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Online Health Informatics Degrees: The Complete 2023 Guide

Earning an online health informatics degree prepares you to work in healthcareHealth informatics is becoming one of the most important skills in healthcare. This emerging field combines medical knowledge with information technology. An online health informatics degree can lead to careers as medical records specialists, health information technologists, and also medical managers.

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Online Health Informatics Degree Levels

Diploma

People with no college experience who want a fast track to a rewarding career should consider a diploma. Online health informatics programs have many options. You can study subjects such as medical records, healthcare management technology, and healthcare informatics. Diplomas can also be used to build a career in healthcare management.

Diplomas take about a year and a half to complete. The Diploma in Healthcare Management Technology from Rowan-Cabarrus Community College, for example, takes three semesters. Graduates will be qualified to work as medical records specialists.

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Certificate

Certificate programs in health informatics serve a variety of purposes. Some are for students who want to start a healthcare career. Others are for working professionals with a bachelor’s degree and also healthcare management experience.

Regardless of the exact online health informatics program, certificates build your knowledge. You will learn about information systems in healthcare, IT structures, and the use of databases. Many are technical, focusing less on medical topics such as anatomy and biology. Some prepare you for management jobs, for instance, the Health Information Management Certificate from Penn Foster.

Many of these certificates have approval from the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM). Students in these programs will be eligible for various credentials after graduation. For example, the Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Health Information Administration from Stephens College is accredited by CAHIIM. Its graduates will be eligible to become Registered Health Information Administrators (RHIA).

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Professional Certificate

Students who want a fast path to a health informatics career should consider a professional certificate. These programs, available online, prepare you to work with health information, records, and also databases.

Current healthcare professionals can use these certificates to shift into informatics. They are also useful for data analysts looking to enter the field of healthcare.

These programs provide fast results. The Professional Certificate in Healthcare Informatics Management from Pfeiffer University, for example, is made up of five courses and 15 credits.

Many professional certificates have programmatic accreditation. For example, the University of Washington program has accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM).

Associate

An associate’s degree is the minimum education for most health information technologist jobs. They are typically for people who have no college education. However, those with diplomas or certificates can also take advantage of these programs. These online health informatics degrees require two to three years of study and 60 credit hours to complete.

Health informatics degrees online have accreditation to qualify students for industry credentials. For example, the Associate of Applied Science in Health Science / Health Information Management from ECPI University is accredited by CAHIIM. Its graduates are eligible for testing to become a Registered Health Information Technician.

Bachelor

Bachelor’s degrees can be used to launch a career in health informatics. They can also expand your education and provide new options in the industry. They can lead to many positions in healthcare settings. These include roles in management and leadership, such as a health services manager.

While an associate’s degree can get you some entry-level jobs, employers may require a bachelor’s degree for other positions. These online health informatics degrees can expand your job opportunities.

Many degrees are available online. They can hold accreditation from groups such as CAHIIM. Rasmussen’s Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management is one example. Be sure to verify school and also program accreditation of your chosen program to make sure it aligns with your goals.

Bachelor Completion

These programs, available completely online, can build on your current education and experience. They help you to complete a bachelor’s degree without starting from the beginning. For example, if you have an associate’s degree, you can apply this towards a bachelor completion. Then you can finish a four-year degree in just two years with these online health informatics degrees.

Most health informatics programs online focus on healthcare information management and also leadership. They prepare students for roles as health or administrative services managers.

Graduate Certificate

If you have a bachelor’s degree and want to expand your expertise, a graduate certificate can help. These programs are for people who have graduated from a bachelor’s program. They are ideal for those who are already working in a healthcare setting. Graduates will be eligible for advanced positions, for example, healthcare manager or data administrator.

Some of these online health informatics degrees will help qualify students for new credentials. One example is the Graduate Certificate in Health Informatics from The College of Saint Scholastica. Its graduates can sit for the Certified Health Data Analyst exam from AHIMA.

Master’s

For career advancement in healthcare administration or health information, a master’s degree is a great choice. These programs can result in jobs such as information specialist, data consultant, IT project manager, and more.

A master’s degree takes two to three years of study. This is in addition to a bachelor’s degree, which is required for enrollment. Many of these online health informatics degrees hold accreditation from CAHIIM. George Mason and the University of Scranton are just two examples. These schools have CAHIIM accreditation for their online health informatics degrees.

Post-Graduate Certificate

A post-graduate certificate is also known as a post-master’s certificate. These programs come after you complete a master’s degree. They advance your expertise in health informatics, adding to your existing master’s or professional degree.

Available entirely online, these certificates cover a wide range of issues. You can study clinical trends, government regulations, and also healthcare management, all focused on informatics. Once complete, graduates can pursue leadership positions.

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Doctorate

If you have a master’s degree in health informatics or a similar field, you can become an expert in healthcare analytics with a doctorate. These terminal degrees are available entirely online.

Graduates can qualify for management positions or jobs as health informatics teachers with these online health informatics degrees. Classes cover topics including communication and legal issues in the healthcare industry.

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Accreditation for Online Health Informatics Degrees

Accreditation is the process of ensuring a school and program deliver a quality education. An entire school can hold regional accreditation. Meanwhile, programs within the school can have programmatic accreditation.

The Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management (CAHIIM) handles this field. The group accredits more than 350 programs in the United States, including online health informatics degrees. These programs are found in 46 states and Puerto Rico.

You must enroll in a program accredited by CAHIIM to be certified as a health informatics professional. For example, to become a Registered Health Information Administrator, you need to complete a Health Information Management (HIM) program accredited by CAHIIM.

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Can an Online Health Informatics Degree Meet Credentialing Requirements?

Yes, an online health informatics degree can qualify you for industry credentials. These groups accept graduates of accepted programs, whether they are online or in-person. For example, many associate degrees in health informatics are accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM). These online health informatics degrees qualify students for credentials through the American Health Information Management Association.

Note: There is no mandated licensing for careers in health informatics. Professionals such as health information technologists and medical records specialists do not need licenses.

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Licensing for Health Informatics Careers

The law does not require licensing for health informatics careers. However, graduates of online health informatics degrees can improve their chances of landing a good position by pursuing optional credentials. Credentialing for this field is handled by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA). One credential the group offers is Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT). It is available to graduates of CAHIIM-accredited health information management associate’s programs.

Here is the process to become an RHIT:

  1. Firstly, complete an accredited associate’s or higher degree. Students currently in accredited programs may apply.
  2. Next, apply for the RHIT exam through the AHIMA. The non-member price is $299, while the member price is $229.
  3. Then, complete the exam. The RHIT exam is a timed test (3.5 hours) with 130 to 160 questions. The passing score is 300.
  4. Finally, if you pass the test, you can register as an RHIT and add this credential to your resume.

Careers for Online Health Informatics Degree Graduates

The combination of healthcare and information technology is growing more prominent and important. Because the two disciplines are merging, the need for health information experts is expected to grow rapidly.

Between 2021 and 2031, the occupation is expected to grow by 17%. This is compared to 5% expected growth for all occupations. In 2021, there were 39,900 health information technologists and medical registrars. This number is expected to grow to almost 47,000 in ten years.

Similar careers will all see impressive growth. Healthcare providers and technical occupations will grow by 9%, while medical records specialists will grow by 7%. Health services managers will grow by 21%, with almost 617,000 positions by 2031.

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Expected Salary with an Online Health Informatics Degree

The careers that come from an online health informatics degree can bring strong salaries. A health information technologist, which only requires an associate’s degree, makes an average of $55,560. For perspective, the median for all occupations is $45,760. With dedication, skill, and hard work, you can expect even larger salaries. The top 10% in this field earn over $98,000 a year.

Even a short diploma or certificate can bring you a strong salary. A medical records specialist earns a median salary of $46,660. This is just above the national median salary, with less education than many of the jobs on the list.

Information specialists who work as health services managers can enjoy even higher earnings. While you might need additional education and experience, the median salary is $101,340. The top 10% earn over $205,000.

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Start Your Health Informatics Journey Today!

From a healthcare informatics diploma to a doctorate in healthcare administration, you’ll find the perfect online health informatics degree with GetEducated.com. Submit your information and start your journey to a rewarding informatics career today!

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