The 9-week certificate program leading to a certificate in Health Information Technology and Health Information Exchange focuses on the essential knowledge and skill sets that are necessary to qualify graduates for multiple career opportunities in Health IT. The didactic portion of our program includes approximately 200 hours of lecture from faculty and visiting professionals. The program is enriched by the frequent participation of guest lecturers who share their experiences and expertise with the class on a broad range of topics including healthcare policy, leadership, practice management and utilization of technology. Past speakers have included physicians, hospital executives, physician practice executives, legal experts, industry experts as well as healthcare visionaries.

Our program features an integrated, spiral curriculum that optimizes learning by integrating five courses together in a seamless educational environment. A brief description of each of the courses included in the certificate program is included below.

Fundamentals of Health Information Technology

This course serves as the foundation for an understanding of issues concerning the adoption and deployment of healthcare technology. Topics include an overview of U.S. healthcare policy, privacy and security, basic understanding of principles of computer systems, databases and informatics, ambulatory and hospital information systems, medical terminology, and legal and regulatory issues in healthcare.

Operational Models of Health Care Practice:The Business of Medicine

This course focuses on health care delivery in America in medical practices and acute care facilities. Topics include a comparison of the U.S health care system to health care delivery in other countries, descriptions of current and emerging payment mechanisms, revenue cycle management, risk management, overhead reduction and practice management.

Workflow and Process Redesign, Project Management and Quality Improvement

This course discusses how the deployment of technology changes the way physicians and other healthcare providers perform the tasks that are required in their jobs. Topics include management of medical practice workflow in physicians’ offices, acute care facilities and health information exchanges as well as basic project management and quality improvement.

Electronic Health Record and Health Information Exchange Systems

This two-part course provides didactic lectures on the theoretical foundation of electronic health record and health information exchange systems, and a laboratory section that provides hands-on exposure to multiple different ambulatory care EHR systems and health information exchange systems.

Practicum in Health Information Technology

This course provides experiential education in Health IT in varied medical settings, including office practices, hospitals, health centers and health information exchanges. Students in this course also carry out a research project and present their findings as a poster before members of the Health IT industry and healthcare professionals.