estimates a 49% growth in the demand for trained individuals prepared to be administrators, specialists, consultants, educators, and researchers.

Education and Skills
Education in health informatics covers areas such as the core sciences, database management, information security, medical coding and classification and health law. Health informatics courses also include medical terminologies, so that you can confidently converse with clinical staff regarding the medical records you're keeping. Since medical informatics professionals often work in teams or are in management positions, some degree programs offer courses on project management and organizational behavior as well. Health informatics jobs require candidates who have a passion for customer service, love computers, are team builders and team players, are problem solvers and can work under stress.

Salary
Even though the responsibilities are great, medical informatics professionals are well rewarded. According to Indeed.com, Health Informatics Analysts earned on average $81,000 in 2008 with a salary range of $34,000 to over $110,000. As with any career, salaries varied based on location, experience, employer, education and other factors.

Healthcare Informatics - Certificate
This comprehensive certificate program is designed for information professionals, clinical personnel and healthcare support personnel who want to increase their knowledge of health information technology and management of the complex social and organizational issues surrounding this major change in healthcare. This online certificate program will provide an intensive introduction to the evolving field of Medical/Health Informatics. The goal of the Certificate in Healthcare Informatics is to provide knowledge and skills in the application of information technology (IT) in the provision of healthcare. Graduates of the program will gain knowledge and skills useful in taking on additional healthcare IT-related responsibilities or embarking upon new careers as managers or developers of healthcare IT systems.

IT / Health Informatics - Bachelor of Science
The Health Informatics specialization of the Information Technology BS degree is designed to prepare you to use technology to improve health care quality and lower costs. Course work covers such topics as electronic information systems management, information security, data integrity, and regulatory compliance. People who choose this specialization are often pursuing information technology specialist positions in hospitals, clinics, and health care systems.

Health Informatics - Bachelor of Science
This program is for experienced healthcare or IT professionals seeking an affordable online bachelor’s degree and IT certifications to work in the high-demand field of health informatics. The B.S. in Health Informatics prepares learners to become designers and developers of health informatics and information systems for hospitals and other healthcare facilities. The program equips students with a combination of healthcare and IT skills and includes two IT certifications as part of the curriculum.

WGU offers the Excellence in Health Informatics Scholarship, which is valued up to $2,500. This scholarship is available to experienced IT or healthcare professionals who wish to move into the high-demand field of health informatics.

Health Information Systems - Bachelor of Science
This degree in Computer Information Systems with a track in Health Information Systems prepares graduates to develop specialized healthcare applications that both improve patient care and make healthcare more efficient. By mastering current technologies and best practices, including picture archiving and communication systems (PACS), Health Insurance Portability and Accountability ACT (HIPPA) and Health Level Seven (HL7), graduates will be prepared to integrate equipment output with HER and other applications, as well as to develop and support electronic health records applications in hospitals and medical offices nationwide.

Medical Informatics - Master of Science
The Medical Informatics Master of Science Degree program emphasizes the specific technical requirements of the profession without too narrowly training its students. Graduates will be able to understand and effect developments in the medical informatics field from a technical, theoretical, and managerial perspective. Students who complete the Master of Science degree in Medical Informatics can advance their careers in health informatics-related professions or move into new areas associated with biomedical informatics and healthcare information technology.

Health Informatics - Master of Science
The Master of Science in Health Informatics emphasizes the analysis, implementation and ongoing management of the critical factors that impact the successful selection and use of health care information technologies. This online degree program equips students with an academic foundation in health information sciences and the practical tools necessary to apply this knowledge. Graduates will be prepared for a wide range of roles at mid-to-high management levels in the health care information setting.

The University of Illinois at Chicago Master of Science in Health Informatics program is one of only three online graduate programs designated as an "Approved Program" by the Commission on Accreditation of Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM).

• Health Informatics - Certificate (Post-Bachelor's)
• Health Informatics - Certificate (Post-Master's)

Bioinformatics - Master of Science
Polytechnic University’s Master's Degree in Bioinformatics delivers the cutting-edge program that organizes and translates data recently available on living organisms as a result of the human genome project and follow-up projects. This program prepares students for academia as well as the dynamic pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries.

CIS / Healthcare Informatics - Bachelor of Science
The Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems / Health Informatics program is designed to prepare learners with the technical and business skills to use technology to help people and organizations. With the specialization in healthcare informatics, students will study the healthcare industry and learn how a variety of information systems are involved in patient care, research, administration, and public health. They will explore social and ethical issues as they prepare to help analyze and design healthcare information systems, policies, and processes.

• Nursing (BSN Track) / Nursing Informatics - Master of Science
• Nursing (RN Track) / Nursing Informatics - Master of Science
• Nursing / Nursing Informatics - Post-Master's Certificate

Health Administration / Informatics - Master
This program specialization is designed for health care and nursing professionals interested in pursuing or advancing in careers associated with health care informatics and technology. Individuals with no background in informatics receive an overview of informatics as it relates to delivery within a health care facility. The program is designed to provide the learner with current knowledge in concepts of health care informatics, systems life cycle, and data management.

Nursing / Informatics - Master of Science
The Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program, accredited by the Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), enhances the knowledge and skills of registered nurses with baccalaureate-degree preparation. The program prepares advanced practice nurses to function in leadership roles in practice and educational settings. Advanced nursing theory and research provide the foundation for nurses to influence the future of nursing and health care. Students complete core courses in advanced nursing content and process, as well as on leadership skills. Specializations assist students to concentrate on developing increased knowledge and/or skills in a specific area of content or advanced practice role.

Healthcare Informatics - Post-Baccalaureate Certificate
This certificate program is designed for health care and nurse professionals interested in pursuing or advancing in careers associated with health care informatics and technology. Individuals with little or no background in Informatics receive an overview of informatics as it relates to delivery within a health care facility. The program is designed to provide the learner with current knowledge in concepts of health care informatics, systems life cycle, and data management. The 10 credit-bearing specialization is available as a certificate program for post-baccalaureate students.

Health Administration Informatics - Master of Science
The Master of Science in Health Administration Informatics (MSHAI) degree has a dual emphasis: health care administration and informatics (information science) applied to the health care industry. It is geared toward health care professionals as well as information technology professionals who work in health care settings.

Biotechnology Studies (Bioinformatics specialization) - Master of Science
This specialization covers a broad range of subjects (for example, biostatistics, databases and data structures, algorithms, gene expression analysis, and PERL) at the interface of molecular biology and computational science. The Master of Science program in biotechnology serves a number of careers at the entry-, mid-, or high-level positions, depending on the prior level of experience of the candidate. Graduates can be prepared for careers as Bioinformatics Analyst, Bioinformatics Specialist, Computational Biologist, Biological Database Specialist, Instructor, and more.

Bioinformatics - Graduate Certificate
Bioinformatics is a rapidly growing area in the biotechnology industry today. The certificate in Bioinformatics is intended to provide students with a core set of knowledge and skills in bioinformatics.