Online PhD Programs in Healthcare Information Management
Get the facts on earning a doctoral degree in healthcare information management through online study. Learn about the requirements of this degree, typically offered courses, and career options.
Are Online Ph.D. in Healthcare Information Management Programs Available?
Online Ph.D. programs in healthcare information management are rare, but you can find online Ph.D. programs in the related area of health sciences and healthcare administration. Online health sciences Ph.D. programs are designed for healthcare providers and administrators; coursework is focused on healthcare delivery and administration. Several for-profit schools offer these programs.
| Online Options | Rare. Many related programs exist, including health administration and health sciences |
| Program Structure | Typically hybrid, with both online and on-campus learning |
| Potential Courses | Management, informatics, and health topics, often including an internship or practicum |
| Career Options | Work as a high-level hospital administrator, department head, or researcher |
How Do Online Programs Work?
Schools typically require, at a minimum, the completion of a bachelor's degree program and submission of Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores. Completion of a master's program may be required by some schools in order to qualify for admission.
Online Ph.D. programs in health sciences are usually hybrid programs; you'll complete classes online as well as on campus. You'll take classes through online learning platforms, and discussion boards, chat forums and e-mail may be used to communicate with instructors and classmates. You'll need a computer with high-speed Internet access in order to participate.
What Courses Will I Take?
Typical courses might include information management technology, data analysis, healthcare informatics, health science literature and ethics in healthcare. You might be allowed to meet certain course requirements with credits from online or on-campus graduate-level courses you've already taken.
You'll need to complete an internship or practicum at a hospital or other medical facility in order to graduate. You may be required to write a dissertation or complete additional practicums. Depending on the program, you might need to defend your dissertation on campus in front of a faculty committee. Attendance at campus-based seminars or orientation sessions may be required as well.
What Can I Do With This Degree?
Earning an online Ph.D. in Health Sciences may prepare you for work in health services management or healthcare information management as an administrator or department head. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), about 33% of health services managers work in public or private hospitals (www.bls.gov).
The number of jobs for medical and health services managers is expected to grow by 32% from 2019-2029, largely due to the aging U.S. population's increasing need for healthcare. In 2020, the median annual salary for medical and health services managers was $104,280, as reported by the BLS.