New continuing education healthcare programs sold out shortly after launching

The McMaster University Centre for Continuing Education launched two very popular online diploma programs this year: Health Informatics and Health Information Management. Anyone interested in applying, however, will have to add their name to the waiting list. With applications accepted until mid-July, both programs were at full capacity by the 15.

These closely-related programs will train current and aspiring healthcare professionals in two disciplines at the intersection of health care delivery, computer science and information technology.

Supported by McMaster’s reputation in the medical sciences, both online diplomas were designed in collaboration with industry professionals—many of whom continue to sit on the program advisory board—to ensure students are equipped with the skills that they need to adapt in a constantly changing work environment.

“There is now more focus on the use of technology in healthcare for decision making and allocating limited resources,” said board member and Classification Specialist for the Canadian Institute for Health Information, Margaret Penchoff. “The demand for qualified individuals to work in these two areas has increased as a result.”

Such a positive response to the launch of the programs is also due in part to their innovative course delivery. While both programs operate on a two-year cohort model, all courses are offered in an interactive, instructor-led online format.

In the first two terms, all students take five core courses together. During year two, the students split into their respective cohorts to progress through focused electives in either Health Informatics or Health Information Management.

“Since students will ‘travel’ through the program as a group,” said Ann McKibbon, Director of the eHealth MSc program at McMaster, “they will learn from and likely teach each other.”

“Other programs that use this cohort-based model find that the networks and friendships that are built by sharing multiple courses continue to enrich the students’ professional and social lives for many years after graduation,” McKibbon continued.

The first cohorts begin their courses this September. Applications are now being accepted for 2013.