Finding accredited health informatics programs in Massachusetts isn’t a challenge thanks to the three first-rate degree options approved through the CAHIIM within the Commonwealth’s borders.
As the site of America’s first colony and oldest higher learning institution, Massachusetts is renowned for offering a wealth of elite educational opportunities at vocational schools, community colleges, liberal arts colleges, and big research universities. Massachusetts also stands out for its pioneering efforts in healthcare, especially when the nation’s first Marine Hospital was built in Boston back in 1799. Students pursuing health informatics degrees here will have no lack of opportunity for real-world experience because Massachusetts has 132 hospitals and the highest number of doctor’s offices in the United States.
If you’re ready to take a leap into this fast-growing field that blends health service with computer science, below are the three accredited associate and bachelor’s degree programs for health informatics in Massachusetts.
Bristol Community College
Division of Health Sciences
Originally established in 1965 by the Massachusetts Board of Regional Community Colleges to serve residents of the surrounding county, Bristol Community College is now a large two-year public junior college serving over 29,000 students in southern Massachusetts. Nestled on a main 65-acre suburban campus in Fall River near Mount Hope Bay with satellite locations in New Bedford, Attleboro, Taunton, and online from anywhere, BCC offers over 150 academic programs at the associate’s degree and certificate level. BCC also has over 15,000 credits that qualify for transfer to other Massachusetts public colleges or universities for pursuing a bachelor’s degree. In the Division of Health Sciences, students build on a liberal arts core with structured introductions to many of the healthcare industry’s most in-demand career paths.
Associate of Science (A.S.) in Health Information Management
At BCC, the Associate of Science (A.S.) in Health Information Management program offers a two-year degree plan of 71 credits for students seeking to pursue entry-level positions in healthcare facilities and sit for the national certification exam to become Registered Health Information Technicians (RHIT). In this CAHIIM-accredited curriculum, students are well-equipped with the knowledge and technical skills needed to fulfill health information positions in physician offices, hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, rehabilitation centers, and other medical practices. During the final semester, students will be assigned to Professional Practices Experiences (PPEs) at approved health service delivery systems across southeastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island to start building their resume. Students will demonstrate the professional abilities needed to analyze medical records, access information stored in computer systems, maintain HIPPA standards, and communicate with fellow healthcare staff.
Accreditations
- Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM)
- New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC)
Contact
777 Elsbree Street
Fall River, MA 02720
(508) 678-2811
admissions@bristolcc.edu
Program Link
Fisher College
Division of Accelerated and Professional Studies
Since its inception in 1903 as business college focused on vocational preparation, Fisher College has grown dramatically into a comprehensive private non-profit institution to grant both associate and bachelor’s degrees to a close-knit community of under 1,100 students. Based on a main urban campus in the Back Bay neighborhood of Boston with extension centers in New Bedford, Brockton, North Attleborough, and online from anywhere at any time, Fisher College is highly acclaimed for having the 12th best online degree programs in America by OEDb. Also named among GI Job’s most military-friendly schools, the Division of Accelerated and Professional Studies is dedicated to providing students with the knowledge and skills for a lifetime of professional pursuits while following flexible study schedules.
Bachelor of Science in Management with a Concentration in Health Information Management (HIM)
Offered exclusively in a convenient 100% online format, the Bachelor of Science in Management program at Fisher College has a concentration in Health Information Management (HIM) available to prepare undergraduate students for handling the electronic health systems of various healthcare providers. Students receive a broad-based education that covers strategic planning, organizational management, health statistics, research methodology, health information systems, data analysis, communications, medical coding, quality management, performance improvement, legal standards, and more. Students in their senior year will be required to finish the 120-credit curriculum with a professional practicum experience. This program is currently in candidacy status with the CAHIIM, but graduates will soon be eligible to take the qualifying exam for becoming an RHIA through the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) after its fully accredited.
Accreditations
- Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM)
- New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC)
Contact
118 Beacon Street
Boston, MA 02116
(617) 670-4405
llomeland@fisher.edu
Program Link
Labouré College
Associate Degree Division
First founded in 1892 as the Carney Hospital Training School of Nurses, Labouré College is a private non-profit institution rooted in the Roman Catholic faith to provide two and four-year academic programs for over 750 students in nursing and other health science fields. Well-known for being the longest provider of healthcare education in the Boston area, Labouré is located on a suburban campus in the town of Milton near the Neponset River to build life-long careers in the booming healthcare industry. Labouré is primarily for adult part-time learners with various levels of higher education experience seeking high-quality education from a Judeo-Christian perspective to become responsible world citizens. In the Associate Degree Division, students can pursue a degree in RN nursing, health information technology, nutrition, dietetic technology, or radiation therapy.
Associate of Science in Health Information Technology (HIT)
Ideal for students seeking designation as a Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT) through the AHIMA, the Associate of Science in Health Information Technology (HIT) program at Labouré is structured to cover the basic essentials needed to ensure the quality, accuracy, and completeness of medical records in electronic computer systems. With a reputation for excellence across the Boston healthcare world, this program combines all of the specialized knowledge in coding diagnoses and medical procedures in patient records to improve health services and reimbursement processes. Students can decide to complete this 71-credit degree in two years full-time or four years part-time. After completing all introductory HIT courses, students will participate in clinical practice at hospitals, clinics, physician practices, and healthcare businesses. Students can also supplement their learning by earning the one-year Coding Certificate focused on developing the technical skills of ICD-9-CM and CPT coding.
Accreditations
- Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM)
- New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC)
Contact
303 Adams Street
Milton, MA 02186
(617) 202-3149
admissions@laboure.edu
Program Link
If you’re looking to benefit from unsurpassed job growth in the healthcare industry while working behind the scenes away from direct patient care, then health informatics could be the right field for you. With a career in health informatics, you’d organize and manage patient data to ensure its complete accuracy and accessibility. From medical histories to test results and treatment plans, you’d be at the helm of documenting this critical health information to help physicians provide seamless patient care. As healthcare facilities continue to transition into electronic health records systems, the demand for qualified workers in health informatics is expected to skyrocket by 22%, thus creating 41,100 new jobs nationwide. To get started on this rewarding career in the “Bay State,” consider attending one of these top-notch health informatics programs in Massachusetts.
For more Health Informatics programs in New England, see Health Informatics Programs in Maine.