UIC addresses growing need for health care technology professionals
by offering Health Informatics Master’s Degree completely
online
Released
on: November 12, 2008, 5:26 am
Press Release Author: Compass
Knowledge Group
Industry:
Education
Press
Release Summary: UIC Offers Online Health Informatics Master’s
Degree for health care technology professionals. The 45-credit
hour program prepares students to shape the cutting-edge technology
and processes that are revolutionizing the health care industry.
Press
Release Body: CHICAGO — The Department of Biomedical
and Health Information Sciences at the University of Illinois
at Chicago (UIC) began offering a fully online
Master of Science in Health Informatics degree in fall
2007, and in just one year enrollment has grown 107 percent, from
32 students to 86 students.
The
45-credit hour program prepares students to shape the cutting-edge
technology and processes that are revolutionizing the health care
industry. It is one of only three online master’s degree
programs to be approved by the Commission on Accreditation
for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM).
“This
is a program that has great value for health care industry professionals,”
said Charlotte (Toby) Tate, dean of the College of Applied
Health Sciences. “As the industry continues
to move forward to paperless medical, financial and insurance
records, it will take well-trained and knowledgeable professionals
to develop, implement, and maintain systems to store and manage
the information.”
Designed
for working professionals who wish to excel in the rapidly-evolving
health care industry, this Master’s degree can be completed
in as little as 18 months without interrupting the student’s
work schedule.
Students
receive instruction from permanent, industry-experienced
UIC professors rather than instructors who are contracted
for short-term assignments, common in some online educational
forums. Notably, the program meets the terms of all existing policies,
procedures, deadlines and regulations of the University of Illinois
at Chicago, giving students a prestigious graduate degree supported
by a world-class, research-intensive university.
Blending
a technical foundation with coursework covering current clinical
trends, government regulations, and health care-specific best
management practices, UIC’s curriculum equips students with
the analytical and managerial expertise sought after in this dynamic
field. The UIC health informatics program
was the first in the country to focus not just on technology,
but also on the social and organizational factors that often determine
whether a technology implementation will be successful in a health
care institution.
“Students
enter the program to either enhance their current careers or transition
into new, more challenging fields,” said associate
dean and program director Larry Pawola. “Depending
on their work experience, graduates are prepared for a wide range
of roles in mid- to high-level management in the health care information
setting. Our graduates become chief security officers, systems
or application analysts, project managers and IT department directors,
just to name a few.”
Alumni
of UIC’s health informatics programs (online
and classroom) are at the forefront of the industry with employers
that include KPMG International, the American Hospital Association,
Cerner Corporation, UnitedHealthcare, Blue Cross/Blue Shield,
and numerous hospital and health provider organizations.
With
25,000 students, 15 colleges and research funded at over $332
million, the University of Illinois at Chicago is the largest
university in the Chicago area. Located in the Illinois Medical
District, just west of Chicago’s Loop, UIC
is a vital part of the educational, technological and cultural
fabric of the city. According to U.S. News & World Report,
UIC is one of the most diverse and affordable universities in
the nation. UIC is a “Best Buy,”
accordingly to Barron’s Best Buys in College Education.
For
more information, visit online at healthinformatics.uic.edu;
or call toll-free: 1-866-674-4843 or 1-866-MSHI-UIC.
Web
Site:
http://healthinformatics.uic.edu/uic-offers-health-informatics-degree-online/
Contact
Details:
Contact:
Elizabeth Harmon
UIC College of Applied Health Sciences
(312) 996-2069
eharmon@uic.edu
2009
