There are a range of undergraduate and postgraduate university courses in health informatics available in NZ. Key courses are listed below per university.
For more information on these courses please contact the academic institution directly.
University of Canterbury
Master in Health Sciences (Health Information Management endorsement)
The rapid expansion of information technology, combined with an escalating demand for health services and changing patterns of health care delivery, have had a major impact on the health sector.
The transition from āIndustrial Age Medicineā to āInformation Age Health Careā (British Medical Journal - 1997, 314, 1495) has created unprecedented pressure for new ways to provide, present, manage and monitor health information, with information technology central to these processes. World wide, there is now huge investment in such technology, which in one way or another is used by most health practitioners on a daily basis.
Advanced training in health information management is increasingly being sought by health sector administrators and managers, technical and support staff, and clinicians whose effective performance of their role is increasingly reliant on up-to-date and well-managed information.
Courses include:
- HLTH401 Health and Health Systems
- HLTH402 Health Information Management
- GEOG401 Geographies of Health and Well-being
- HLTH407 Bioethics
- HLTH410 Health Leadership and Management
- HLTH433 Bioethics A and HLTH434 Bioethics B
- HLTH460 Critical Appraisal in Health Research and approved courses to at least 1 EFTS.
For more information see:
canterbury.ac.nz/graduate-school/subjects/health-information-management/
Contact: Associate Professor Ray Kirk
University of Auckland
Postgraduate Diploma in Health Sciences (in Health Informatics)
The Postgraduate Diploma in Health Sciences (in Health Informatics) is for clinicians, allied health workers, associated degrees in health, and those with a computing background and healthcare experience.
You can complete the Diploma (8 courses) or a Certificate (4 courses) to equip you as a health informatician. PhDs and Masters thesis topics include (but are not limited to): health informatics strategy; leadership for innovation development; usefulness and usability of ED clinical information systems; patient portals and why doctors refer patients to online mental health tools.
For further information, please refer to the University of Auckland website.
Bachelor of Health Sciences - Pathways
The Digital Health Pathway relates to a wide range of topics in health innovation, health IT and health intelligence. It is a good preparation for postgraduate study in health informatics.
For further information, please refer to the University of Auckland website.
Contact: @vanessaselak
Massey University
Master of Management (Health Service Management) - MMgt(HSM) / Postgraduate Diploma in Health Service Management - PGDipHSM
The PGDipHSM is an advanced programme of professional education for people working in the health and disability sectors, who wish to prepare themselves for positions in health service management. Current clinical leaders and managers seeking qualifications and further training will also benefit from undertaking the PGDipHSM. You can study part time or full time by flexible Distance Learning. Course content and assessments can be applied to your own workplace or area of interest.
Core topics covered are Health Systems Management and Health Informatics & Information Management. Elective papers (select two) include Health Policy, Contemporary Issues in Health Service Management, Health Research Design and Method, Health Economics or other approved 700-level paper.
Successful students may proceed to the (Master of Management (Health Service Management) by completing the professional practice paper or to the Master of Business Studies (MBS) or Master of Nursing degrees (MN). In addition the MMgt(HSM) may be credited towards RACMA fellowship. Progression to PhD study from the MBS may be an option.
Contact: Dr Inga Hunter I.Hunter@massey.ac.nz
Victoria University of Wellington
Victoria University has several programmes in health that have an ICT component, and ICT programmes where you can focus your research in the area of health informatics.
Health Services Research Centre
The HSRC, which is based in the School of Government at Victoria, undertakes research into health services and health systems policy issues in New Zealand. Much of this work involves analysis of large data sets or data from Health Information Systems. PhD and Masterās research in areas such as: Maori health, Pacific health, Health systems research and evaluation, Priority setting in healthcare, Access to healthcare research and evaluation. Information systems for primary health care are of particular interest at the present point in time, including how improved access to information and patient records might work well for patients.
School of Information Management
The Information Systems group in the School of Information Management (SIM) includes PhD candidates working on ICT systems and applications in the health sector, and enquiries are welcome.
Faculty of Engineering and Computer Science
The Faculty of Engineering and Computer Science offers graduate programmes and Masterās and PhD study in a number of areas related to health informatics including the Communications and Signal Processing (CaSP) group, which works with biomedical devices, and the Robotics group.
School of Biological Sciences
The Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Research(PGDipCR) provides clinical researchers with the skills for undertaking drug development and clinical trials. Largely taught online by clinicians from Capital & Coast District Health Board and the Medical Research Institute of New Zealand. Aimed at: biomedical scientists, doctors, nurse, biostatisticians, allied health professionals and psychologists.
Graduate School of Nursing, Midwifery and Health
http://www.victoria.ac.nz/nmh
The GSNMH supervises PhD and Masterās research in Nursing Informatics, usually with support from another relevant school.
Email nmh@vuw.ac.nz for further information.
University of Otago
PGCert and PGDip in Digital Health with option to progress to Master of Health Science (MHealSc)
Description
Offered by the Otago Business School, the Department of Information Science, and in partnership with the Otago Medical School, the Postgraduate Certificate and Postgraduate Diploma in Digital Health are designed for people working or planning to work in health sector management and leadership roles.
Delivered online, the course will suit full-time or part-time students who are seeking a qualification in this area but who cannot physically be in Dunedin or are unable to take leave from employment or other commitments.
Both programmes are taught fully online with the flexibility to attend class virtually and study from home. Live lectures allow you to engage with classmates and teachers in real time.
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The Postgraduate Certificate in Digital Health (PGCertDigHeal) can be completed in a minimum of 12 months.
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The Postgraduate Diploma in Digital Health (PGDipDigHeal) can be completed in a minimum of 24 months.
Postgraduate Certificate in Digital Health (PGCertDigHeal)
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DIGH 701 Principles of Digital Health and Informatics
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DIGH 703 Digital Health Technologies and Systems
Postgraduate Diploma in Digital Health (PGCertDigHeal)
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DIGH 701 Principles of Digital Health and Informatics
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DIGH 703 Digital Health Technologies and Systems
Plus elective papers to a total of 60 points chosen from the following list*
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DIGH 706 Research Methods for Digital Health (30 points)
Note: With approval from the Academic Co-ordinator, a relevant Research Methods paper may be substituted for DIGH 706. -
DIGH 707 Digital Health Information Governance and Ethics (30 points)
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DIGH 708 Patient-Centred Digital Health (15 points)
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DIGH 709 Emerging Technologies in Digital Health (15 points)
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A candidate may be permitted to substitute papers at an equivalent level of study, to a maximum of 30 points.
Papers
| Paper code | Year | Title | Points | Teaching period |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DIGH701 | 2023 | Principles of Digital Health and Informatics | 30 points | Semester 1 |
| DIGH703 | 2023 | Digital Health Technologies and Systems | 30 points | Semester 1 |
| DIGH706 | 2023 | Research Methods for Digital Health | 30 points | Semester 2 |
| DIGH707 | 2023 | Digital health Information Governance and Ethics | 30 points | Semester 2 |
| DIGH708 | 2023 | Patient-Centred Digital Health | 15 points | Semester 2 |
| DIGH709 | 2023 | Emerging Technologies in Digital Health | 15 points | Semester 2 |
Contact: Dr Chris Paton, Director, Digital Health Programme: chris.paton@otago.ac.nz