MS in Health Informatics

People who pursue a Master of Science (MS) in health informatics are suited to administrative positions within the field, helping doctors and nurses by collecting, storing and distributing information as quickly as possible without sacrificing quality. Health informatics professionals also use technology to make cost-cutting recommendations for healthcare facilities. Students pursuing an MS in health informatics will cover data analysis, patient record storage, healthcare ethics and law, business administration, medical coding and more while in graduate school. Once a master’s degree in health informatics is complete, graduates have the choice of starting their career or going on to pursue a doctorate in the informatics field.

Requirements for Earning an MS in Health Informatics

Requirements to become a health informatics professional, such as a clinical systems coordinator or a clinical information systems coordinator, can vary by state. Successful students generally complete the following steps:

Earn proper bachelor’s degree (requirements vary by state). A BS in health informatics is the minimum education requirement for health information managers.
Earn proper master’s degree (requirements vary by state). Master’s degree graduates can oversee the information systems work of a staff of health informatics professionals.
Earn credentials. Health informatics graduates can take the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) certification exam to become a Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA).

Average Salary and Career Data

The expected salary, career growth, and work environment for a clinical information systems coordinator might include:

Clinical Information Systems Coordinator – Median expected salary: $73,505, according to Salary.com.
Job Prospects – Employment is expected to grow faster than average because health informatics professionals will continue to be needed to oversee the computerization of patient medical records, according to The Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Job Setting – Health information managers find employment in hospitals, private practices, home healthcare services, nursing care facilities as well as in outpatient care.

Job Duties and Responsibilities for a Clinical Information Systems Coordinator

An administrator in the health informatics field is typically responsible for the following job responsibilities:

Ensuring the accuracy of patient’s records, reviewing for completeness and entering data into records, such as demographic information, history and treatment of disease, and diagnostic procedures.
Keeping up with current computer and software technology as well as legislative requirements for patient records security.
Creating information policies and procedures to ensure health care facilities run as smoothly and efficiently as possible.
Coordinating the implementation, design and maintenance of clinical information systems.
Working with IT to guarantee the effective integration of clinical systems with other institutional applications.

MS in Health Informatics Degrees Online

University of Phoenix — MHA in Health Care Informatics
Walden University — MS in Health Informatics

Top Master's in Healthcare Informatics Programs

Health informatics is the study of how technology, particularly artificial intelligence, computer science, and informational science relates to the medical field. This field of study is typically applied to clinical care, nursing, public health, and biomedical research. The universities and colleges listed below offer online master's degree programs in this subject

	Southern New Hampshire University offers several graduate programs which could be completed in as little as 18 months. Their online Master's in Healthcare Informatics is designed to prepare students to lead the planning, design, execution and maintenance of health information systems. Click Here
	Bryan University provides students with the opportunity to obtain a respected Master's degree in Health Informatics at their convenience. Students will gain the knowledge and skills needed for creating solutions and data analysis related to health care administration and delivery. The program is ideal for those seeking to enter managerial roles in their healthcare settings. Click Here
	America's largest online university, the University of Phoenix, offers a Master of Health Administration in health informatics degree that provides students with knowledge of the concepts of systems life cycles, data management, and health informatics. Graduates of this program will be well suited for a career as a medical technologist or other upper-level healthcare professional. For students looking for a nursing-focused informatics degree, Phoenix offers an MSN in informatics program. Click Here
	Students studying in Walden's health informatics master's degree program will learn the basic skills required to use advanced technology in the healthcare industry, specifically applying health informatics to improve the diagnosis and treatment of illnesses. Walden also offers two informatics tracks in the MSN program: an RN-MSN track and a BSN-MSN track. Click Here
	Capella's MS in health information management degree program is a masters-level program geared toward teaching students about how databases, information systems, data analysis, strategic management, and essential IT and business topics integrate with the healthcare industry. Click Here
	The Master of Science in nursing informatics from Kaplan University enriches student's knowledge of dealing in technology-rich healthcare environments. Graduates of this program will be eligible to become nurse practitioners and will be able to pursue informatics leadership roles in healthcare, business, and education settings. Click Here