As professionals in health information management (HIM), you understand the influence of HIM on Canadian health care at every level. But up until now, there hasn’t been enough specialized HIM training available in Canada to fulfil the demands of our strained health care system. That’s why Douglas College is leading on filling that gap with the new Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management (BSc-HIM).
The BSc-HIM at Douglas offers the practical and specialized education HIM professionals need to take their careers and skills to the next level. It’s the first post-secondary program in Canada to train HIM professionals with the full depth of a dedicated bachelor’s, including three pathways to choose from, depending on your career focus or area of interest: information intelligence, operations management or the general HIM stream.
Dr. Patricia Visosky, coordinator for the Health Information Management program at Douglas College and Board Chair of the Canadian Health Information Management Association, says the program responds to feedback from across the health sector that more HIM professionals are necessary.
“The need for more training opportunities in health information management in Canada is growing so rapidly,” says Dr. Visosky. “What’s great about this program is that we’re providing the student with that chance to specialize based on where their skills and interests lie. In the process, they gain so much real experience in the realm of HIM, centred on the precise skillset they want to hone further.”
Uniquely, this program offers the chance to do two internships at regional health organizations, along with a 180-hour supervised practicum in the health, government or private sector. These work terms give you the chance to collect and analyze real health data, learn from industry professionals in a more dedicated setting, and self-direct a major health information management project. With this applied learning, you get the hands-on training and mentorship opportunities you need to advance your career.
The program also accounts for the realities of a working professional’s schedule and lifestyle. It’s delivered as a hybrid of in-person and online learning, making it easier for you to work while you study.
As major stakeholders around the world recognize the importance of HIM, the opportunities available to graduates of this program will continue to grow. Over 19,300 new jobs in HIM, database analysis, health care management and health policy research are projected for B.C. alone in the next 10 years. These roles include working in hospitals, government offices, health authorities, or even research and academia – jobs that are well-paid on average, even right out of school. The median salary for B.C. health care managers, for example, is more than $95,000.
Additionally, the BSc-HIM offers incredible mobility, preparing certified graduates to work in the United States and Australia after successful completion of certification exams in those countries.
Upgrading your skills and knowledge at Douglas College empowers you to get patients in their communities and across the community closer to an ideal standard of care – one dataset at a time.
Want to explore your options with the Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management? Douglas College is seeking accreditation from the Canadian College of Health Information Management for a first intake in September 2023. Interested applicants looking to complete pre-requisites for the degree can enrol in our newly launched Academic Foundations certificate program. Read more.
