September 29, 2017– Northern Kentucky University’s College of Informatics announces two degree programs that meet a demand in the health care industry. Students can now earn a Bachelor of Science Degree in Health Informatics and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Health Communication. These programs are being launched as part of NKU’s Health Innovation initiative.
“The rapid transformation of health care has led to daunting challenges around information management and communication. We have built transdisciplinary programs to address these challenges. Our students will enter the workforce with the talent and experience to help produce a healthier population with access to affordable care,” said Dean Kevin Kirby, College of Informatics.
Bachelor of Science in Health Informatics
The Health Informatics program is designed to provide education and experiences for students in health care information technologies. The program demonstrates the interaction and interdependencies of technology with other key elements in healthcare, including HIPAA compliance, FDA regulations, evidence-based practices and other organizational issues. This program includes clinical informatics and health information systems. Students will understand the issues and regulations associated with protecting patient information and determine the appropriate levels of risk management, data protection and security incident detection and response.
Bachelor of Science in Health Communication
The Heath Communication program will prepare students to navigate the complex communication environments in the changing industry of health care. This includes patient advocacy, health education outreach and coordination between multiple providers. Students will understand how regulations impact research and intervention planning; patient-provider communication; and ethical concerns in the health care environment.
NKU’s College of Informatics offers a 21st-century perspective on how we gather, process, protect and share information. The college is home to the departments of Communication, Computer Science and Business Informatics. Through its outreach arm, the Center for Applied Informatics, students have the opportunity to work with companies and other organizations on cutting-edge projects. With the two new programs, the college offers 12 bachelor’s degrees, five master’s degrees and a range of certificates, both graduate and undergraduate.
