Master of Health Information Management

The Master of Health Information Management (MHIM) is designed for those interested in pursuing a significant management or administrative role in the private or public health sectors. Successful completion of the MHIM provides graduates with a substantial background in relevant health information management theory, research and practice that should enhance your ability to plan and manage successfully in an increasingly complex national and international sector, and within the framework of societal values.

Professional recognition

The Master of Health Information Management is recognised by the Royal Australian College of Medical Administrators.

Higher education

For admission to this course you need to have one of the following:

• a) an Australian bachelor degree or equivalent level standard in any other institution majoring in a management, information management/technology or health related discipline and relevant work experience in the health sector; OR
• b) an Australian post-bachelor degree (Honours, Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma, Master, or Doctorate) or equivalent level standard in any other institution in any discipline and relevant work experience in the health sector; OR
• c) an Australian bachelor degree or equivalent level standard in any other institution in an unrelated discipline and a minimum of two years relevant work experience in the health sector.

Successfully completed equivalent postgraduate units in other courses at the University of Tasmania or another approved tertiary institution may be credited towards the degree. Credit is also available for some qualifications attained through professional bodies such as Fellowship of the Royal Australasian College of Medical Administrators, where these have been assessed as equivalent to postgraduate study. Application for credit should be made at the time of application for admission.

The health information workforce is a rapidly developing one. The Master of Health Information Management (MHIM) is an advanced course designed to provide current and future health information management professionals with rigorous training focused on issues of contemporary professional health information management practice.

Recent industry reports and consultations have highlighted the health information workforce shortages. There is a need for appropriately qualified individuals; professional who have the skills and knowledge to fill decision-making roles to meet the increasingly complex nature of delivering and managing health services in a data-driven environment. This has become increasingly critical given the national move to Activity Based Funding, where hospitals must track their activity at all levels against agreed targets in order to optimise their funding. Added to that is the push for efficiencies in the system through the use of E-health initiatives (electronic medical records, personalised electronic health records, digitalisation) which will only serve to intensify the need for this professional sector of the health workforce in the coming years.

This degree is offered on a full fee-paying, part-time basis only (12 units over 2 to 3 years) to domestic students. All units are delivered primarily off campus (by distance), with non-mandatory, supporting intensive seminars in Sydney (approximately 6-10 days of intensives per year).

Recommended Study Pattern

Students complete eight core units, plus four units from a chosen specialisation.

Core Units

• BAA608 - Clinical Documentation Improvement
• BAA607 - Safety in Health Service Management
• BAA760 - Health Ontologies, Terminologies, and Classifications
• BAA759 - Information Governance in Health
• BAA751 - Evidence Informed Decision Making
• BAA722 - Research Methods in Health Management
• BAA737 - Health Management Research Plan
• BAA738 - Management Research Thesis

Specialisations

Data Analytics

This specialisation prepares students to work as health data analysis and science professionals, there is an increasing reliance on data analytics and knowledge management in health management and an increased need for qualified data analysts and scientists.

• BEA674 - Data and Business Decision Making
• BAA735 - Health Data and Information Analysis
• CRH608 - Health Information Systems

One elective (refer to list below)

Information Governance

This specialisation prepares students to work as senior health information governance professionals, a growth area in health service management.

• CRH604 - The Diffusion of Health Technology (Managing Change)
• CRH503 - E-health Privacy and Security Issues
• BAA753 - Health Ethics, Law and Governance

One elective (refer to list below)

Strategic Leadership

This specialisation prepares students to strategically lead a complex organisation’s health information service. The focus of this specialisation is on managing health information staff and organisational needs to effectively deliver services, taking account information security, ethical, technological, and analytical requirements.

• BAA754 - Health Finance, Economics and Accounting
• BMA583 - Managing People and the Employment Relationship
• BAA758 - Leading and Managing Healthcare Organisations

One elective (refer to list below)

Elective Units

• BAA750 - Delivering Integrated Care
• BAA752 - Foundations of Integrated Care
• BAA753 - Health Ethics, Law and Governance
• BAA754 - Health Finance, Economics and Accounting
• BAA755 - Healthcare Organisational Behaviour
• BAA756 - Healthcare Systems, Safety and Quality
• BAA758 - Leading and Managing Healthcare Organisations
• BAA759 - Information Governance in Health
• BFA601 - Business and Corporate Law
• BMA583 - Managing People and the Employment Relationship
• CAM625 - Introduction to Biostatistics
• CAM722 - Leading and Managing Change in Health and Human Services
• CRH500 - Introduction to Health Informatics
• CRH503 - E-health Privacy and Security Issues
• CRH505 - Electronic Health Records
• CRH604 - The Diffusion of Health Technology (Managing Change)
• BEA674 - Data and Business Decision Making
• BAA735 - Health Data & Information Analysis
• CRH608 - Health Information Systems

Award Requirements

To successfully complete this degree, students complete a total of 12 units - eight core units and four units in a chosen area of specialisation.