Overview
The Graduate Certificate in Biomedical Informatics--Health Information Management track provides knowledge and skills in the application of information technology (IT) and health information management to healthcare. Graduates of the program have taken on additional IT responsibilities in their existing careers or embarked upon new careers as developers and managers of electronic health records. In the program, individuals with a variety of backgrounds take courses in medical informatics, health information management and related areas to gain expertise to assume positions that require a thorough understanding of both IT and the health information management practice.
Although all of our programs stand on their own and are usually completed as single units, they can also be used as entry points into higher programs. The Certificate program can thus be used as an entry point for enrollment into the Master of Biomedical Informatics (MBI) or Master of Science (MS) in Biomedical Informatics programs. The MBI program is offered both on-campus and via distance learning, while the MS program is offered on-campus only. Students choose to pursue studies in either Bioinformatics or Medical Informatics as part of their masters program.
The program is geared to meet the educational needs of health care professionals seeking additional training in information management and technology as well as non-health care professionals seeking training in health information management and technology. This is accomplished by providing students with a theoretical and practical understanding of the role of information in health care; a sound basis for implementing, developing, maintaining, and managing information resources and systems in health care; and skills in the management of health information, technology, and decision making. See information about prerequisites in the Application Instructions section below.
Coursework
The goal of the graduate certificate program is to provide an educational experience for individuals who seek to enhance their knowledge of the intersection of health information management (HIM) and information technology (IT). Society has a need for more individuals with knowledge and skills in IT and HIM, and the certificate program provides this. As such, the graduate certificate program was developed with the needs of working professionals in mind. The course of study is most useful for those interested in gaining skills in medical informatics to complement their existing career as a physician, nurse, health information technician, other health care professional, IT professional, administrator or librarian. To complete the program in twelve months, students will need to follow the posted curriculum schedule. Students also have the option of taking fewer courses per term and completing the program in two or three years. Courses are offered online in consideration of the professional student's other obligations and location.
The Health Information Management curriculum consists of five three-credit courses, seven two-credit courses, and one four-credit course for a total of 33 credit hours.
Students are required to complete the following courses (33 credit hours). Courses with an asterisk (*) include HIM-specific domains/competencies and knowledge clusters. See the Domains/Competencies page for complete information. Course descriptions and syllabi are in the course catalog.
- BMI 510 - Introduction to Medical Informatics*
- BMI 512 - Clinical Information Systems*
- BMI 517 - Organizational Behavior & Management*
- BMI 537 - Healthcare Quality*
- BMI 544 - Databases*
- BMI 582 - Healthcare Data Management
- BMI 583 - IT in Health Information Practice
- BMI 584 - Clinical Classification Systems and Applied Reimbursement Methodologies
- BMI 585 - Applied Management in Health Information Practice
- BMI 586 - Applied Legal and Ethical Issues in Health Information Practice
- BMI 587 - Research, Statistics, and Quality Applied to Health Information Practice
- BMI 588 - Capstone Project and Professional Practice Experience
- PHPM 524 - Introduction to Biostatistics*
Up to 3.0 related graduate level credits can be transferred in.
Applying/Tuition and Fees
Applications for the Graduate Certificate Program are made directly to the Department of Medical Informatics & Clinical Epidemiology. The tuition and fee schedules can be found on the OHSU Tuition and Fees Schedule (select "Med-Biomedical Informatics"). A 5% tuition discount is provided in the Graduate Certificate program for full members of the Healthcare Information Management Systems Society (HIMSS), the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA), the American Medical Informatics Association (AMIA) or the Association of Medical Directors of Information Systems (AMDIS). NOTE: The Department of Medical Informatics & Clinical Epidemiology does not honor OHSU staff fee privileges.
Deadlines:
- Fall term - September 1st
- Winter term - December 1st
- Spring term - March 1st
- Summer term - May 1st
Application Instructions:
- Have a bachelor's degree in any field of study from an accredited institution.
- Have an undergraduate cumulative GPA of at least 3.0.
- Take the TOEFL.
The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is required of students for whom English is not their native language. An official report of the scores must be sent directly from the Educational Testing Service to the Graduate Admissions Office. The OHSU School of Medicine uses institution code 4865.
- Send official transcripts.
You are required to submit an official transcript from each school you have attended after high school. A transcript showing transfer credits is official only for credits taken at that institution. It is not an official transcript for the transferred credits. Request that the transcripts be mailed from the institution attended to the address at the bottom of this page. If you wish, transcripts may be sent with the application, instead. In this case, request that transcripts be mailed to you and forward them in their sealed envelopes with your application. For our purposes, transcripts are official only if the seal is not broken.
- Credentials Evaluation for International Students.
To enroll in any degree program in DMICE, an applicant must have completed the requirements for a four-year Bachelor degree or its equivalent. You are welcome to have your academic credentials evaluated independently at your own cost. For information on this process, please see the "Credentials Evaluation" document.
- Prerequisites.
Students who have graduated from an accredited health information technician program and have a baccalaureate degree will move directly into the HIM program without any prerequisite courses. Those who have not completed an accredited health information technician program will need to complete the following prerequisite courses: Medical Terminology, Pharmacotherapy, Anatomy and Physiology, Pathophysiology, ICD9 and CPT and a bridge course introducing medical legal and the HIM profession. Students will also have the option to test out of Medical Terminology, Pharmacotherapy, ICD9 and CPT.
If you do not have the prerequisites for the HIM program, an alternative is to take the AHIMA HIM basic courses. For the coding prerequisite you need only take the ICD I and the CPT I courses. However, the ICD 2 and CPT 2 courses would enhance your understanding of coding systems (AHIMA HIM Basic Courses).
For information on other accredited HIM programs, see the CAHIIM website.
- Complete the application.
You may complete either the online application or the paper application (which must be mailed to the address at the bottom of this page). Online application instructions:
- Go to the online application
- Select "Create Your Account." Submit the completed form. You will then be returned to the online application page.
- Select "Online Certificate Application" at the bottom of the page and completely fill out the online application. (Note: You can fill out the application in multiple sessions. Just save the application each time you make changes. To change anything later, simply log in using the same username and password. You can continue to change and update your application until you pay and submit your application).
- Before you pay and submit your completed application, print and review the Check List and Signature Sheet.
- Pay (by credit card or online check) and submit your completed application.
- Send the signed Check List and Signature Sheet with the required supplemental materials to the address at the bottom of the page.
- If you have any problems with the online application process, please contact CollegeNet at: 877-944-2525 or e-mail: help@collegenet.com.
- Submit an application fee.
Applications must be accompanied with a $65 non-refundable application fee made payable to Oregon Health & Science University.
Any documents sent to us (paper applications, fees, transcripts, etc.) should be sent to the following address:
Biomedical Informatics Graduate Certificate Program
Attn: Administrative Assistant
Oregon Health & Science University
Mail Code: BICC
3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Road
Portland, OR 97239-3098
For any questions, please contact the DMICE Administrative Assistant by phone (1.503.418.1566) or e-mail (informat@ohsu.edu).
