Why Study Health Informatics?
- Health informatics is growing rapidly due to EHRs, telemedicine, and digital health technologies
- High demand exists for professionals skilled in both healthcare and IT
- The field offers numerous job opportunities
- Expertise in data analysis is crucial for identifying trends, predicting outcomes, and informing policies
- AI is transforming health informatics with advanced data analysis and automation
- AI literacy is essential for health professionals
Why Study Health Informatics at SUNY Downstate?
SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University offers a 39-credit STEM-designated Master of Science in Health Informatics. The program accepts applications for Fall, Spring, and Summer admission. With affordable tuition, evening classes, and hands-on learning, it caters to full-time and part-time students and working professionals. Students can complete the program in-person or online. As one of the most affordable graduate programs in informatics and a leading choice for students in the New York area and beyond, our Health Informatics program distinguishes itself with small class sizes, flexible course delivery, experienced faculty, and a hands-on curriculum. Students complete an internship to apply their knowledge in real healthcare settings, which serves as a valuable learning experience and a potential catalyst for job and career opportunities. Health informatics at Downstate is a highly ranked and best-valued program.
It boasts a high graduation rate, easily accessible location in Central Brooklyn, opportunities for research and community-based interdisciplinary projects. The Health Informatics curriculum at SUNY Downstate covers a wide range of knowledge and skills essential for working in various healthcare settings. The program prepares graduates to assume various roles and responsibilities in health informatics that include designing, implementing, and supporting clinical information systems including EMRs, educating staff, analyzing data, evaluating and improving existing health care information systems, and coordinating between clinical and IT teams to enhance healthcare operations and policies.
The program also offers a 15-credit online advanced certificate in health informatics.
SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University is renowned for its long-standing tradition of excellence in healthcare education. The program is affiliated with an academic medical center and uniquely situated in a school of health professions. The university has a strong commitment to serving the local community and addressing health disparities.
What You Will Learn
- The program offers considerable breadth with a particular focus on applied clinical informatics
- You will develop skills in EHR systems implementation, evaluation and optimization, clinical workflow analysis, decision analysis, usability of healthcare systems, data analytics and data visualization, basic data science using Python, research methods, skills related to interdisciplinary teamwork, and clinical data management
- You will develop literacy in health information interoperability, artificial intelligence in healthcare, clinical decision support, healthcare information systems, and a range of informatics subjects.
- Clinical internship offers students an opportunity to apply skills and knowledge to real-world informatics work and ensuing challenges.
Growth in Health Informatics Opportunities
- The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects that from 2021 to 2031, the US economy will add 8.3 million jobs.
- One-third of these new jobs (2.8 million) will be in the health care and social assistance sectors.
- The demand for health services is expected to rise due to the aging population and other factors.
- The recent pandemic has accelerated the need for informatics professionals skilled in implementing and using tools to manage, analyze, and visualize complex health data in an interoperable environment, supporting decision-making.
- The BLS projects a 17% increase in the need for Health Information Technologists from 2021 to 2031, which is a much faster growth rate than the average for other occupations.
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