Health Informatics

Health Informatics, M.S.

Margarete L. Zalon, PhD, RN, ACNS-BC, FAAN

Director, Online MS in Health Informatics Program Professor of Nursing
margarete.zalon@scranton.edu

570-941-7655

Program Objectives

The online Master of Science in Health Informatics at The University of Scranton will provide graduates with a firm understanding of an emerging discipline located at the intersection of information science, computer science, and healthcare. The focus will be on the resources, devices, and methods required to optimize the acquisition, storage, retrieval, and use of information in health and biomedicine. The program will explore a number of health informatics tools that include not only computers but also clinical guidelines, formal medical terminologies, and information and communication systems. Graduates will understand how health informatics applies to the areas of nursing, clinical care, dentistry, pharmacy, public health, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and biomedical research.

Program of Study

The program of study consists of eleven, 3 credit hour online modules, for a total of 33 graduate credit hours. Each module is offered on-line in an 8 week format.

Admission Requirements

An applicant for the program must possess a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university and have an undergraduate GPA of at least 3.00 on a grading scale of 4.00. Applicants falling below this level may submit other evidence of their ability to complete graduate work such as grades in other graduate level courses, scores on the Graduate Record Examination, and/or a record of progressively higher work responsibilities. A completed application, together with official transcripts of undergraduate and graduate work taken elsewhere, letters of recommendation, any required test scores, and other supporting documents, should be received at least ten days before the term in which the student wishes to begin graduate study.

If an applicant does not have the necessary background in either healthcare or information technology, the student will be required to complete a foundational one-credit module in either or both areas (HINF 501 and/or HINF 502 ). Students may also opt to take an examination to place out of the one-credit modules. These modules are taken concurrently with the first three-credit course, HINF 520. International students, whose native language is not English, must demonstrate their proficiency in English by meeting criteria established for admission to the University.

Curriculum

HINF 520: Introduction to Health Informatics
HINF 530: Healthcare Knowledge for Health Informatics
HINF 535: Principles of Computer Science and Software Development
HINF 540: Information Technology for Health Informatics
HINF 545: Database Principles and Applications
HINF 550: Community Health for Health Informatics
HINF 560: Business Management and Communication for Health Informatics
HINF 570: Public Policy for Health Informatics
HINF 580: Current Trends in Health Informatics
HINF 590: Health Informatics Capstone
One 3-credit elective from the following: ERP 510, ERP 515, HAD 501, HAD 510, HAD 512, HAD 513, HAD 517, HR 501, NURS 507, NURS 590, NURS 591, OM 543

Those students without the requisite background in healthcare and computer information technology may be required to take one or both of the following:

HINF 501: Introduction to Healthcare
HINF 502: Computer Information Technology for Health Professionals

Capstone Experience

Students will demonstrate an understanding of the systematic application of digital information technologies to public health, research, and learning. Students will integrate and apply knowledge, principles, theories, concepts, methods, techniques, skills, competencies, values and professional viewpoints developed throughout the curriculum to resolve complex case studies and to complete an applied health informatics project. Students will use the knowledge gained in all modules and will demonstrate critical thinking, problem solving, decision-making, creative capacities, communication and interpersonal skills, and qualitative and quantitative analysis.

Health Informatics Certificate

The certificate program in Health Informatics is comprised of courses that introduce professionals to the discipline of health informatics providing them with a foundation in the intersection of health care and informatics. The fully online program is comprised of four 3-credit courses that provide a foundation in the theoretical knowledge and practical applications of informatics and the use of the electronic health record. This also includes application of the knowledge of emerging health care trends impacting information technologies, algorithm evaluation and software development processes as applied to information needs and the information technology infrastructure of health care organizations. The certificate is designed for professionals from business, computer science and health care as well as clinicians from a variety of health care disciplines who are interested in pursuing a career in health informatics as well as those health informatics professionals who want to broaden their expertise with formal coursework. The certificate enables professionals to take advantage of opportunities for growth in a rapidly expanding discipline, and career advancement while bringing value to their organizations.