MBA in Health Informatics
Health informatics programs instruct students about organizing and maintaining patient data for clinical databases and registries. Learners in these programs also get to know how to track patient outcomes for quality assessment. The demand is soaring for health informatics workers. In fact, the online job postings for health information technicians are booming, far outpacing other occupations. The BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) reports that the employment of health informatics technicians is anticipated to grow by 21% from 2010 to 2020. The increasing population and the advancement in technology are some of the factors that call for more health informatics experts in order to manage the data in medical settings.
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If you have good computer skills and you want to find work that will be worth your while, becoming a health information management professional can be a good choice. This career also calls for strong analytical skills.
An advanced degree such as the MBA in health informatics can provide you with the knowledge and skills to find the best prospects. As a health informatics technician, you are typically required to electronically record data for collection, analysis, and reporting. You will also have to protect patients' health information for confidentiality. To pursue this line of work, you must have considerable clinical knowledge and advanced skills as employers tend to hire highly skilled professionals in the field.
MBA in Health Informatics
A variety of programs are available in health informatics. Students can enroll in the associate, bachelor or master's degrees. The advanced programs such as MBA in health informatics can be useful in a competitive job market. Students can complete this degree in 2-3 years, depending on the route they opt to take.
The program builds on your experience in healthcare or IT and prepares you to lead the planning, implementation, and maintenance of health information systems. The curriculum in the MBA programs includes business related topics such as finance, leadership, marketing, economics and information technology as well as courses in health informatics such as medical terminology, healthcare informatics, social & organizational issues in healthcare, management of information technology, anatomy and physiology and healthcare reimbursement methods.
Online Programs
In addition to traditional schools, online institutes also offer the MBA programs in this area of study. Healthcare professionals who are already working can improve their job opportunities by enrolling in the online programs that are based on a lot of flexibility. Learners in these programs can study from any location and earn this valuable degree without making major changes to their personal or professional routine.
Employment Opportunities
The aging population requires additional medical tests and treatments which call for more claims for reimbursement from insurance. This is why there is an increased demand for health informatics professionals to manage health records.
Health informatics technicians can find rewarding opportunities in a variety of settings such as hospitals, nursing homes or physicians' offices. Employment opportunities are also available at clinics as well in other medical settings. These professionals can earn between $21,000 and $53,000 a year. Most informatics technicians work full-time. Some may have to work evenings or weekends as wel. The ones who want to find the best prospects should earn a certification in health information.
How Long Does It Take to Complete an MBA in Health Informatics?
There are several institutions such as the University of Missouri, University of Pittsburgh and the University of San Diego that offer a 2-year master’s degree in Health Care Informatics/Health Informatics Administration. It is usually offered as full/part-time on-campus degree. However, some universities also offer it as an online degree. For example,the New England College offers an MBA in Health Informatics as an on-campus as well as an online degree.
What Are the Requirements of Completing an MBA in Health Informatics?
The requirements of completing a master’s degree in Health Care Informatics or Health Informatics Administration may vary for each institution. For instance, students of a master’s degree in Health Care Informatics offered at the University of Maryland and the University of Pittsburgh must complete 36 credit hours to graduate. On the other hand, students of an MBA in Health Informatics degree offered at the New England College must complete 40 credit hours to graduate. The curriculum of an MBA in Health Informatics degree includes subjects from areas of management and healthcare.
How Much Can I Make after Completing an MBA in Health Informatics?
An MBA degree in Health Informatics prepares students to work on managerial positions in healthcare. After completing a master’s degree in Health Care Informatics or Health Informatics Administration, graduates can work as Medical and Health Services Managers. In 2018, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported an annual median salary of $99,730 for Medical and Health Services Managers.