Healthcare Information Technology Degree

USF Health IT Leadership at graduation

When the practice of gathering, storing and using healthcare information is applied in technological settings, it is referred to as health information technology (IT). Healthcare IT is a blanket-expression that refers to the intersection of healthcare and technology. This can involve disciplines such as health informaticspharmacy informaticsclinical informaticsmedical informaticsmedical record keepinghealth data analyticspopulation health management and more.

Healthcare IT Professionals Are in Demand

The demand for healthcare IT professionals is still growing rapidly as e-health is implemented into the healthcare system.

Healthcare IT workers are needed to design, develop and support health information systems such as electronic health records (EHRs) and computerized physician order entry (CPOE), which reduces errors by having medical professionals electronically enter medication orders and physician instructions, instead of writing them on paper charts that have to be deciphered or transcribed.

According to Burning Glass Technologies, a Boston-based labor market analytics firm, the demand for healthcare IT workers is projected to grow at twice the rate of employment overall, and there is strong evidence that the nation is facing a shortage of qualified professionals. In Missed Opportunities? The Labor Market in Health Informatics, 2014, Burning Glass reported that health informatics jobs remain open longer than the national average, an indication that employers are having difficulty filling these positions.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the demand for IT managers in hospitals will rise by 42% from 2012 to 2022.

Health Informatics Combines Healthcare and IT With a Sense of Contribution

Many of the latest generation healthcare IT jobs are not only technologically challenging but allow experts to feel a tremendous sense of satisfaction, because of their significant impact on healthcare. Some of these specialties include:

  • Electronic Health Records (EHRs): The implementation of EHRs allows patient medical records to be more accessible, so information is readily available to any physician. This significantly decreases the time needed for paper records to arrive and reduces the chance of error caused by misinterpreting a physician’s handwriting. These records also allow all of a patient’s healthcare providers to be on the same page – to be aware of what tests have already been run, to know the results of those tests, to know of previous medical conditions and symptoms. EHRs help medical professionals have a more complete picture of a patient’s health, helping to improve medical outcomes.
  • Easier Access to Medical Research: New health informatics applications make it easier for physicians to retrieve information on various health conditions and symptoms, making it possible to provide patients with more specialized care.
  • More Efficient Clinical Trials: Health informatics helps organize the information gained from clinical trials and makes it easier for physicians to identify patients that would be good candidates for studies.

Learning Opportunities

IT jobs are evolving at a rapid pace, ringing in the era of Health 2.0. Earning an advanced degree in health informatics can open the door to careers that make a difference: improving health and saving lives. Fill out the form on the right to learn about earning your master’s in health informatics from USF Health

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Academic Calendar

Spring I – 2025

Application DeadlineDecember 20, 2024
Start DateJanuary 13, 2025
End DateMarch 9, 2025

Spring II – 2025

Application DeadlineFebruary 21, 2025
Start DateMarch 10, 2025
End DateMay  4, 2025

Summer I – 2025

Application DeadlineApril 18, 2025
Start DateMay 5, 2025
End DateJune 29, 2025

SUMMER II – 2025

Application DeadlineJune 13, 2025
Start DateJune 30, 2025
End DateAugust 24, 2025

FALL I – 2025

Application DeadlineAugust 8, 2025
Start DateAugust 25, 2025
End DateOctober 19, 2025

FALL II – 2025

Application DeadlineOctober 3, 2025
Start DateOctober 20, 2025
End DateDecember 14, 2025

Spring I – 2026

Application DeadlineDecember 19, 2025
Start DateJanuary 12, 2026
End DateMarch 8, 2026

Spring II – 2026

Application DeadlineFebruary 20, 2026
Start DateMarch 9, 2026
End DateMay 3, 2026

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