Published on February 15, 2016 at 4 p.m. by Katie Stripling  
Health Informatics photo

Samford University’s Department of Health Informatics and Information Management is now accepting applications for the inaugural class in the Master of Health Informatics and Analytics program. Accepted students will begin courses in fall 2016.

According to Harold Neumeier, associate professor and chair of the department, the use of informatics in health care is rapidly increasing and the need for professionals to plan, build and manage the health informatics infrastructure has skyrocketed.

“There has never been a better time to pursue a career in health informatics,” said Neumeier. “Policy drivers such as the Affordable Care Act and the HITECH Act, combined with utilization of electronic medical records and a focus on patient safety and reducing medical errors, have all contributed to growth in the field. Employment in health informatics is expected to grow twice as fast as employment overall between now and 2022.”

Samford’s program offers a unique combination of informatics and analytics in a single degree. Students gain the knowledge and skills needed to plan, build, analyze and run the digital foundations of modern health care. Graduates will be prepared to use informatics and analytics to help improve patient outcomes and improve health care systems. Courses are taught online and students are only required to visit campus three times during the program.

“Health informatics is no longer limited to a small subset of health professionals. The field now engages a broad spectrum of clinical, technical, administrative, research and data analysis professionals collaborating in a variety of settings to improve patient care,” added Neumeier.  

Admission to the Master of Health Informatics and Analytics program requires either a bachelor’s degree in a health related field, or a bachelor’s degree in any field of study and professional health care experience. Details regarding prerequisites and additional admission criteria can be found on the department’s website. All applicants will apply online through Samford’s Central Application System. Applications are due by June 1, 2016 and classes will begin in August. Full-time and part-time plans of study are available.

To learn more about the Master of Health Informatics and Analytics, please visit www.samford.edu/go/mshi.
 
Samford is a leading Christian university offering undergraduate programs grounded in the liberal arts with an array of nationally recognized graduate and professional schools. Founded in 1841, Samford is the 87th-oldest institution of higher learning in the United States. Samford enrolls 5,791 students from 49 states, Puerto Rico and 16 countries in its 10 academic schools: arts, arts and sciences, business, divinity, education, health professions, law, nursing, pharmacy and public health. Samford fields 17 athletic teams that compete in the tradition-rich Southern Conference and ranks 6th nationally for its Graduation Success Rate among all NCAA Division I schools.