Overview

Fundamentals of Health IT is an essential component of the Healthcare Informatics & Health IT professional certificate program at the McCombs School of Business. Designed for professionals stepping into the dynamic world of healthcare technology or those seeking to enhance their current understanding, this online course offers a deep dive into the foundational and cutting-edge elements of Health IT.

As technology increasingly intersects with and impacts patient care, understanding the tools and systems that drive healthcare efficiency and effectiveness is imperative. This comprehensive course will guide you through the intricate landscape of Health Information Technology (HIT), from the basics to more advanced concepts.

Key Areas of Study

Foundations of Health IT

Start your journey with an overview of the healthcare technology landscape. Understand the historical context, current environment, and future directions of Health IT. This module sets the groundwork for why technology in healthcare is more crucial than ever. 

 Electronic Health Records (EHRs)

Delve into the core of modern healthcare technology—Electronic Health Records. Learn about different types of EHR systems, their functionalities, and their role in transforming patient care. Explore how these systems are designed to support health professionals and enhance patient outcomes.

Clinical Decision-Making and EHR Utilization

Gain insights into how EHRs support evidence-based clinical decisions. This module focuses on the real-world application of EHRs in clinical settings, enhancing your ability to navigate complex patient data to make informed clinical decisions.

EHR Configuration and Exploration

Get hands-on experience with configuring open-source EHR systems for simulated environments. This practical approach helps you understand the customizable nature of EHRs and prepares you to manage and adapt these systems in various clinical settings.

Interoperability in Healthcare

Explore the critical concept of interoperability—where systems and devices exchange and interpret shared data. Learn about health information exchanges, interface engines, and other technologies that facilitate seamless communication across various healthcare platforms. 

Cybersecurity and Patient Privacy

Address the vital aspects of cybersecurity and privacy in Health IT. Learn to protect sensitive health information against cyber threats and understand the legal and ethical obligations of handling patient data securely.

Emerging and Innovation in Health IT

Investigate emerging technologies such as telehealth, artificial intelligence, mobile health applications, and advanced imaging systems. This module provides a glimpse into how innovation continues to reshape the healthcare landscape, offering new opportunities and challenges.

Course Benefits

By the end of this course, you will not only understand the critical elements of Health IT but also be equipped to apply this knowledge in real-world scenarios, safeguard patient data, and contribute to the evolution of healthcare delivery. This course is ideal for those looking to make a significant impact in the healthcare sector, offering numerous pathways for career advancement in a rapidly growing field.

Enroll today in "Fundamentals of Health IT" and be at the forefront of transforming healthcare through technology. Witness the revolution in healthcare firsthand and build the skills necessary to lead and innovate in this essential industry.

Overview

Embark on a transformative exploration of the U.S. healthcare system with "The Business of American Healthcare," an integral component of the Healthcare Informatics & Health IT professional certificate program at the McCombs School of Business. This comprehensive course is tailored for those aiming to influence and innovate within the healthcare sector, providing a deep understanding of its complexities, costs, and operational dynamics.

Throughout this course, you will journey through the historical and contemporary issues that shape American healthcare, comparing it to other global systems while dissecting both its strengths and challenges. Engage in a critical examination of health policy, the political underpinnings of healthcare, and the ever-evolving role of technology in medical and administrative spheres.

Key Areas of Study

Healthcare Delivery Systems

Examine the continuum of healthcare delivery, from traditional primary care settings to innovative telehealth solutions. This section covers the evolution and integration of various healthcare delivery models that are pivotal to patient care and accessibility. 

Healthcare Financing

Navigate the complex landscape of healthcare financing, focusing on various insurance models such as Preferred Provider Organizations (PPOs) and Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs). Understand their roles, differences, and the implications they have on the delivery of healthcare services.

Technology and Informatics

Explore the transformative impact of Health Information Technology (IT) and informatics on healthcare. Learn how these technologies improve care quality, enhance patient-provider communication, and increase the overall accessibility of healthcare services through innovative systems and software.

Operational Excellence

Delve into the operational strategies of healthcare organizations across different models, from hospitals to outpatient clinics. This module emphasizes the importance of operational efficiency, quality care provision, and the methods to achieve excellence in healthcare operations.

This course not only aims to educate but also to inspire and prepare you to make substantive contributions to healthcare. Whether your interests lie in policy formulation, operational management, or technology integration, "The Business of American Healthcare" equips you with the knowledge and skills necessary to excel in this critical field.

Course Benefits 

Embarking on "The Business of American Healthcare" course offers a transformative exploration of the U.S. healthcare system, providing a comprehensive understanding of its complexities, costs, and operational dynamics. You will gain in-depth knowledge of both historical and contemporary issues, comparing the American healthcare system to other global models to identify its unique strengths and challenges. The course fosters critical analysis skills, allowing you to examine health policies, political influences, and the evolving role of technology in healthcare. By exploring various healthcare delivery models, from traditional primary care to telehealth solutions, you will understand the integration and evolution of systems pivotal to patient care and accessibility. Additionally, you will master the complexities of healthcare financing, focusing on insurance models like PPOs and HMOs, and their implications on service delivery. The course emphasizes the transformative impact of Health Information Technology (IT) and informatics, highlighting how these technologies improve care quality, enhance patient-provider communication, and increase healthcare accessibility. Delving into operational strategies, you will learn the importance of efficiency and quality care provision across different healthcare organizations. This comprehensive course not only educates but also inspires, preparing you to make substantive contributions to the healthcare sector in policy formulation, operational management, or technology integration. Completing this course earns you a professional certificate in Healthcare Informatics & Health IT from the prestigious McCombs School of Business, enhancing your credentials and career prospects.

Overview

Embark on a transformative journey with the course "Healthcare Project Management in the Digital Age," part of the professional certificate program in Healthcare Informatics & Health IT at the McCombs School of Business. More than a basic project management class, this course is designed for aspiring and current professionals eager to master the science and art of project management within the evolving landscape of Health Information Technology (HIT).

In this comprehensive course, you will learn the fundamental principles of project management tailored specifically to healthcare settings. From the initiation and planning phases through to execution and closure, you will acquire the skills necessary to drive key projects that are reshaping health management to successful completion while adhering to budget, scope, and quality standards.

Key Areas of Study

Project Management Fundamentals in HIT

Gain a solid foundation in project management practices specific to health information technology, encompassing both traditional methodologies and agile approaches.

Strategic Planning and Execution

Develop robust strategies for managing healthcare projects, including defining project scopes, scheduling, resource allocation, and achieving critical project milestones.

Budget Management and Resource Allocation

Master the essentials of financial oversight and resource management to ensure projects are delivered within budget and resources are utilized efficiently.

Team Coordination and Leadership

Learn effective leadership and communication skills to lead diverse project teams, fostering a collaborative environment and driving team performance.

Risk Management and Quality Assurance

Understand the intricacies of identifying, assessing, and mitigating risks in project settings, ensuring high-quality outcomes in healthcare projects.

Adaptation to Technological Advancements

Stay ahead of the curve with the latest in healthcare technology, preparing you to lead projects involving new systems and technological updates.

CAPM Exam Preparation

Prepare to excel at the Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) certification exam, enhancing your credentials and proving your capability in healthcare project management.

This course is more than an educational experience; it's a career-defining journey that equips you with the skills to become a pivotal player in healthcare technology. Whether you're starting your career or looking to advance in your professional journey, "Healthcare Project Management in the Digital Age" offers the tools and insights needed to excel in this dynamic field.

Overview

Embark on a detailed exploration of Health Information Technology (HIT) with the "Introduction to Health Informatics and Health Care Analytics" course, offered as a vital part of the post-undergraduate professional certificate in Healthcare Informatics & Health IT at the McCombs School of Business. This comprehensive course is meticulously designed for those eager to delve deep into the intricate world of healthcare data management and analytics.

Information, the chief currency of healthcare, is crucial for identifying signs and symptoms, establishing diagnoses, evaluating treatment efficacy, and predicting long-term events to establish a prognosis – for individual patients and entire populations. Healthcare provides an incredibly complex informatics environment with data distributed among many different organizations. There are few data standards for storing and distributing data and much of the data in healthcare is “non-structured”, meaning it exists in a narrative form and/or in documents such as PDF or scanned documents. This course will cover the acquisition, storage, processing, and distribution of information with a focus on healthcare. This course provides a robust curriculum focusing on the essentials of database management, data analytics, and the effective use of various software tools essential in the healthcare industry.

Overall, students will achieve:

• Mastery over key technological tools used in healthcare analytics.
• A comprehensive understanding of the nuances of healthcare data and how it can be leveraged to improve patient care and operational efficiency.
• The ability to critically analyze and present complex healthcare datasets, equipping you with the skills to contribute effectively in various health IT roles.

Key Areas of Study

Data & Information Fundamentals

Dive into the basics of healthcare data types, including structured and non-structured data, and learn the critical differences and applications of each within healthcare contexts.

Database and Excel Skills

Develop practical skills in database management using MySQL and enhance your proficiency in MS Excel through targeted exercises aimed at healthcare data manipulation and analysis.

Analytics and Presentation with Tableau

Engage in advanced data visualization and analytics using Tableau software. This hands-on training culminates in a capstone project where students present their analytical findings, using healthcare datasets, to an audience of professionals and academics.

Workflow and Process Improvement

Learn about the importance of workflow optimization in healthcare and how it relates to process mapping, aimed at enhancing efficiency and reducing physician burnout.

Statistical Foundations

Gain a foundational understanding of statistics necessary to perform robust data analysis, crucial for making informed decisions in healthcare.

Healthcare Informatics Landscape

Discuss the latest in healthcare informatics including the use of EHRs, issues of usability, and their impact on healthcare delivery and physician workload.

Practical Application and Competency Development

By the end of the course, students will demonstrate advanced competencies in key areas such as MS Excel, Tableau, and MySQL, alongside a comprehensive understanding of healthcare data systems like SNOMED, ICD10, and others.

Live, Online Version

• Format: 9-week, full-time, bootcamp-style program.
• Schedule: Offered three times per year with mandatory attendance.
• Courses: Includes four didactic courses and a full professional/career development course.
• Certificate: Awarded when successfully complete all requirements of the program.
• Cohort Experience: Students progress through the program together and collaborate on various projects.
• Support: Weekly office hours with faculty, 1:1 meetings available upon request, cohort Slack channel and dedicated student support staff.
• In-Person Option: Optional in-person day on the UT Austin campus.

Asynchronous, Flexibly-Paced Version

• Format: Fully asynchronous, flexibly-paced course that you have 90 days to complete.
• Flexibility: Courses can be taken individually or as a complete series and complete the work on your own time. There are no required live classes.
• Cohort experience: Although not a traditional cohort, you will have access to a Microsoft Teams channel to connect with other learners in the course. Additionally, there is an optional live session where you can meet fellow learners virtually.
• Certificate: Awarded upon completion of all four courses.
• Live Sessions: Three optional live, synchronous sessions per semester.
• Support: 90 minutes of faculty office hours per semester, access to Teaching Assistants for support, and access to cohort Microsoft Teams channel.

Yes, one of the optional live sessions each semester focuses on Health IT careers. You will also gain access to HIHIT alumni LinkedIn and Slack groups and receive invitations to alumni events upon completing all four courses.

You should dedicate 1-2 hours per day to complete a course within 90 days.

There is an administrative fee of $250 for each 30-day extension required.

Yes, if you can commit 1-2 hours per day for each course, you may take multiple courses simultaneously.

Yes, faculty will hold 90 minutes of office hours per semester, and a Teaching Assistant will be available for questions. You will also have support from HIHIT staff and can communicate with classmates through Microsoft Teams.

Yes, you will be added to a Microsoft Teams group, and one of the optional live sessions will focus on cohort networking.

Yes!  We will do our best to accommodate you in this journey. Your fee for the live program will be adjusted based on your payments for asynchronous courses. Application to the live program is required. Reach out to us at hihit@ausitn.utexas.edu to discuss further.

The live program is intensive and requires a high level of commitment, maturity, and discipline. Applications ensure that admitted students are likely to succeed.

No, applications are not required. You can purchase any courses you are interested in.

• A certificate from The University of Texas at Austin
• Membership to HIHIT alumni LinkedIn and Slack channels
• A one-year membership to HIMSS
• Invitations to alumni events

Upon purchasing any course, you gain access to these sessions. They focus on peer and professional networking, Health IT topics led by guest speakers, and professional/career support.

The courses are independent, so you can start with any course of interest.

Currently, the courses do not count for graduate credit, but options for credit are being explored.