Characteristics of U.S. Healthcare Administration, Health Informatics, and Health Information Management Baccalaureate Programs
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Mentor Information
Dr. Christina Eldredge
Description
Healthcare Administration, Health Informatics, and Health Information Management Baccalaureate programs are growing fields of study in the United States (U.S.), yet there’s limited research that has explored the details of these undergraduate programs and their prevalence in the U.S. A team of 4, comprising of 2 professors teaching Health Informatics and Health Administration courses and 2 student research assistants, collected data from 3 sources: the Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM) website, and the school directory listed on the Association of University Programs in Health Administration (AUPHA) website. Through detailed program website visits, information was gathered and recorded in Excel on program type (BS, BA, minor, etc.), college/department, degree name, degree credits, and type of education delivery (classroom vs. online). Findings from 460 degree programs across 600+ schools indicate that there is great variation of the number of programs per degree category. Additional observations include regional variations in curriculum and degree titles, lack of Health Informatics programs compared to Health Administration programs, and lack of programs in all 3 degree categories in 9 states, including Puerto Rico. This study advocates for increased standardization in these degree programs to address these issues, aiming to facilitate informed decision-making for prospective students. Furthermore, the study presents a potential framework for institutions establishing similar degree programs and identifies trends across the United States.
Characteristics of U.S. Healthcare Administration, Health Informatics, and Health Information Management Baccalaureate Programs
Healthcare Administration, Health Informatics, and Health Information Management Baccalaureate programs are growing fields of study in the United States (U.S.), yet there’s limited research that has explored the details of these undergraduate programs and their prevalence in the U.S. A team of 4, comprising of 2 professors teaching Health Informatics and Health Administration courses and 2 student research assistants, collected data from 3 sources: the Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM) website, and the school directory listed on the Association of University Programs in Health Administration (AUPHA) website. Through detailed program website visits, information was gathered and recorded in Excel on program type (BS, BA, minor, etc.), college/department, degree name, degree credits, and type of education delivery (classroom vs. online). Findings from 460 degree programs across 600+ schools indicate that there is great variation of the number of programs per degree category. Additional observations include regional variations in curriculum and degree titles, lack of Health Informatics programs compared to Health Administration programs, and lack of programs in all 3 degree categories in 9 states, including Puerto Rico. This study advocates for increased standardization in these degree programs to address these issues, aiming to facilitate informed decision-making for prospective students. Furthermore, the study presents a potential framework for institutions establishing similar degree programs and identifies trends across the United States.
