Health care informatics involves the retrieval and storage of patient health records.
The healthcare information industry continues to grow right alongside the healthcare industry in general. For instance, the Bureau of Labor Statistics expects 20 percent growth in the number of jobs in medical records and health information technology by 2018. This compares favorably with professions like nursing where 22 percent job growth is expected. Several schools in Sacramento offer programs in health information technology, or health informatics.
University of California--Davis
The University of California--Davis offers a graduate program in healthcare informatics through its school of medicine in Sacramento. The program is a research-oriented program that requires a master's thesis. The degree curriculum requires 43 credit hours in order to graduate; of these, 15 hours are required core coursework, 19 hours are electives and 9 hours are research. Courses cover areas such as database knowledge and management, programming, health informatics in web-based enterprises, health systems and administration, spatial epidemiology, human diseases and conditions, and telemedicine.
School of Medicine
Health Informatics Program
2450 48th Street, Ste 2800
Sacramento, CA 95817
916-734-8710
www.ucdmc
Carrington College
Formerly known as Western Career College, Carrington College offers a program in health information technology that is focused more on the technological aspects of the informatics profession. Aside from its technological focus, the program prepares students for a wide variety of careers in the health care information field, offering a broad range of coursework that will allow them to work in either an office or hospital setting. Areas of study covered by the program include healthcare administration, medical billing and coding and pharmacy technology.
Carrington College
8909 W. Fulsom Blvd.
Sacramento, CA 95826
888-203-9947
www.westerncollege.edu
DeVry University
With campuses nationwide and one in Sacramento, DeVry University offers a third option for a degree or training in the health information technology field. Students at DeVry can pursue an Associate in Applied Science in Health Information Technology. This four-semester degree program requires 67 credit hours for graduation. Students can take courses on campus or through DeVry's distance education program online, or they can combine the two formats. Coursework required as part of the degree includes studies in basic medical terminology, health information laws and regulations, introductory health services and health information, disease classification and coding, and reimbursement and health insurance.
DeVry University
2216 Kausen Dr.
Sacramento, CA 95758
916-478-2847
www.devry.edu
Tags: health information, health information technology, Carrington College, DeVry University, credit hours, health informatics, information technology
