Adelphi University Launches Online M.S. in Healthcare Informatics Program

	Patrick R. Coonan, dean and professor of the College of Nursing and Public Health and academic director of the Center for Health Innovation

Adelphi University is proud to announce the launch of an online Master of Science in Healthcare Informatics program to meet the rising nationwide demand for qualified candidates in the growing field of health informatics. Unlike most healthcare informatics programs, Adelphi’s program is open to both established clinical professionals and non-clinical professionals, such as those in IT and business fields.

This 42-credit program is offered for working adults who wish to advance or change careers. Adelphi provides multiple layers of support for working professionals, especially those who may have been out of school for a while, through strong student engagement and hands-on learning opportunities. 

Adelphi’s online healthcare informatics degree is well timed. The U.S. government has enacted a 2015 deadline for healthcare facilities to become paperless, creating demand for health informatics professionals. The number of health informatics jobs is expected to increase 21 percent by 2020, according to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

“The online Master of Science in Healthcare Informatics program plays a vital role to advance healthcare globally and serve the health needs of individuals and populations,” said Patrick R. Coonan ’78, Ed.D  dean and professor of the College of Nursing and Public Health and academic director of the Center for Health Innovation. “Adelphi University is dedicated to providing students with the skills, knowledge and specialized education to succeed as leaders in this emerging field.”

A 2012 report from Burning Glass Technologies and Jobs for the Future indicates that postings for health informatics jobs have risen 36 percent within the last four years. In contrast, general job postings were only up six percent, and other healthcare jobs only nine percent, over that same four-year period.

The field of healthcare informatics includes dozens of positions that demand diverse skills in such areas as consulting, research, training, education, management, and analysis. Recognizing that this field is multidisciplinary, Adelphi takes a multifaceted approach in its curriculum, integrating healthcare informatics, management strategies, and technological know-how.

Adelphi’s faculty is representative of the many avenues available in the field. The program is run by experts from healthcare, business and technology sectors. Faculty members actively contribute to the future of health informatics as published clinical researchers, medical practitioners, health informatics consultants, computer science experts and business leaders. The diverse backgrounds of the faculty are what enable the program to be scalable and applicable to both experienced healthcare professionals as well as non-health professionals.

Because of their experience in the industry, Adelphi’s faculty recognizes that this emerging field faces considerable challenges. One of those challenges is simply having enough qualified people to fill open positions. Adelphi has responded to this urgent need by opening the online MSHI program to professionals with transferable skills, including business and IT-related roles. Also, new regulatory requirements will shape the healthcare landscape of the future. Adelphi University is preparing students with enduring management and critical thinking skills so they can adapt to the new environment, however it develops.

To learn more about Adelphi University’s Master of Science in Healthcare Informatics online program, visit onlinemshidegree.adelphi.edu or call 866.803.4397.