At the Intersection of Information Technology and Health Care: UC Offers New, Accelerated Program

A signing ceremony at the University of Cincinnati (UC)

College of Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services (CECH)

marks the debut of an innovative, accelerated program that combines a bachelor of science in Information Technology, a master’s of science in Health Informatics, and five semesters of co-op experience in just five years.

The launch ceremony took place on April 30 in the Teachers College building, and featured CECH Dean Larry Johnson and College of Allied Health Sciences (CAHS) Dean Elizabeth King, PhD, as well as guest speaker, Dr. John J. Hutton, Professor of Pediatrics and Associate Dean for Information Services at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine.

Beginning fall semester of 2014, students will develop expertise in one of three Information Technology tracks: Networking/Systems, Software Application Development, Cybersecurity. In the program’s third year, students will take master’s level classes about  the health and public health landscape, health IT standards and policy, clinical information systems,usability, clinical workflow analysis, health data and analytics. Students will ultimately gain the tools and skills necessary to integrate advanced digital technologies into the field of health and healthcare and use electronic data to contribute to the transformation of health and healthcare.

“The accelerated program combines two of the biggest, fastest-growing industries into one extremely marketable degree,” said Johnson. “Graduates of this program will be on the leading edge of improving healthcare in the U.S., largely by making it more efficient.”

“Healthcare reform has heightened demand for workers with both healthcare and IT skills,” said King. “This new master’s program will thoroughly prepare students to be leaders in this hybrid industry.”

“The accelerated program really takes IT students to another level,” said Hazem Said, head of the School of Information Technology. “This program provides students with the unique set of skills required for this very specialized, well-paying industry.”

Both the School of Information Technology and the Department of Analytical and Diagnostic Sciences are accredited and recognized nationally. The IT program was among the first ten programs nationally to receive accreditation from the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, Inc. The CAHS Department of Analytical and Diagnostic has six programs: Advanced Medical Imaging Technology, Health Informatics-Distance Learning, Health Information Management, Medical Laboratory Science, Respiratory Therapy, and Transfusion and Transplantation Sciences.

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