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KU Center for Health Informatics

Health Informatics > Post-Graduate Certificate

Post-Graduate Certificate

Now accepting applications 

The KU Health Informatics program is an applied health informatics program with an interprofessional focus. Students of all academic backgrounds are encouraged to apply. Healthcare experience is desired but not required.

This certificate program is for students who already hold a master's degree in another field.  It consists of applied clinical informatics courses and requires 19 credit hours.  All courses are offered online with the exception of the practicum which can be taken at a location near the student, provided that all advance requirements are met.

This certificate program is designed to prepare students to:

  • Apply health informatics using a theoretical, conceptual, and experiential knowledge base
  • Articulate a vision of health informatics in the context of multidisciplinary practice and complex healthcare delivery systems
  • Implement and evaluate information systems that support multi-professional clinical/administrative practice
  • Facilitate the delivery of evidence-based practice at point of care, and
  • Sit for applicable nursing, M.D. or graduate-level certification exam as an expert informatician

Required Courses 

IPHI 820 - Project, Program and Communication Planning (2 credits)

Strategies to promote program, project, and communication planning are presented and applied by the student.  Communication strategies for informing, guiding, and persuading clients, health care providers, payers, and other stakeholders to advance program and project development are discussed.   The use of evolving information technologies to improve program, project and communication planning is emphasized.

 

IPHI 850 - Introduction to Health Informatics (2 credits)

This course will provide an overview of health informatics focused on five themes: health informatics foundations; clinical decision support; human factors/organization factors; public health informatics and current issues in health informatics including best practices. Students enrolled for 3 credits will develop and demonstrate a practical, innovative small-group information technology (IT) project from one of a set of faculty recommended projects or from a student-proposed idea. PREREQUISITE(S): None. (Previous or simultaneous enrollment in Health Data Theory and Practice is recommended)

 

IPHI 851 - Transforming Health Care through the Use of Information Systems & Technology (3 credits)

The application of the information system development life cycle in the design, selection, and implementation of health information technology applications will be examined. Human computer interactions and emerging technologies will be explored for their impact on patient care and safety. The role of legal, regulatory, ethical and security issues will be discussed as they apply to clinical and consumer information technologies. PREREQUISITE(S): None.

 

IPHI 852 - Health Data: Theory & Practice (3 credits)

Principles of database theory, modeling, design and manipulation will be introduced. Students will have experience using a relational database management system. Database manipulation will be explored by composing and executing query statements and critically evaluating the results.

 

IPHI 853 - Abstraction & Modeling of Healthcare Information (3 credits)

The information system development life cycle process is presented with emphasis on determination and analysis of information system requirements and system design that meet the identified health care information requirements. Object-oriented techniques will be introduced, including Unified Modeling Language and Unified Modeling Methodology, to facilitate process analysis and design proposal development. PREREQUISITE(S): NRSG 820 or consent of instructor.

 

IPHI 854 - Knowledge Management in Healthcare (3 credits)

Knowledge management is the creation, communication, and leveraging of a healthcare organization's knowledge assets. Defining knowledge, describing the knowledge creation cycle, and the identification of the knowledge worker and his/her impact on the organization are discussed. Information technology and communities of practice are presented in a balanced approach supporting a systematic viewpoint of the knowledge management process. Knowledge management theory is enhanced with the performance of a knowledge audit and the development of knowledge management tools. PREREQUISISTE(S):NRSG 820.

 

IPHI 856 - Health Informatics Practicum - final course (3 credits)

In collaboration with health care informatics faculty, preceptors, students design an experience to facilitate application of theories and research related to health informatics. Emphasis is on the application of the information system development life cycle. Students analyze the leadership and technical behaviors of various informatics roles and negotiate an informatics project to be completed within the practicum.  Three credit hours of practicum are required.  These hours may be taken over 1-3 consecutive semesters.  Students must be enrolled in at least 1 credit hour of practicum during their last semester.  PREREQUISITE(S): All Informatics Courses, the Common Core, the Leadership Core, or consent of instructor.

 

Course Schedule

Note:  This schedule is subject to change.

Key for Course Delivery Format      I = Internet course     P = practicum site

HI Certificate Courses

* The practicum (IPHI 856) requires a total of 3 credit hours (200 clock hours) which can be taken over 1-3 semesters.  These semesters must be consecutive and taken at the conclusion of the program. 

Admission Information

Requirements

  1. A master's degree
  2. A cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale

Apply online.

Deadlines for Priority Applications

April 1 for Fall semester               September 1 for Spring semester

Admission decisions for each semester are finalized approximately 8 weeks after the application deadline.  All applicants are notified of their admission status with mailed letters from the Associate Dean for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management.

Enrollment Deposit:  To verify admission acceptance and secure enrollment, admitted students must submit a $400 non-refundable enrollment deposit.  This deposit is applied to the first semester's tuition and is not an additional fee. 

Admission Materials

The following materials are needed to complete the application.

  1. Online Application
  2. Official transcripts from every college or university attended.  Transcripts must show conferral of degrees, including a master's degree. These transcripts must be sent in a sealed envelope directly from each institution to the KU Center for Health Informatics, 3901 Rainbow Blvd, MS 4043, Kansas City, KS 66160 or if your institution offers electronic delivery, have transcripts sent to HealthInformatics@kumc.edu. 
  3. Three letters of reference on the forms provided in the online application packet. Preferably, the references will be from a former instructor, current employer, and professional colleague.  Submit these references online with the application.
  4. Resume - submit with online application
  5. Personal statement. This is a brief essay outlining the applicant's reasons for wanting to pursue a post-graduate certificate in health informatics, career objectives, and any other information that would help the admissions committee get to know the applicant. Submit this statement in your online application.
  6. An informational on-campus or telephone interview with a program representative.  To schedule an appointment, call 913-588-1619.
  7. $75.00 application fee (non-refundable).
  8. After being accepted into the program, all incoming students are required to:
    • Complete a satisfactory criminal background check. A one-time fee must be paid directly to the company performing the background investigation. Instructions will be emailed to students when they are accepted to the program.
    • Pay a non-refundable $400 admission deposit to reserve their place in the program. This deposit will then be applied to the student's first semester tuition.
    • Meet health requirements for enrollment.

International Students

Due to the number of required online courses, the Health Informatics program at KUMC does not meet the U.S. student visa requirements at this time.  Therefore, we are unable to accept individuals who are on student visas. If you received your university education outside of the U.S. or are in the U.S. on another type of visa, please contact HealthInformatics@kumc.edu for additional application requirements.  

Admission Considerations

The Center for Health Informatics endeavors to fulfill its responsibilities to the changing needs of society by selecting applicants who, in the judgment of the admissions committee, demonstrate the academic achievement, maturity, integrity, and motivation necessary for successful advancement. In addition, the committee looks for applicants who will contribute academic, nonacademic, and socioeconomic diversity to the class. The committee is interested in evidence of capacity for mature and independent scholarship. One of the essential functions of a university is to help all individuals realize their potential. In an effort to foster this activity, the Center for Health Informatics subscribes to the KU Statement on Diversity and Inclusion.

Tuition and Fees

For a complete list of tuition and fees, please refer to the KUMC information in the KU Comprehensive Fee Schedule. 
Costs for the program vary and are subject to change.  Based on spring 2019 tuition and fees, an estimate for completion of the health informatics post-graduate certificate program is approximately $13,500 for Kansas residents and non-residents alike.  This estimate does not include the cost of books, supplies, insurance, or living expenses.  Because all courses are online, only limited campus fees apply (i.e. student health, student records, library, and counseling/education support).  This amounts to approximately half the normal campus fee amount for spring and fall semesters.  No campus fees apply during a summer semester since all courses are taken online.

Computer Competency and Standards

Students entering all programs of study at the University of Kansas Medical Center are expected to have basic skills in using a computer. Please refer to the recommendations for purchasing computers. During your studies in health informatics you will be participating in simulations in Second Life (www.secondlife.com/) so be sure you have a microphone/headset and a video card that is capable of carrying the graphics in Second Life. You will be expected to have access to Microsoft Office, Microsoft Access, and Microsoft Visio in order to complete assignments.

Contact Us

KU Center for Health Informatics
3901 Rainbow Blvd, Mail Stop 4043
Kansas City, KS 66160
913-588-1619
healthinformatics@kumc.edu

Last modified: Nov 01, 2019
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