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With the evolution of smartphones and consolidated, digital record-keeping, as well as a Federal mandate concerning electronic health records (EHRs), the necessity for specialists focused on the management of health-related data is booming.

Best Online Bachelor's in Health Informatics Badge

IT-based improvements in healthcare provision management, delivery, and planning are more important than ever before, and healthcare informatics specialists are helping to protect and utilize patients' most valuable asset: private medical data. By using information technology, specialists in medical informatics analyze and organize health records to improve healthcare outcomes for patients.

The essence of public healthcare informatics or medical informatics is simple: Provide electronic access to medical records, for patients, nurses, doctors, administrators, and insurance companies so that all parties might make more informed decisions. Students interested in getting a health informatics degree should be highly organized, tech-savvy, and interested in cross-disciplinary areas, such as information/data management, health and human services, communications systems, and computer technology.

With several specialized areas to study, such as Clinical Informatics Management, Clinical Analysis, Clinical Informatics Specialization, Nursing Informatics, and Health Informatics Specialization, students hoping to enter this growing medical field have several areas that might match their passions, interests, and skills. And not only are on-campus options the only path to a career - online learning has essentially caught up in terms of quality.

According to Payscale, people working with EHRs are in high demand and fill a growing distance between clinical delivery specialists—doctors and nurses—and healthcare assistance providers - like insurance companies - as well as help patients manage their own health information. Workers in healthcare informatics claim high levels of job satisfaction while making an average of $61,000 annually; though, with a Master’s degree in Health Informatics, salaries grow exponentially to mid $90,000s.[footnote]Information retrieved from: http://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Health_Informatics_Specialist/Salary[/footnote]

What are the best online bachelor's degrees in health informatics?

Our College Choice rankings for the best online Bachelor’s in Management Information Systems Degrees are compiled with care using several significant pieces of data, including real freshman surveyed by the Higher Education Research Institute at UCLA. In this survey, students rated academic value, monetary aid awards, and overall cost college. The survey also examined post-graduation job placement and career satisfaction. These aspects were weighed against gatherings of data including PayScale.com, U.S. News & World Report, and the National Center for Education Statistics.

Ranking

See our rankings methodology page.

  1. Montana Tech
    Location

    Butte, MT

    Montana Tech was the first institution in the country to provide working professionals with the ability to get an undergraduate HI degree. Now the school brings that same degree, the Bachelor of Science in HI, online for all of its students. This school is regionally accredited by NCACS THLC.

    Working professionals find that an online education through Montana Tech is the easiest and most flexible way to get a degree in HI. Through the school s virtual portal, students are taken to their courses, submit assignments and exams, talk to classmates and faculty, and even find answers to questions that inevitably arise during an online education.

    The school also offers students the opportunity to earn an associate s degree in HI while continuing on to their bachelor s. This allows them to switch careers while finishing their degree, making the transition to their new jobs a little easier.

    The BSHI program at Montana Tech requires a total of 120 credit hours, including a practicum and a capstone project. Students who have previous credits from another regionally accredited institution will find that the school has a generous transfer policy, making the timeline to getting their degree a little shorter. Sample courses include Health Care Facilities Procedures, HC Delivery Systems in the U.S., and Systems Design Processes.

  2. University of Wisconsin
    Location

    Madison, WI

    The University of Wisconsin is one of the only schools on this ranking to provide HI professionals with an online degree that gives them the chance to specialize. The school confers the Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management and Technology with two tracks, HIM and HIT. It is one of the top five most popular degree the university grants online. This school is accredited by THLC and holds further accreditation by CAHIIM.

    UW knows that HIM and HIT skills are now in demand more than ever. That s why the BSHIMT has two tracks, preparing working professionals to advance their career in one of two areas that are sorely needed in the health care industry. And because the degree is conferred online, four University of Wisconsin campuses have come together in partnership to build one of the strongest HI programs in the country.

    Students who have busy personal and professional lives will enjoy going to school at UW. Courses are taught asynchronously, meaning students attend class and submit assignments when it s most convenient for them. And the faculty that teaches the courses are not only real-world HIM and HIT professionals, they re also trained in the art of online teaching.

    Courses at UW s BSHIMT program focus on the professional, business, and technological aspects of the field. Students are given group assignments and lectures that speak to the nature of the field in its current state and innovations that have yet to come. Courses include Human Resources Management, Strategic Planning and Organizational Development, and Programming and Data Structures.

  3. King University
    Location

    Bristol, TN

    King University has a strong interdisciplinary online school that is nationally recognized as one of the best online undergraduate programs. It confers the Bachelor of Science in HI, an in-demand degree from both working professionals and healthcare employers. This school is regionally accredited by the SACS COC.

    This is an accelerated B.S.-HI degree. Students who wish to apply for this online program must have at least 60 credit hours of general education from King University or another regionally accredited institution, including the pre-requisite math and science courses, prior to applying. It is advised that students contact an enrollment advisor about transfer credits for a better understanding of what their degree path may look like.

    The BSHI program at King University requires a total of 124 credit hours for graduation, 48 of which come from the HI major. There are no capstone courses, projects, PPEs or practicums required to complete this degree, making it a great fit for working professionals. Sample courses include Introduction to Health Information Systems, Data Analysis and Research, and Legal and Ethical Aspects of EHRs in the American Health Care System.

  4. Franklin University
    Location

    Columbus, OH

    Franklin University is a leader in medical informatics and education. It has brought that education online, conferring the Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management to busy working professionals. The school is regionally accredited by the NCACS THLC and is one of the most popular online schools for HI professionals.

    This is a unique school on this ranking in that in addition to its 100 percent online coursework, the program requires a healthcare internship, known as a Professional Practice Experience. This is mandatory for all students, so any professional interested in this degree is encouraged to contact an enrollment advisor to see what the internship requires prior to applying. Students will also want to check to see what, if any, credits from another regionally accredited institution they can transfer into this program.

    This school has four different areas of education. They are known as the General Core, the Professional Core, the Major Core, and Elective Core. Each core is required for this program, and most requirements can be met at other institutions. The only exception is that the Major Core must be completed at Franklin.

    This degree requires a minimum of 124 credit hours in total, including general education requirements, and a PPE. These courses range from professional courses to major subjects. Sample courses include Health Care Outcomes and Quality management, Communication in Groups and Teams, and Applications in Health Information Systems.

  5. Western Governors University
    Location

    Salt Lake City, UT

    Western Governors University has been named one of the world s 50 most innovative companies by Fast Company, and it s a great place to get an online education. The school confers the Bachelor of Science in HI, a popular degree that is in demand by employers all over the country. The school is regionally accredited by the NCACS and hold special accreditation by CAHIIM. Graduates from this degree also have a 100 percent first-time pass rate for the prestigious RHIA certification examination that is offered by the AHIMA.

    This program was designed for healthcare and IT professionals who have previous work and educational experience in either field. It is an intensive program that is built on the idea that students undertaking the degree have some solid foundation on HI and HIM, and so it is not a great fit for students who have no previous HI education. This program is also incredibly competitive. It is advised that any professional interested in this degree talk with an enrollment advisor prior to applying.

    The WGU B.S. in HI requires a total of 120 competency units, the school s version of credit hours. About half of these credits will be cleared by students who hold an associate s degree or two years of college-level education by another regionally accredited university. Sample courses include Financial Resource Management and Health Care Reimbursement, Introduction to Probability and Statistics, and Health Information Law and Regulations.

    There is also a requirement for a professional practical experience and portfolio. This portfolio contains written reports and observations by students as they take on clinical experience and can serve as a useful addition to any professional resume.

  6. Davenport University
    Location

    Grand Rapids, MI

    Davenport University is one of the most respected institutions when it comes to online learning. It confers the Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management, a degree that was designed with working professionals in mind. This school is regionally accredited by THLC and hold special accreditation by CAHIIM. Graduates of this program are eligible to sit for the RHIA certification exam that is administered by the AHIMA.

    This online BSHIM is available through the virtual college and is a strong contender for one of the most comprehensive programs on this list. Not only are the core concepts of HI and HIM taught by a faculty with real-world experience, courses are given asynchronously, allowing students to attend class when it s most convenient for them.

    This program requires at least 120 credit hours and one practicum. There are no capstone, affiliations or externship requirements, but students do have a unique opportunity to take part in a study abroad experience. This experience is rare among online programs, but it is available for working professionals who would like the chance to study in a different country.

    Davenport takes an innovative approach to the BSHIM curriculum. Courses are grouped together based on skill or subject and include the Foundations of Excellence Core, Foundations of Health Professions Core, and the Major Core. Taken in sequence, these cores build on each other, preparing students for life as professionals in the healthcare field. Courses include Information Governance, Applied Statistics for Health Information Management, and Procedural CPT/HCPCS Coding.

  7. Champlain College
    Location

    Burlington, VT

    Champlain College is aware of the critical shortage of HI and HIT professionals that is plaguing the country right now, and they have decided to create and online program that addresses this problem. Working professionals can now find the school s Bachelor of Science in Health Information Technology available to them online. This school, which is regionally accredited by the NEASC, is also nationally recognized as a top online undergraduate school by U.S. News and World Report.

    This BS-HIT program is an accelerated undergraduate degree that focuses only on the informatics major. Students must either have an associate s degree in a healthcare related field or 60 credits from a regionally accredited institution in order to apply for the program.

    Champlain has created an online school that works for busy students. Courses are taught in an asynchronous format, and each course can be completed in seven weeks, ensuring that ambitious students can finish the degree in as little as 18 months. The online school also provides support in various ways, including student advising, so students will always have a place to turn to when looking for answers.

    This degree requires 60 credit hours and a capstone project in order to complete the degree. The capstone project is self-directed upon approval of the faculty and takes the form of a written report. Students will demonstrate mastery of the subjects taught in the curriculum and use their skills to identify a real-world issue as well as resolve it. Courses that help a student demonstrate this include Information Systems Analysis and Design, Health Data Systems and Technology, and Relational Database Design and SQL.

  8. Oregon Institute Technology
    Location

    Klamath Falls, OR

    The Oregon Institute of Technology is an innovator in online education. The school has taken the time to ensure the excellence of all of its online offerings, including the BSHI. This school is regionally accredited by NWCCU.

    Students will find that this is the first online HI undergraduate ever conferred at an Oregon public university. Since its inception, the school has endeavored to ensure that experiential learning, which is part of its core teaching method, is also found online. This is a great degree for working professionals who enjoy hands-on learning and have a busy schedule.

    The most interesting feature of learning at Oregon Tech is the school s Health Care IT Simulation Lab, called SIM Lab. This online lab offers real-life case studies and research projects to online students, giving them all the information they need in order to complete their studies within the HI field. As SIM Lab grows to become a facet of learning at OIT, students will spend more and more time putting their newfound skills into practice.

    Students who study for their BSHI at Oregon Tech will find that courses are taught in sequential order, with a total of 16 courses required for graduation. This sequencing method prepares students to move on to advanced studies once they have mastered the core concepts of each subject. Course topics include EHR Use and Configuration, Business Intelligence, Clinical Workflows, and EHR implementation.

  9. University of Mississippi Medical Center
    Location

    Jackson, MS

    The University of Mississippi Medical Center is one of the best medical schools in the South. It is also a pioneer in online education, providing working professionals with the ability to get a BSHIIM, right in the comfort of their own home. The school is regionally accredited by the SACS COC and has independent accreditation by CAHIIM. Graduates from this program are eligible to sit for the RHIA certification exam, which is administered by the American Health Information Management Association.

    Students who wish to enroll in this 100 percent online degree must have a minimum of 60 credit hours from a regionally accredited institution in order to apply to the program. Students also must have the pre-requisite math and science subjects. All working professionals are welcome to apply to the program.

    UMMC requires a total of 60 credit hours of curriculum work and a professional practicum in order to receive the BSHIIM. The practicums are completed at an approved healthcare facility under the supervision of a preceptor, and it is the online offline requirement a student must meet. Sample courses include Revenue Cycle and Reimbursement Management, Coding and Classification Systems for Procedures, and Health Care Compliance and Documentation Improvement.

  10. Colorado Technical University
    Location

    Colorado Springs, CO

    Colorado Technical University holds a national distinction as being one of the best online programs for HI and HIM professionals in the country. The school confers the Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Management Health Informatics for busy professionals. The school is regionally accredited by the NCACS THLC.

    This online undergraduate degree was created for healthcare professionals who wish to learn more about health care informatics and how it applies to health care administration and patient care. Nurses, healthcare administrators, and HI professionals will find this degree to be a great addition to their professional resumes because courses are taught online and in short terms, making it easy to fit education into a busy schedule.

    The BSHM-HI requires a total of 180 credit hours and a capstone project for completion, with 114 credit hours going towards the major core curriculum. Students will find a variety of courses that focus on both technology and business and how they relate to health care systems. Sample courses include Fundamentals of Reimbursement in Healthcare, Fiscal Management in Healthcare Services, and Health Analytics and Business Intelligence in Healthcare.

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