Master's in Health Informatics
Online Format
32 Credits
2-Year Duration
8-Week Sessions
Help Lead the Transformation of Healthcare
Health informatics (HI), as defined by the National Library of Medicine, is the “interdisciplinary study of the design, development, adoption and application of information technology-based innovations in healthcare services delivery, management, and planning.” HI is concerned with the management and use of health data and information through technology.
Health informatics aims at improving the effectiveness and efficiency of care delivery by ensuring that data used for operational and clinical decisions are of high quality. Organizations that have adopted HI realize improved patient outcomes, patient participation, clinician satisfaction and cost management.
According to the American Medical Informatics Association (AMIA), health informatics jobs began to surge as healthcare providers throughout the country sought experts who could help them achieve the federally mandated meaningful use of electronic health records. Financial penalties took effect in 2015 for Medicare and Medicaid providers who failed to make the transition.
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Learn from a Top-Tier Medical School, 100% Online
Health informatics is a field ideal for technically savvy individuals who want to work in the healthcare industry. When it comes to stepping into the future of healthcare, who can prepare you better than a top-tier medical school? USF Health’s Morsani College of Medicine was the nation’s first medical school to offer a Master of Science in Health Informatics 100% online. The program is also accredited by The Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM). CAHIIM accreditation assures prospective employers and students that the degree program adheres to rigorous standards of excellence, which may provide graduates with a competitive edge in the workforce.
Earning a CAHIIM-accredited degree from a prestigious medical school means learning from a faculty of healthcare professionals and information technology experts who already work in the field. USF Health’s graduate programs feature a multi-platform online learning experience and a vibrant interactive community that includes live chat rooms, visual whiteboards, instructor-hosted discussion boards, social networking and more.
Listed by U.S. News & World Report as one of 2024’s Best Medical Schools: Research
Ranked 1st in 2023 Top 50 Master’s in Health Informatics Programs by Value Colleges
Ranked 4th in 2021 Best Online Master’s in Health Informatics Programs by Best Colleges
Why USF Health
- USF Health is a HIMSS Approved Education Partner (AEP), a distinction reserved for institutions that meet HIMSS’ rigorous standards for delivering world-class, effective healthcare and health IT education.
- USF is also a member of the HIMSS Academic Organizational Affiliate (AOA) program, qualifying eligible students for a complimentary HIMSS student membership, Learning Center access, and a variety of HIMSS discounts.
- USF Health’s Morsani College of Medicine is known nationally for its innovative curriculum with an emphasis on improving healthcare through interprofessional education, research and clinical activities.
- The medical school is uniquely equipped to focus on integrating health informatics with modern healthcare delivery. Trained clinicians and IT professionals with experience working in hospital wards, emergency rooms and clinics are best qualified to blend informatics with medical knowledge and have special insight into the tools required for healthcare decision making.
- USF Health’s MS in Health Informatics takes 32 credit hours (11 courses) to complete, while competitive programs take 33-45 credit hours (12-15 courses).
- Listed by U.S. News & World Report as one of 2024’s Best Medical Schools: Research
- Ranked 1st in 2023 Top 50 Master’s in Health Informatics Programs by Value Colleges
- Ranked 4th in 2021 Best Online Master’s in Health Informatics Programs by Best Colleges
- Nationally & regionally ranked on U.S. News & World Report’s list of America’s Best Colleges
- Ranked among U.S. News & World Report’s best online schools and best public colleges and universities (2024)
- Ranked 45th in 2024 Best Colleges: Top Public Schools
- Ranked 14th in U.S. News & World Report’s 2022 Best Online Master’s in Computer Information Technology Programs
- USF Health is the nation’s first medical school offering graduate programs in health informatics and healthcare analytics 100% online.
The University of South Florida (USF) is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award associate, baccalaureate, master’s, specialist and doctorate degrees.
Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097, or call 404-679-4500 for questions about the accreditation of the University of South Florida.
The health informatics accreditor of the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine is the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM). The College’s accreditation for the Master of Science in Health Informatics degree has been affirmed through 2029. All inquiries about the program’s accreditation status should be directed by mail to CAHIIM, 200 East Randolph Street, Suite 5100, Chicago, IL, 60601; by phone at (312) 235-3255; or by email at info@cahiim.org.
Program Metrics for Academic Year 2022-2023
137
Applicants
122
Accepted Students
93
Matriculated Students
45
Degrees Awarded
3.65
GPA of Admitted Students
22
Months to Degree Completion
85%
Percent Employed Post-Completion
Program Overview
USF Health’s Master of Science in Health Informatics addresses the technological and operational aspects of informatics with a focus on the integration and interoperability of technology. Courses provide broad technical skills as well as the organizational competencies needed for senior-level positions.
In this program, students will learn how to:
- Describe information systems used in healthcare and explain their relationship with data, people, procedures, hardware and software.
- Manage data via relational database systems and the structured query language (SQL) and understand data warehousing, online analytical processing, data quality issues, emerging cloud databases and data mining techniques.
- Integrate electronic medical records with patient care and provide a higher quality of care through better management and availability of medical information.
- Manage the process of electronic health records acquisition and implementation.
- Develop and assess the tools used to represent medical data.
- Assess the functions, limitations, opportunities and challenges of information technology in the healthcare environment.
- Define medical language and classification systems.
- Comply with laws and regulations applicable to managing patient information.
- Communicate effectively with informatics teams and healthcare stakeholders.
- Consider the ethical issues that can arise during the delivery of healthcare with respect to health information.
- Describe clinical workflows from an e-medicine business models perspective.
- Manage healthcare projects using the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK)® Guide.
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This Program Prepares Students to Sit for Industry Certification Exams*
- American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) – Certified Health Data Analyst (CHDA®)
- American Board of Preventative Medicine – Clinical Informatics Certification**
- Healthcare Information and Management System Society (HIMSS) – Certified Associate in Healthcare Information and Management Systems (CAHIMS)
- HIMSS – Certified Professional in Healthcare Information and Management Systems (CPHIMS)
- AMIA Health Informatics Certification (AHIC)
- Project Management Institute (PMI) – Certified Associate Professional in Project Management (CAPM)®
*Students must meet all exam eligibility requirements outlined.
**The Clinical Informatics Practice Pathway expires in 2025. Beginning in 2026, the exam will be available only for those physicians who have completed an ACGME-accredited fellowship in Clinical Informatics. This subspecialty certifying exam will be given annually throughout this period.
Career Outcomes
Graduates of this program will have gained the skills to enter the e-health workforce in some of the following positions, pending experience requirements:
- Clinical Informatics Specialist
- Clinical Documentation Specialist
- Health Informatics Director
- Health Data/Information Resource Manager
- Health Information System Application Designer
- Chief Information Officer
- Chief Medical Information Officer
- Compliance Officer
- IT Consultant
In 2022-2023, USF Health’s MSHI program had an employment rate of 94% within one year of graduation (based on available graduate information).
For more information, visit Program Metrics.
Who Should Apply
Whether you are already working in health informatics and want to advance your career with new credentials, or are interested in transitioning into HI from another profession, a Master of Science in Health Informatics can help position you to meet the growing demand.
This program is designed for:
- Physicians
- Nurses
- Physical Therapists
- Pharmacists
- Mental Health Workers
- Other Healthcare Providers
- IT Professionals
- Health Information Managers
Student and Alumni Testimonials
“I decided to go into this profession because it combines two of my passions, healthcare and technology. This is a degree that will allow me to continue to grow professionally.” – Tatiana Fernandez-Botero
“I’ve always loved technology; I was coding in the 6th grade. As I got further into my nursing career. I wanted to go to school but wasn’t sure what for. I had a love for technology and nursing and wanted to see how I could combine the two. That’s how I came to be interested in informatics.” – Samantha Foreman
If you’re ready to start your journey at USF Health, click below to begin the application process or pick up where you left off.