University of Limerick - Health Informatics

Course Overview/Contact:

Health informatics is a multi-disciplinary, multi-dimensional field. This field focuses on the creation, modelling, management and sharing of health data and knowledge to support data analysis and timely decision making in medicine and health care together with the information science and technology to support these tasks. It is not solely a technical discipline but focuses on the relationship between the technology and its use in real-world settings i.e. solutions are designed in context, taking into account the social, cultural and organisational settings in which computing and information technology will be used in health care sectors.

The M.Sc. in Health Informatics aims to equip graduates with the skills, knowledge and abilities to:

• Evaluate the opportunities and limitations of health care technology and of its impact in improving the efficiency,
• cost- effectiveness, safety and quality of health care delivery.
• Express user requirements for health care information systems.
• Integrate computing and managerial knowledge and experience with health-related knowledge and experience.
• Ensure compliance with the standards and regulations governing systems in this domain.
• Formulate, evaluate and apply evidence-based solutions in the delivery of health care.

CONTACT

Should you have any queries about the M.Sc. in Health Informatics please contact the Course Director
Patrick Healy
Telephone: +353 61 202727, Fax: +353-61-202734, Email: patrick.healy@ul.ie
Web: www.csis.ul.ie

Programme Content:

This one-year programme comprises three semesters: two taught semesters; in the third semester students will complete a substantial dissertation.  Standards in health care (systems, vocabulary, messaging and security), ethical and legal issues in health informatics as well as issues concerning quality and human-computer interaction will be emphasised throughout this programme. 

Delivery Methods
At least 50% of the material for each taught semester will be delivered via distance education.  Students will be required to attend 5 in-house blocks each semester.  An in-house block comprises a consecutive Friday and Saturday.  In each academic year, one series of in-house blocks will be delivered at the University of Limerick (UL) and it is expected to deliver another series of in-house blocks at some other location in Ireland subject to demand.

Autumn	Spring	Summer
Health Informatics Applications Electronic Health Record Management Research Methods in Health Informatics Medical Decision Support Systems Requirements Engineering for Health Informatics	Health Informatics Project Management Strategic Issues in Health Informatics E-Health Systems ICT for Evidence-Based Health Care Research project	Dissertation

 Content of modules can be found by using the search option on the book of modules.

Entry Requirements:

• A Health Care Administrator/Clerical Officer, Health Care Manager or Health Care Professional who holds a primary undergraduate degree (2.2 honours or higher)

OR

• An applicant who holds a primary undergraduate degree (2.2 honours or higher) in a health sciences discipline

OR

• An IT specialist who holds a primary undergraduate degree (2.2 honours or higher) with experience of working in a health care setting.

OR

• An applicant with at least 5 years relevant work experience who can satisfy the course admission team that he/she has the ability to complete and benefit from this course.  Such applicants shall be required to undertake an interview.

Note your degree must be an Honours (Level 8 - National Qualifications Authority of Ireland) degree or equivalent.

WHAT TO INCLUDE WITH YOUR APPLICATION:

• Qualification transcripts and certificates
• English language qualification if English is not your first language
• Certified English translations of your transcripts/certificates where the originals are in a language other than English.
• A copy of your birth certificate (long document)

 

English Language Requirements

Applicants whose first language is not English must provide evidence of either prior successful completion of a degree qualification taught through the medium of English or meet one of the criteria below (no longer than two years prior to application):

Acceptable English Language qualifications include the following:

• Matriculation examinations from European countries where English is presented as a subject and an acceptable level is achieved
• Irish Leaving Certificate English –Ordinary Level Grade D or above
• TOEFL – 580 (paper based) or 90 (internet based)
• IELTS – Minimum score of 6.5 with no less than 6 in any one component.
• English Test for English and Academic Purposes (ETAPP) – Grade C1
• GCE ‘O’ level English Language/GCSE English Language – Grade C or above
• University of Cambridge ESOL –Certificate of Proficiency in English - Grade C / Certificate in Advanced English - Grade A
• GCE Examination Boards – Oxford Delegacy of Local Examinations – Grade C / Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate – School Certificate Pass 1-6 / University of London Entrance and School Examinations Council – School Certificate Pass 1-6

Results in examinations other than those listed above may also be accepted as meeting our English language requirements. Contact the International Education Division for advice.