Health Care Informatics - Online M.S. & Certificate
Program Overview
Meet the increasing demands of this field by pursuing your master's degree or certificate in health care informatics (HCI). Whether your background is in health care, IT or business, this program is designed to build on your strengths and make you a leader in medical informatics. Nashville, widely known as the health care industry’s capital, is the perfect place to start with more than 500 health-focused companies. And now you can complete this exciting degree from anywhere.
Lipscomb started the second health informatics program in the nation with a mission to help you make an impact on the health care system. Translate your passions into enhancing and transforming health care delivery and outcomes. Become equipped to improve the quality of care and reduce health care costs, making the industry more efficient and economical.
Develop expert skills for today’s essential technologies like electronic health records and emerging technologies like blockchain. Set yourself apart by learning from faculty who are nationally recognized for their eminence in research, innovation and leadership. Network and collaborate with your cohort throughout your course of study.
- Complete one course online every month
- Classes meet online every other weekend
- External and internal PharmD students may enroll as dual-degree students
Once you’re certified, you’ll join 99 percent of your peers who completed this program and landed careers in leading-edge health information technology, working to enhance quality of care and health outcomes.
What is Health Care Informatics?
Health Care Informatics is an interdisciplinary field that includes the areas of business analytics, information technology and health sciences, all with a health care focus. An easy way simplify health care informatics is to think of these five essential elements; data, information, knowledge, technology and automation.
This specialty integrates a variety of expertise to leverage information to ensure optimal outcomes, financial efficiencies and enhance patient care. Additionally, health care informatics professionals utilize all of these elements daily in their roles. Professionals with the following titles would be an ideal fit for this program:
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Health Care Informatics Careers
"Traditionally, CIOs came from the networking side. I believe going forward that CIOs will be sought from the data side.”
- Eduardo Conrado, President of Ascension
The Health Care Informatics field is continuously growing with increasing demands of this exciting field expected to grow 20 percent in the coming years. Here are some of the jobs appearing in this profession:
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According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, salaries in the health informatics field can average anywhere from $70,000 to $100,000. For example, Health Care Managers have a median salary of $101,340 a year as of the May 2022 assessment. Meanwhile, a Computer Systems Analyst’s average annual salary is $99,270 per the May 2021 assessment.
NOTE: Keep in mind that pay varies widely based on the job itself, experience, company, location and more.
Program Outcomes
Lipscomb’s Health Care Informatics program cultivates strategic thinking and leadership among students and empowers graduates for success. Taught by highly-experienced faculty, our curriculum is designed to enhance your skills in health communication, information management, data analysis and much more that will make you a sought-after asset to employers.
Located in the health care capital, Lipscomb offers students a unique education that allows them to form connections with some of the country's leaders in medicine. Expert faculty, including AMIA certified professional Dr. Beth Breeden, support and guide students through their postsecondary degree and beyond. Our nationally recognized program provides students with expertise in research and information management, preparing them for a successful career in the medical industry.
Admissions Requirements
Eligible students should hold a U.S. bachelor’s degree or equivalent with one prerequisite course in statistics. No GRE required.
Application Process
In addition to the online application, the following items must be submitted before the application folder is complete:
- Application fee. A non-refundable $50 application fee must be submitted online with credit card or by check before the application is evaluated by the admissions committee.
- Coursework or demonstrated competency in medical terminology, statistics and PC literacy (evidenced through work experience as it appears on the resume or coursework as it appears on the transcript).
- Two letters of recommendation. The references selected need to be individuals who are able to comment on your academic or professional abilities as well as your interpersonal skills.
- Personal statement of goals and purpose for obtaining the degree. Consider including such information as:
- How the university can assist your personal and career goals
- Why you are seeking a degree in health care informatics
- Resume
- Official transcripts from each institution attended.
Courses
The Master of Science in Health Care Informatics program features 42 hours of coursework. Classes are scheduled for Friday evenings (4-8 p.m. CST) and Saturdays (8 a.m.-5 p.m. CST), allowing the highest quality educational experience without disrupting one’s professional career. To assist with financial aid planning, we typically offer four courses each spring, three courses each summer, and five courses each fall. This enables students to complete the full master's program in as little as 14 months.
Beginning in Fall 2022 all courses will be held online and consist of both synchronous and asynchronous content delivery at the discretion of the faculty member.
Tuition & Aid
The College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences prepares students to become competent health care professionals at every level. Our degree in Health Care Informatics opens new doors for those passionate about research and reporting, while equipping you with skills necessary for a lifetime of practice marked by compassionate care. This is our defining trait, and we are committed to making a career in health care informatics feasible for all students.
Tuition and fees for the MHCI were REDUCED beginning in Summer 2023!
Program costs are as follows:
- 42-hour program / $899 per credit hour (all classes are three hours)*
- Course materials and fees included in tuition
- Tuition adjustments occur each May
Nationally ranked among HCI programs
Program Highlights
Alumni and Student Stories
Sena Seged, PharmD/MHCI ‘22
“Lipscomb is such a leader in the informatics field in the nation. It is also a well-established program. [My new job] is about applying clinical knowledge with the use of information technology to improve patients’ health outcomes."
Seged serves as an Informatics Pharmacist at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control
Stuart Lackey, MHCI '18
“Lipscomb’s MHCI curriculum provided me with tremendous practical knowledge on the data side of health care. The program’s content continually evolves with the industry’s current tech trends. The faculty brings real-world expertise and the class times over the necessary flexibility for working professionals.”
Lackey is Founder, Principal at SOUND Health.
Phuong Dollar, PharmD/MHCI '21
"Dr. Breeden and all of the wonderful staff at the Lipscomb HCI program were an integral part of my journey to becoming a well-balanced pharmacist. What sets Lipscomb apart is the absolute drive of their staff to ensure you are becoming everything you set out to be."
Dollar is the Clinical Charge Pharmacist at Medical Advocacy and Outreach.
Drew Lewis, PharmD/MHCI '16
“The master’s courses do a great job bridging the gap between the clinical, technical and business applications to prepare you for any environment in the health care field. This program was critical in helping me secure a position in pharmacy informatics.”
Lewis is the Director of Revenue Cycle Optimization at Lifepoint Health.
Months to complete
Our Faculty
Job placement rate
Career Paths
Healthcare Administrative Officers, Directors, Managers
Medical and health services positions include the C-suite (CEO, VP, CIO, etc), officers, directors, and managers. This includes health care executives or health care administrators who plan, direct, and coordinate medical and health services. They might manage an entire facility, a specific clinical area or department, or a medical practice for a group of physicians. Medical and health services managers must direct changes that conform to changes in health care laws, regulations, information security, and technology. Examples of professionals in these positions can also include physicians, pharmacists, nurses, lab/radiology, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners.
Medical Records and Health Information Analysts
Medical records and health information analysts organize and manage health information technology elements within the health care delivery process. They ensure data quality, accuracy, accessibility, and security in both paper and electronic systems. They use various classification systems to code and categorize patient information for insurance reimbursement purposes, for databases and registries, and to maintain patients’ medical and treatment histories.
Clinical Health Informatics Specialist/Analyst/Manager
Clinical Health Informatics Specialists can be found in a wide range of companies where they collect, analyze, and report health data. Individuals in this role also oversee the storage and security of sensitive health information such as patient records.
Training and Development Managers
Training and development managers oversee staff and plan, direct, and coordinate programs to enhance the knowledge and skills of an organization’s employees. This career is well-suited for dual pharmacists.
Project Manager
Project managers are essential in establishing programs that help medical facilities track their information. Project managers in this field work with analysts and medical professionals to implement and maintain new processes.
