General Admission Requirements
Courses to take the first two years
Obtain an Application for Admission
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Graduate Education Opportunities for Health Information Administration
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Career Opportunities in Health Science
Health Informatics
Bachelor of Science
Health Information
Administration
Print Version (4 page PDF file)
Professional Tasks and Working Environment
Informatics encompasses understanding technology’s impact on people,
developing new uses for technology and applying information technology in the
context of another field. The Medical College of Georgia offers an applied
informatics bachelor’s degree in health information administration (H.I.A.).
This degree prepares graduates for informatics-related roles in the health care
delivery system. Graduates of the program are eligible to take a national
credentialing exam to become a Registered Health Information Administrator (R.H.I.A.).
Frequently, health information administrators are referred to as health
information managers (H.I.M.)
R.H.I.A.s organize information used in evidence-based medicine. They arm the provider with organized evidence to support patient care, reimbursement, teaching, research, quality improvement and legal inquiries. Accomplished in the art and science of electronic information systems, these professionals serve as advocates of the patient-provider relationship and information suppliers for the business side of evidence-based medicine.
Skills and Interests Most Suited to a Career in H.I.A.
Health information administrators manage people and information. They must
be able to supervise others, think
logically, understand how systems function
and interact, apply business theory for effective work processes, write and
speak clearly and discreetly handle confidential work. H.I.A.s with interest in
computer science, business administration, health sciences and health care
facility administration are well-suited for a health informatics career.
Employment and Career Opportunities
Opportunities for an applied health informatics career are excellent.
H.I.A.s are currently in demand and the future outlook is equally strong. Health
information administrators are employed by hospitals, clinics, long-term care
facilities, medical research centers, health data organizations, insurance
companies, accounting firms, law firms, managed-care organizations,
pharmaceutical companies, physician practices, health agencies, local and state
health departments, information systems vendors and private industry.
There is a nationwide shortage of health information administrators. Experienced health information professionals have ample opportunities to advance to higher-level management and consulting positions within the health care industry.
Salary Information
The median salary for R.H.I.M.’s is $54,700
annually, depending on location
and levels of responsibility. Salaries of experienced
professionals may reach $75,000 and up. Some H.I.A.s
who provide consulting can earn in excess of
$100,000.
Program Offered at MCG
MCG grants a bachelor of science degree in health information
administration. The program is a “2+2,’’ meaning the student completes the first
two years at any accredited college of choice, and the last two years on the MCG
campus. Students begin the MCG program fall semester of their junior year.
Students who complete the program are eligible to take the national registration
exam to become a registered heath information administrator.
MCG also offers a post-baccalaureate certificate program in health information administration to students who are licensed or registered in nursing or an allied health profession or who have earned a bachelor’s degree in either business administration or computer science. For more information, contact the Office of Academic Admissions.
Both programs are offered online. For more information go to http://www.mcg.edu/sah/DHI/OnlinePrograms.htm
General Admissions Criteria
Admission is based on college grade point averages, personal interviews and
assessment of motivation and qualities needed to successfully complete the
program. Only grades of C or better will be accepted in transfer. A 2.3 overall
GPA on a 4.0 scale is required for consideration. References should be from
individuals who can evaluate your academic performance.
Applicants whose first language is not English must submit official TOEFL scores. A minimum score of 550 is required for admissions consideration.
Technical Standards
In addition to demonstrating personal characteristics appropriate for a
health professions career, students must satisfy general and specific technical
standards for this program. Please visit
www.mcg.edu/sah/him/techstandards.htm to review
these requirements.
Estimated Full-Time Academic Expenses
| Tuition | Fees | Books/Supplies/Other | |
| Per semester | $1,910* | 327.5 | 1000** |
* Non-residents of Georgia pay an additional $5,730 tuition per semester. Residents of Aiken and Edgefield counties in South Carolina and Russell and Lee counties in Alabama receive a waiver of non-resident tuition.
** Costs vary by major. Please check with your department for details.
(Costs are for 2006-2007. All tuition charges, board, room rent or other charges are subject to change at the end of any academic term.)
Estimated Living Expenses
| On- or off-campus apartment | Commuter | |
| 9 months | $13,869 | $9,864 |
| 12 months | 18,492 | 13,152 |
Financial Aid and Scholarships
Financial aid and other assistance is available. MCG participates in all
federal student aid programs as well as state and private programs. MCG helps
students fund their education through grants, scholarships, loans, a service
commitment program and/or employment.
Academic Common Market
The MCG Department of Health Informatics participates in the Academic Common
Market. Students from South Carolina may petition their home state to learn
whether they qualify for in-state tuition at MCG.
Accreditation
Commission on Accreditation for Health
Informatics
and Information Management Education
c/o AHIMA
233 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 2150
Chicago, IL 60601
(312) 233-1131
Hardware/Software Requirements
IBM-compatible PC
- Pentium II/233 MHz processor or higher; Pentium III/4 processor recommended
- 64MB of RAM (128MB or higher preferred)
- CD-ROM, CD-RW or DVD-RW recommended
- 20GB hard drive (30GB or higher preferred)
- SVGA (1024 x 768 or higher) display
- Full duplex sound card with speakers/headphones and microphone
- Windows operating system, Windows 2000 or higher recommended
- 56kb modem and/or ethernet card or wireless card
- Internet connection through an ISP account or a network; cable, DSL or satellite high-speed access highly recommended
Macintosh
- PowerPC 120MHz processor or higher; G4 processor recommended
- 64MB of RAM (128MB or higher preferred)
- CD-ROM, CD-RW or DVD-RW recommended
- 20GB hard drive (30GB or higher preferred)
- 1024 x 768 or higher display resolution, thousands of colors
- Full duplex sound with a microphone
- System 8.0 or higher operating system
- 56kb modem and/or ethernet card or wireless card
- Internet connection through an ISP account or a network; cable, DSL or satellite high-speed access highly recommended
Software
-
Netscape 6.0 or higher, or Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0 or higher
-
Windows Media Player 9.0 or higher for access to Tegrity presentations
-
Most recent version of Microsoft Office Professional (including Access)
-
Adobe Acrobat Reader 6.0 (or higher)
-
Winzip
Proprietary browser versions (those not downloaded directly from Netscape or Microsoft) may not work reliably with online systems. If you use other “Office” type programs, please note that some professors may require you to convert your files to a MS-Office compatible format for online submission. Your connection to the Internet may initiate behind a firewall; however, the firewall settings may have to be adjusted to allow for proper functioning of our Web-based tools.
When and How to Apply
This is a transfer program that requires applicants to attend another
accredited college or university of their choice to complete the required core
curriculum courses (see the Courses to Take the First Two Years section). During
their sophomore year, students can apply for transfer admission to MCG.
Accepted applicants transfer fall semester to begin their junior year.
Applications for this program should be received by June 1 but will be accepted until the class has been filled. Earlier application is encouraged.
How to Get an Application
To receive an application for this degree program, visit
www.mcg.edu/admissions, or call or
write:
Office of Academic Admissions
170 Kelly Building-Administration
Medical College of Georgia
Augusta, Georgia 30912
Telephone: (706) 721-2725 or 1-800-519-3388
E-mail: underadm@mcg.edu
Web site: www.mcg.edu/admissions
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a health information administrator?
Health information administrators are experts who secure, analyze, integrate and manage information that directs the health care industry. H.I.A.s are an integral part of the health care team. Doctors, nurses and other health care professionals look to the H.I.A. for guidance on health information administrative issues. By providing accurate and reliable information, the H.I.A. directly contributes to quality patient care. An H.I.A. career combines patient care, management and technology.
H.I.A.s are people managers as well as information specialists. H.I.A.s frequently interact with other members of medical, financial and administrative staffs to ensure that information systems are protected and driven by accurate, up-to-date data. In addition, H.I.A.s determine health information policies, budgets and resources.
What do H.I.A.s do?
The H.I.A. may specialize in one of the following roles:
H.I.A. for Integrated Systems. As healthcare delivery systems continue to evolve, and as organizations that were once competitors merge into entities such as managed care and integrated networks, the H.I.A. will be responsible for the organizational direction of health information.
Clinical Data Specialist. In this role, the H.I.A. concentrates on data management functions including coding for reimbursement, outcomes management, specialty registries and research databases.
Patient Information Coordinator. As a recently developed service role, the H.I.A. helps health care consumers manage their personal health information, including personal health histories and release of health care information. The patient information coordinator also educates consumers to understand managed-care services and how to access health information resources
Data Quality Manager. Strategic planning and decision-making are based on accurate, reliable, and timely health information. The H.I.A. is responsible for data management functions including continuous quality improvement activities for data integrity throughout the organization, data dictionary development and data quality monitoring and audits.
Information Security Manager. In this setting, the H.I.A. is responsible for managing the security of electronically maintained health information, including the requirement for data security, policies and privilege systems and performance auditing.
Data Resource Administrator. The H.I.A.’s role is the managing of records and data that use cutting-edge technology to store health information, such as the electronic medical record, computer-based patient record and data repositories, as well as ensuring long-term data integrity and access.
Research and Decision Support Specialist. The H.I.A. provides senior managers with reliable and timely information for decision making and strategy development by using various analytical tools and databases.
Where do H.I.A.s work?
The major places of employment are health care organizations, such as hospitals and large clinics. However, other health-related organizations also need accurate and up-to-date information. Increasing numbers of H.I.A.s are employed by managed care organizations, insurance companies, law firms, accounting firms, physician practices, mental health care facilities, nursing homes, federal and state health care agencies, consulting firms, health data organizations and information systems vendors. Colleges and universities that offer health information administration or health information technology programs employ H.I.A.s as faculty.
How much do H.I.A.s earn?
Salaries depend on position, experience, location, education and employer. According to a 2002 member survey by the American Health Information Management Association, the median salary of R.H.I.A.’s is $54,700 annually. Salaries of experienced professionals may reach $75,000 and up. H.I.A.s in top management positions can exceed $100,000 per year.
What is the outlook for career opportunities in H.I.A.?
H.I.A. career opportunities continue to grow. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 49% growth in the number of H.I.M. workers by 2010, making Health Informatics one of the fastest growing occupations. Approximately 6,000 new workers are needed each year to fill new positions and replace those who leave or retire.
How do I obtain more information about a career in H.I.A.?
We recommend taking a a Closer Look tour. Closer Look Visitations are designed for people still exploring career choices who want to take a first-hand look at health science fields, including H.I.A. The tours are guided by admissions counselors and H.I.A. professionals. The tour includes a look at the Medical College of Georgia campus, the opportunity to speak with former MCG H.I.A. students, a tour through the classroom facilities and a visit to a real-world setting where H.I.A.s work. All admission counselors will review admission requirements and academic programs. To make a reservation for a Closer Look Visitation, write the Office of Academic Admissions, Medical College of Georgia, 170 Kelly Building, Augusta, Georgia 30912, call (706) 721-2725, or e-mail underadm@mail.mcg.edu. Visit our web site at http://www.mcg.edu/sah/dhi/.
How do I get started?
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Attend the regionally accredited college or university of your choice and complete the core curriculum. (See the section on Courses to Take the First Two Years.) Apply to the Medical College of Georgia early during your second year of college. If you are accepted, you will begin the H.I.A. program the fall of your junior year.
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MCG offers a two-year, full-time professional curriculum in health information administration. This four-year (2+2) program results in a bachelor of science degree in health information administration. Graduates are prepared to take the national registration examination to become certified as a Registered Health Information Administrator. H.I.A.s are also known as R.H.I.A.s for this reason.