Healthcare IT Systems

Why Cyber criminals Attack Healthcare – IBM

2016-04-27T17:59:58Z

Why Cyber criminals attack healthcare more than any other industry

In a report IBM wrote that in 2015 Healthcare was attacked more than any other industry and had over 100 million health records were comprised.

IBM X-Force® Research 2016 Cyber Security Intelligence Index outlines findings in more details. The report can be downloaded by [clicking here]. You’ll be required to provide your name and business information before you download it.

Healthcare leaped ahead of the manufacturing, financial services, government and transportation industries.

Data breaches in the healthcare sector are also getting larger – with five of the eight largest health data breaches reported since 2010 (those with more than 1 million records compromised) occurring in the first six months of 2015, IBM’s report said.

Why cybercriminals attack healthcare more than any other industry – Naked Security

While the average cost of a data breach across all industries was $3.8 million in 2014 – up 23% from 2013 – the the cost per record in the healthcare sector was $363 per record breached, more than twice the overall average of $154 per record.

Why cybercriminals attack healthcare more than any other industry – Naked Security

In February, the Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center in California was hit by ransomware, which forced the hospital to shut down all of its computers and depended on fax machines and paper records for a week.

Rather than lose all its patient medical records, the hospital decided to bite the bullet and paid the ransomware crooks 40 bitcoins, or about $17,000, to restore the hijacked files.

Although ransomware cybercrooks tend only to be interested in data for the ransom value, healthcare data is becoming more lucrative for cyberthieves who sell the data on the black market.

As IBM explained, health records contain a wealth of information that can be used for medical identity theft and fraud:

[Health records] typically contain credit card data, email addresses, social security numbers, employment information and medical history records – much of which will remain valid for years, if not decades. Cyberthieves are using that data to launch spear-phishing attacks, commit fraud and steal medical identities.

The healthcare sector is also an appealing target for cybercriminals because the industry’s approach to cybersecurity is behind the times.

Earlier this year, Sophos conducted a survey of IT decision makers across multiple industries in six countries, finding an alarming laxity in many organizations’ approach to data security.

Our survey found that the healthcare sector had one of the lowest rates of data encryption, with only 31% of healthcare organizations reporting extensive use of encryption, while 20% said they don’t use encryption at all.

Other studies have shown that the healthcare industry lacks a culture of security.

A Sophos survey of National Health Service (NHS) organizations in the UK found that encryption was “well established” in just 10% of them; while a 2016 study of hospital cybersecurity found that patient health records are “extremely vulnerable” because of a lack of focus on cyberattacks and insufficient training.

Beyond data breaches perpetrated by hackers, health data is frequently exposed through accidental loss, device theft and employee negligence.

And it’s not just hospitals, doctors’ offices, and insurance companies that are failing to protect healthcare data – private employers frequently leave their employees’ private healthcare information unencrypted.

Click here to read the original article.

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Lexmark Enterprise Content Management

2016-04-27T18:00:25Z

Lexmark Enterprise Content Management with NileRead Viewer

Over the years I haven’t read a lot regarding Lexmark in the PACS market, however they’ve made great strides in Electronic Content Management. Their software suite helps consolidate, organize and link faxes, images, paper documents and other clinical documents.

Every years there are approximately 1.2 billion clinical documents are produced. Lexmark’s software suite wants to link those documents that don’t make in into an EMR.

Lexmark’s software is compatible with IHE standards for DICOM, HL7 and Web Service. You can look at the conformance statements here. This means integration with common EMRs such as EPIC, Meditech, Allscripts and Eclipsys to name a few. With DICOM integration you can expect Lexmark to expand it’s presence in the PACS market.

Recently at HIMSS 2016 in Las Vegas Lexmark displayed their enterprise HCM, whose “expanded capabilities” were highlighted. HCM uses a browser-based “zero footprint” design that is “built without legacy PACS components.

Among the system’s features are:

A unified vendor neutral archiving and enterprise content management platform.
Enterprise image connectivity solutions that capture, manage and integrate film, video, visible light and other data.
NilRead 4.0, Lexmark’s zero-footprint enterprise diagnostic viewer, which gives clinicians universal access to all patient imaging through the electronic medical record system or health information exchange.

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The need for AI comes into focus

2015-10-05T04:22:30Z

As big data grows, the need for AI comes into focus.

No one questions that the era of big data is here, but Dr. Anthony Chang warns that the deluge of medical information is just beginning.

“By 2020, there will be 200 times more data than any physician can absorb,” said Chang, a practicing pediatric cardiologist. “And its doubling every two years.”

In his keynote address at the National Healthcare Innovation Summit in Chicago Wednesday morning, Chang said he worries that lives are being lost from the unrealized opportunity.

[See also: Watson has big plans for the future]

“There is nothing worse than when a child is lost because we don’t have access to the right knowledge,” he said.

The longterm solution Chang is working toward is “Intelligence-as-a-Service,” a network that could make it possible for doctors to tap into knowledge from specialists anywhere when they encounter a medical situation that is not responding to treatment.

“Why can’t we get access to that intelligence?” he asked.

Today, one of the problems is that the data being collected is unstructured; Chang estimates that about 90 percent of healthcare data being collected is not in a structured format. Until entities like IBM Watson came along, most of the bio- data being collected can’t be integrated with data in existing analytic systems.

“And in the future there will be tsunamis of data – particularly genomic data and yet another layer of behavioral data produced by wearables,” he said. “And with all that data, there’s very little intelligence coming our way. ”

The future will require a different approach, in which data is used in a BioIntelligence framework similar to deep learning, said Chang. Multiple layers of analytics are used to extract value from data.

He cited the work being done by Excel Medical Electronics with the BedMasterEx data acquisition solution working with IBM’ Watson’s InfoSphere Streams technology. He described the solution as four-stage architecture in which data is acquired in a SQL format, moves to an adaptation layer, then to an analytical layer and finally a delivery layer using HTTP. InfoSphere Streams is a sensory interface for Watson, making it possible for unstructured bio data to be analyzed.

Chang then introduced Robert Merkel, vice president of client engagement at IBM Watson Health, who described Watson as a “cognitive system” which is taught, not programmed. It can learn, and improve its performance based on its experiences and it can work with sensory and non-traditional data.

The challenge is substantial. Merkel said the amount of data for a single individual is 0.4 terabytes of medical records, 6 terabytes of genomic data and a crushing 1,100 terabytes of exogenous data (ie., behavioral and environmental readings).

Ignoring all of that data has a price.

Merkel said estimates indicate that “20 percent of what determines a person’s health can be found in their clinical data, 20 percent can be found in clinical data and 60 percent in the exogenous data.”

Clearly, no hospital will be able to store or analyze that much data. Shared solutions will be needed.

Merkel said IBM’s Watson Health Cloud will be an open platform to aggregate the advanced analytics that the next generation of medical data will require. It will be a secure, HIPAA-compliant platform, that is massively scalable. The goal is to enable collective intelligence, taking patient data and applying evidence-based insights in an outcomes driving learning system.

“Imagine that instead of getting a simple reminder that its time to see your physician, you received a message based on real intelligence on your own medical data,” Merkel said.

“We hear a lot about physicians being demoralized by computers,” Chang said, “but the most exciting times are coming. The best 25 years in medicine are coming up.”

Click here for the original article.

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KLAS report on EMR usability

2015-05-01T16:04:52Z

Epic and Cerner Rated Highest for Usability, with MEDITECH Making the Most Progress. LAS report examines acute care EMR usability progress over the past two years

Epic continues their industry-leading usability performance, Cerner’s customers are making the most usability progress, and MEDITECH distinguishes themselves as having made up the most ground.

The latest KLAS report on EMR usability charts product performance over the past two years. The report, entitled “Physician Leadership Weighs In on Acute Care EMR Usability,” compares usability performance in the acute care EMR market segment.

As part of this report, KLAS interviewed physician leadership at 110 healthcare organizations across the country. In addition to collecting data about the usability of the various modules (physician documentation, CPOE, medication reconciliation, problem lists and CDS), KLAS asked these leaders to give perspectives on three overarching aspects of EMR usability: productivity, effectiveness and user interface. The results were then compared to usability performance metrics from KLAS’ last usability report two years ago to create a holistic view of each of the product’s progress since 2013.

“It is not surprising to hear physicians say that EMRs are better at enhancing their effectiveness than their productivity,” said Jonathan Christensen, report analyst. “What is surprising is how much improvement still needs to be made in areas like physician documentation and, in light of meaningful use pressures, how much some modules lack adoption.”

For access to the report, you can download the myKLAS app at http://www.klasresearch.com/lp/downloadklasapp or visit KLAS online at www.KLASresearch.com/reports. The report is available to healthcare providers and vendors. Providers receive a significant discount off the standard retail price or can receive a complimentary summary report in exchange for a survey about one of their current suppliers.

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Vein-Scan Biometric Technology

2015-05-01T16:11:47Z

Imprivata’s recent acquisition of HT Systems provides them with Vein-Scan Biometric Technology. The healthcare IT security company, is going full-force into the patient identification market with its announcement today of its purchase of HT Systems, a provider of vein-scan biometric technology.

Executives at Imprivata and HT Systems gave Fortune an exclusive preview of the deal this week, and said they would provide more details at Imprivata’s quarterly earnings call May 4.

Imprivata IMPR -0.20% will pay about $19.1 million in cash plus additional payments for meeting retention and performance standards, which could value the deal at as much as $26 million.

The deal gives the Massachusetts-based Imprivata the technology it needs to develop a patient-facing security segment by expanding the reach of HT Systems’ PatientSecure platform. The biometrics system connects patients to their electronic medical records when they first show up at a hospital or clinic, and then accurately identifies them when they return, helping to prevent expensive insurance fraud and to avoid medical errors related to mismatched records.

Imprivata, which had $97 million in revenues last year, currently sells one-sign secure access solutions and medical messaging platforms for doctors. With the HT Systems purchase, Imprivata will have a new tool for interacting directly with patients.

“The next step in the digital health story is patient engagement, and we can’t engage without great identification systems,” said Omar Hussain, president and CEO of Imprivata. “If medical records go to the wrong place there’s a problem.”

HT Systems’ PatientSecure uses infrared lights to scan a patient’s palm to distinguish his unique vein pattern, which is then linked to the correct medical file. This type of technology is used around the world within a range of industries, in the U.S. as well as in places like Brazil and Japan.

The technology was originally developed by Japanese company Fujitsu and was initially rolled out by the Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi via its ATMs almost a decade ago. It served as an accurate and minimally intrusive form of two-step authentication, which helps prevent fraud by adding another layer of security. HT Systems has the exclusive rights to the technology within the U.S.

“When we started the journey down positive patient identification route, our biggest competitor was the status quo,” said David Wiener, CEO of HT Systems, who will join Imprivata as part of the deal. “No one else was doing it at the time.” Today, other larger biometrics companies compete in the space, including the likes of Gemalto and M2SY.

The patient identification market, driven by the rise of electronic medical records, is estimated to be worth about $2 billion globally, according to Imprivata. The company is going after a slice of that market with HT System’s technology; it plans to use its own wider-reaching sales force to grow the reach of the PatientSecure system beyond the 65 health systems it serves today.

Imprivata still has a challenge ahead of it. The No. 1 concern is patient adoption: No matter how good the technology, if a patient sees it as weird or intrusive they won’t use it, said Wiener.

Biometrics security expert Heidi Shey of Forrester Research echoed those concerns, which are true for the whole biometrics business regardless of industry. While people are getting more familiar with biometrics (see the fingerprint scan on the iPhone), there’s still a need for consumer education and ensuring these products work seamlessly.

“It’s one of those things where you only have one shot to get the consumers to buy into this, and if it doesn’t work as expected or there’s any difficulty, then it’s something they’re unlikely to use,” said Shey. “It has to be easy, and it has to be reliable.”

Read the original article here

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Why telehealth has a brighter future than apps

2015-04-26T01:23:16Z

Tamara StClaire is the CIO of Xerox’s Commercial Healthcare unit. She leads the commercial healthcare innovation portfolio and creates new opportunities as well as identifies, incubates and matures partnerships and acquisitions. Prior to this role, she was the chief business officer at PARC, overseeing the Xerox Innovation Group’s commercial activities. She joined PARC in 2009 as vice president of Global Business Development and Head of Commercial Operations.

Q. What’s the one promise of mHealth that will drive the most adoption over the coming year?

A. In a single word, the promise of mHealth is: convenience. Convenience followed closely by affordability.

Consumers can stay up to date with their own health with a simple glance at their phone or watch. And when they need a check-up or a visit with their doctor, they can do so by visiting a pharmacy on their lunch break instead of taking an afternoon off of work to drive to their doctor’s office and sit in a waiting room.

As apps and solutions become more advanced, meaningful and ubiquitous, we will see patients becoming more active and engaged in their own healthcare because it will be convenient and cost-effective for them to do so.

Q. What mHealth technology will become ubiquitous in the next 5 years? Why?A. Telehealth is shaping up to be the future of healthcare. There are a number of forces at play contributing to the perfect storm:

Consumers expect a more convenient level of healthcare.
A new era of providers is more comfortable with video-based communication.
Current regulations emphasize lower costs and increased access to care.
Health information technology infrastructure helps to create an end-to-end solution that meets patient needs.
Reimbursement mechanisms have been recently improved due to increased acceptance of telehealth by health insurance companies, Medicare and Medicaid.

A number of companies are already pioneering the telehealth frontier. HealthSpot, a company Xerox recently partnered with, allows patients to interact virtually with a board-certified doctor who can diagnose and provide care for many common ailments in as little as 15 minutes. The service relies on a relatively small station in retail pharmacies with a single attendant. The model lowers overhead costs and makes it feasible for telehealth to meet patient needs.

Q. What’s the most cutting-edge application you’re seeing now? What other innovations might we see in the near future?

A. I find some of the most promising applications in mHealth to be in lifestyle applications and chronic disease management. As regulators become accustomed to new modes of care delivery, the sky will be the limit, particularly in new modes of diagnostics.

Q. What mHealth tool or trend will likely die out or fail?

A. Right now, the mobile application landscape is exploding. It’s great that consumers have so many options available to them, and as an industry it is important to find out what works well and what doesn’t.

[Q&A: Duke’s Ricky Bloomfield, MD on the promise of HealthKit and SMART on FHIR]

But I think many of these apps will eventually fail because they are not truly integrated into the healthcare system. Many are unregulated, and many others do not include a connection to physicians. The end result is a spate of apps that aren’t linked to anything actionable. Those are the ones that I envision being a passing fad.

Q. What mHealth tool or trend has surprised you the most, either with its success or its failure?

A. Positive progress being made in our regulatory bodies has been a pleasant surprise.

The FDA, for example, recently announced it would ease restrictions on mobile apps and medical device data systems – hardware and software used to display data like blood pressure and glucose levels. The FDA acknowledged “the importance they play in advancing digital health.”

On the other hand, CMS has made advances in telehealth regulations. In July, annual wellness visits and psychotherapy began being covered as “category 1 services” and therefore able to be received via telehealth.

Q. What’s your biggest fear about mHealth? Why?

A. Like 51 percent of healthcare executives surveyed by the Economist Intelligence Unit, my biggest fear is in data privacy risks.

Widespread adoption is the key to new healthcare delivery, but consumers need to trust that their data and personal information will be kept secure or they will not support mHealth. Right now, that trust is lacking. In Xerox’s fifth annual EHR survey, we found that 82 percent of respondents had concerns that their personal health information could be stolen by a computer hacker, and 64 percent were apprehensive of their personal information being misused.

Despite the need for increased confidence in the privacy and security of personal health information, transparency is still important. Data needs to be exchanged freely and quickly between providers, payers and consumers.

So transparency and security are two sides of a single coin. Ensuring both simultaneously is crucial.

Q. Who’s going to push mHealth “to the next level” – consumers, providers or some other party?

A. Consumers are taking the driver’s seat in healthcare. For the first time it’s possible and beneficial for patients to be active participants in their own care. The tools, technologies and regulations will all catch up to meet the shift in patient engagement.

Third parties will play a big role in developing the next level. Bringing technology together behind the scenes to connect the provider and the patient efficiently is an important step.

Q. What are you working on now?

A. We are working on providing infrastructure necessary for mHealth entrants to scale and change the way healthcare is delivered. Our partnership with HealthSpot will allow them to scale deployment of their kiosks and in doing so creates a cost-effective and convenient method for the patient to receive high quality care.

Read the original article.

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Meditech 6.1 Web Based EMR

2015-04-26T01:26:52Z

WESTWOOD, Mass., April 24, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — via PRWEB – Medical Information Technology Inc. (MEDITECH), Westwood, MA, is pleased to announce Avera Health System (Sioux Falls, SD) has chosen the MEDITECH 6.1 Web EHR to meet its clinical, quality, and business goals.

MEDITECH’s 6.1 release is a groundbreaking, completely Web-based EHR with the sophisticated tools healthcare organizations need to better manage patient populations and improve provider productivity. It is the first of its kind in the health IT market, an innovative solution that was designed and developed along with a dynamic team of physician consultants. The 6.1 EHR represents the future of patient care in a mobile world.

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Avera Health has selected the MEDITECH 6.1 Web EHR system for its fully integrated health network of over 300 locations across five states, including 33 hospitals, 208 clinics, and 23 long-term care, assisted living, and senior living facilities. Since 1989, Avera Health has utilized the MEDITECH system in all of its hospitals, emergency departments, clinics, long-term care facilities, and home care and hospice agencies. Building upon its vast geographic footprint, Avera Health has developed Avera eCARE, an extensive telemedicine network providing care across eight states in the midwest. This revolutionary solution is one of the largest telemedicine networks serving a rural area, and represents the future model of healthcare delivery as organizations strive to lower costs and improve patient access to medical services.

The MEDITECH EHR allows integration of patient data across the entire continuum of care.

With MEDITECH’s 6.1 EHR, Avera will continue to deliver state-of-the-art care through a patient-centric system designed to ease the burden providers face with regulatory compliance, documentation,Meaningful Use, ICD-10, and care coordination–all with the speed and convenience of the Web.

“Avera’s decision to move forward with the MEDITECH 6.1 Web EHR is a testament to the longstanding, successful relationship we have had with this healthcare organization,” says MEDITECH President and CEO Howard Messing. “We are excited to embark on this new era of our partnership, and help Avera meet the ever-changing demands of the healthcare industry with our innovative and groundbreaking Web EHR.”

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IBM Watson Health Cloud and Apple

2015-04-22T15:36:21Z

IBM announced a new business unit, Watson Health that will partner with leading companies including Apple. The Apple partnership will take advantage of HealthKit and ResearchKit, key features of the new Apple Watch and iOS. This integration will offer cloud-based access to its Watson supercomputer for analyzing healthcare data.

The Watson Health Cloud will be an open source but secure platform on which care providers and researchers can share and analyze health data for greater insights into trends to improve individual and overall patient outcomes.

IBM, which made the announcement at the Healthcare Information Management Systems Society (HIMSS) conference in Chicago, also said it has acquired big data healthcare analytics providers Phytel and Explorys, whose software will be used in concert with Watson Health.

The Explorys platform enables healthcare systems to collect, link and combine data from hundreds of disparate sources across their enterprise and clinically integrated networks. This data will be derived from clinical, claims, billing, accounting, devices, community and patient information.

Phytel develops and sells cloud-based services that help healthcare providers coordinate care in order to meet new healthcare quality requirements and reimbursement models.

“Their data sets represent 90 million lives, primarily in this country,” said Mike Rhodin, senior vice president of IBM’s Watson Business Group.

Additionally, IBM announced three new partnerships with Apple, Johnson & Johnson, and Medtronic to optimize consumer and medical devices.

BM will apply Watson Health cloud services and analytics to Apple’s HealthKit and ResearchKit, two features announced with last month’s release of Apple Watch. HealthKit enables the collection of data from the Apple Watch, and ResearchKit enables Apple Watch wearers to take part in massive health data studies by sharing the baseline vital signs and activity data.

Apple engineers have been working with dozens of research institutes, such as the Mayo Clinic, in developing apps that will help in research on Parkinson’s Disease, diabetes, cardiovascular problems, asthma and breast cancer.

IBM will provide a secure research capability on the Watson Health Cloud platform, de-identifying personal data to allow researchers to easily store, aggregate and model information collected from iOS users who opt-in to contribute personal data to medical research.

Johnson & Johnson will collaborate with IBM to create intelligent health coaching systems centered on preoperative and postoperative patient care, including joint replacement and spinal surgery.

“There’s so much we have to learn with this sea of data,” said Len Greer, president of Health and Wellness Solutions at Johnson & Johnson. “We’re going to start this collaboration [with IBM’s Watson Health] with joint replacement surgery… joints, knees and hips.”

Johnson & Johnson recently launched Patient Athlete, a pre and post operative video health coaching program, but Watson’s analytics and “cognitive” capability will enable the program to grow into a virtual patient coach, working with patient data to tailor a post-operative recovery coaching program.

Johnson & Johnson also plans to launch new health apps targeting chronic conditions, such as diabetes and obesity, which take up as much as 80% of $7 trillion global healthcare spending, according to Greer.

Medtronic will leverage the Watson Health Cloud insights platform to collaborate with IBM around delivery of new highly personalized care management services for people with diabetes. The system will receive and analyze patient information and data from various devices including insulin pumps and continuous glucose monitors, and use this information to provide dynamic, personalized diabetes management strategies to patients and their providers.

Rhoden said Watson Health will include the open source sharing of code, so that any company can become a partner and develop applications for the platform.

“They’ll be solutions we bring to market, solutions we work with others to bring to market, and startups can even take advantage of the analytics to build future solutions,” Rhoden said.

Read the original article here.

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OsBot Human Bone Replicating 3D Printer

2015-04-21T15:39:36Z

Advances in 3D printing technology have begun to have a transformative effect on the medical community. We’ve all read the stories of 3D printed hands and other prosthetic devices, but that is only scratching the surface of how 3D printing has changed the way doctors treat our medical problems.

MRI’s can easily be turned into 3D models now, allowing doctors to pre-plan difficult or dangerous surgeries using 3D printed replicas of the areas being targeted by surgeons. They can also 3D print surgical guides, making tricky procedures like bone setting or reconstructive surgery faster and more accurate. And metal 3D printed medical appliances tailored to a specific patient’s body are becoming more and more common. Researchers are even looking into the possibility of 3D printing human tissue and organs. And now, we may be on the cusp of actually replacing human bones with 3D printed replicas.

A group of students developing a 3D printer that is capable of replicating human bone structures has been awarded as the Cal State Long Beach Innovation Challenge winners. The LuxNova OsBot 3D printer was developed by a group of students who say that it can replicate the unique and complex structure of human bones, even down to the micro and nanostructures.

As winners of the Innovation Challenge, LuxNova President/CEO Trevor Wagner and Lead Engineer Miguel Vintimilla will receive seed funds of $10,000 to launch their startup. The award also includes office space, assistance with developing a marketing strategy and assistance with negotiating the tricky legal intricacies of launching this type of business.

Click here for the entire article.

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Top 10 Nursing Informatics Online Degree Programs

2015-04-14T05:27:12Z

In recent years the number and variety of Nursing Informatics Online Degree Programs has grown dramatically.

Over the years Healthcare IT has grown in size and scope. Healthcare IT does not just encompass a few applications, but instead encompasses the entire Healthcare IT Enterprise. It is a complex web of networks, interfaces, applications, storage arrays and cloud computing as well as a plethora of peripheral technical equipment and gadgets.

There are Radiology Information Systems (RIS), Laboratory Information Systems (LIS), Picture Archive Communications Systems (PACS), EMRs, EHRs, Billing Systems and a whole range of subsets of the applications listed in each and every facet of a healthcare enterprise.

One of the main challenges with supporting these information systems was trying to bridge the gap between the technical side and the clinical side of operations. In most cases Information Technology professionals have no clinical experience and find it difficult to relate and adapt to the needs of front line clinicians and patients.

The same can also be said for healthcare professionals. Their lack of understanding regarding the constraints and limitations of the technical infrastructure also proves to be frustrating.

As these systems evolved and as time has moved forward a specialized or hybrid healthcare professional emerged that had both clinical expertise as well as Information Technology training and experience. One of these growing disciplines is Nursing Informatics.

Below we have a list of some of the best schools that offer Nursing Informatics Online Programs. Some of these programs are degrees, while others are Certificates.

These programs have the opportunity to open up a wide range of career opportunities for nursing healthcare professionals.

In today’s economy, it has become almost necessary to find methods to enhance one’s skills and experience in order to become competitive and promotion-worthy. While working in a specific field for many years is one method, others are beginning to notice that earning a graduate degree is much more worthwhile. This is especially true for those that are pursuing a career in nursing informatics. Those that are looking to get into the field of nursing informatics typically require a graduate degree from a well-known school. However, when it comes to graduate programs, it is extremely different to choose the right one. For this reason, bellow is a list that is compiled of the top 10 nursing informatics degree programs so that choosing the right school becomes so much easier.

Top 10 Nursing Informatics Online Degree Programs

The Schools

1. Duke University Informatics Specialty Degree

Duke University is perhaps one of the most well-known schools that is featured on this list. The program is held through Duke’s School of Nursing, which is ranked as the 7th top nursing schools in the United States. Students that attend the informatics degree program can expect to be taught by renowned faculty that uses synchronous and asynchronous teaching methods and a challenging environment.

PROGRAM FEATURES AND LENGTH

Duke University recognizes two critical features that nursing informatics students must learn, which are the ability to leverage electronic health care data that improves human health and an understanding of interdisciplinary informatics. These two features are the main components of the program, which are designed to health students truly focus on the most necessary traits of an informatics nurse.

Another great feature about the program is that it is designed to accommodate working professionals. Those that attend the program only have class two evenings per week. Courses provide emphasis on both clinical information and real-work examples so that students are able to apply their knowledge in a fair and useful manner. Once the program is complete, students will be able to apply technology to improve health, build and evaluate health systems, understand and articulate health systems, and improve the data and knowledge that is used in health care. Through these abilities, students that graduate are some of the most competitive individuals on the market. Those that attend this program can expect to complete it in 2 years.

AWARDS

When choosing a graduate school, recognition is an indicator of how well-renowned the program is. When it comes to Duke’s informatics nursing program, there have been donors such as the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act that have donated more than $4 million dollar to the program. Such a major investment indicates the success of the program and helps it grow into one of the greatest institutions for graduate students.

ADMISSIONS AND TUITION

As one of the top nursing informatics programs in the country, it is no surprise that there is a low acceptance rate. Students that attend this program are evaluated by their undergraduate nursing degree performance, GRE score, GPA, essays, work experience, and leadership skills. The best candidates are outstanding in each category. The tuition is $1,495 per credit hour, and requires 40 credit hours to complete.

Duke University Nursing Informatics Department

2. Vanderbilt Nursing Informatics Program

The second school on the list is Vanderbilt. According to U.S. News, its nursing school is ranked within the top-15 nursing schools and features a very strong nursing informatics program. What makes Vanderbilt second on this list is the brand name and the amazing faculty that provides students with all-encompassing knowledge and real-word experience regarding nursing informatics.

FEATURES AND LENGTH

The main feature Vanderbilt’s Nursing Informatics Program is that it is designed to help students not only perform the necessary informatics skills, but also to create new and innovative solutions that differ from the stale results that most provide. The faculty of this program is very focused on innovation, while also maintain a strong connection with the patients, which are at the heart of the situation.

The ways the Vanderbilt maintains its high ranking and ability to churn out high-quality students it its dynamic and stimulating teaching environment. Students study in the new state-of-the-art nursing center that includes cutting edge research tools and theories. The material taught in the nursing program is in strategic relation to Vanderbilt’s renowned medical students, enabling the students to fully grasp the nature of their program and enhance their knowledge in a positive and useful manner. The length of the program is two years, and students are required to visit campus only 2 evenings per week, helping them retain their current employment and grow where they are.

AWARDS

This year has been an exciting year for Vanderbilt’s Nursing Informatics Program. It has been awarded the 2014 Healthcare Innovator Awards, which has recognized Vanderbilt for its ability to bring innovative and personalized medicine to the real world. Such an award only works to enhance the image of the school and to provide it with the recognition that it deserves.

ADMISSION AND TUITION

Like duke, Vanderbilt’s Nursing Informatics Program is highly competitive. Students that apply to the program require a GRE score, a high GPA, personal statements, references, resume, and a portfolio (depending on the nurse type). The cost per credit hour is $1,160 and the program itself requires 40 credits to complete.

Vanderbilt Nursing Informatics Department

3. New York University Nursing Informatics Degree

New York University Nursing Informatics Degree

New York University is one of the most well-known schools in the country that features a top-notch faculty, an excellent student body, and a hub that is the heart of energy and ambition. Those that attend this program will find it to be a fulfilling and worthy experience that prepares them for advanced nursing degree that they are looking for, which will help them achieve the competitive nursing jobs with well paying salaries.

FEATURES AND LENGTH

The greatest feature about this program is that it is taught in a premier teaching hospital center that believes in fostering an environment that helps students to grow and excel in their careers. To aid in coursework, the program has specialized nursing informatics preceptors, where are always there to help students understand and evaluate the material from a well-rounded point of view. In addition, the program’s faculty aids students with placement post-program in all areas of the tri-state area.

NYU is ranked third on this list for the opportunities that it provides students. Not only do students gain the prestigious name of NYU, but they also are offered numerous and nursing employment opportunities that are unavailable elsewhere. The main focus of the program is clinical informatics, which is in high demand in the New York area. To complete the program, 45 credits and 616 practicum hours are required. The program takes about 2 years to complete.

AWARDS

While the following information is not particularly an award, it is an indication of the school’s ability to create high-quality students through its strong curriculum and teaching methods. According to Washington Square News, the students that graduate from NYU’s nursing school are some of the highest paid in the country. The nursing salary is about $70,00 after graduation. With that, an advanced nursing degree from NYU as a nursing informatics specialist pushes this number much higher. What makes students from NYU’s nursing program so appealing is their dedication to the patient and the school’s focus on implementing a certain innovative mindset in its students. Those that attend the school are easily hirable.

ADMISSIONS AND TUITION

Like the above three informatics nursing program, NYU is also extremely competitive and has a daunting but worthwhile application process. Applicants to the program must complete certain courses during their undergraduate education, they must have earned strong grades throughout their undergraduate career, there is a bit of pre-requisit knowledge required, and more. To fully understand the required admissions information, which is not featured on the website, speaking to an administrator is necessary.

To attend the program, tuition per credit hour is $1,450, and the whole program is 45 credits to complete. Living expenses are also high in New York, which is something that should be taken into account when choosing a school. Also, luckily, students also have the option to continue working while attending the program, which can help supplement tuition and living expenses. There are also awards available for this program.

NYU Nursing Informatics Department

4. Maryland University Nursing Informatics Degree

Maryland University Nursing Informatics Degree

Maryland University is one of the most thriving hubs for nursing informatics professionals and students. Each year, this university features conferences that include speeches by top professionals in the field concerning progress, the school’s innovation, and the latest aspects in the field of nursing informatics. Those that attend this school will not only be able to join an elite nursing school, but also to learn from some of the most highly-regarded faculty in the country.

FEATURES AND LENGTH

One of the main features of this program is that it puts an emphasis on patient care while also focusing on teaching students to develop quality technology techniques by enhancing the quality of information tools. Students are taught to aptly analyze nursing information requirements, design system alternatives, manage information technology, identify and implement training strategies, and manage/evaluate clinical information systems.

Another great feature of the program is the faculty that teaches it. The professors that are chosen to lead the cohort are individuals that are highly educated and experienced in the field of nursing informatics. Their backgrounds are diverse and varied so students are exposed to an array of specialists that have held prominent positions in the field.

Finally, one of the most useful features of this program (for some) is that it can be completed online. This online degree option from a prominent school allows students to take control of their own learning schedule while also maintain a strong professional career outside of the academic field. Due to some individual’s difficult with online courses, the school offers students the option to consult regularly with advisors in their area and it also offers students resources that can help make the online transition easier and more understandable.

The length of the program is about 2 years which requires a total of 40 credits. Because it can be completed online, the program is fully at the pace of the student, making it great option for working professionals.

AWARDS

As mentioned above, the University of Maryland’s nursing program has a number of distinguished faculty and many other professionals that truly make the program the great choice that it is. Recently, one of Maryland’s nursing faculty received a distinguished researcher award. Another indication of the fantastic leadership of the nursing program is one of the nursing directors was recently named as one among of Maryland’s 100 top women.

ADMISSIONS AND TUITION

As Maryland is one of the highly ranked schools in the country, the admissions process is reflective of that. As their informational packet states, the process is “very competitive.” To gain admissions into the program, students are required to have an undergraduate nursing degree, all transcripts from undergraduate universities and colleges with a grade point average of 3.0, a GRE score, a nursing license, a professional resume, a personal essay, and a few professional references. Apart from the application process, the tuition for the program for a non-resident is $1,106 per credit hour and $604 per hour for a resident. Therefore, if you are a resident of Maryland and are interested in nursing informatics, then this program is a very good option due to the rank, quality of the program, and the professional atmosphere.

University of Maryland Nursing Informatics Department

5. University of Pittsburgh Informatics Degree

University of Pittsburgh Informatics Degree

The University of Pittsburgh is truly a program that recognizes the need for upcoming nursing informatics students to be equipped with the right technological tools and the science of patient care in order to provide their workplace’s systems with the right technology and support that enhance that care.

FEATURES AND LENGTH

This program combines observation, application, and analytical tools to build student’s understanding and experience in the field. In addition to this, the program is also highly leadership centered, as it believes in creating professionals that can do more than get the job done, but also guide.

Upon completion of the program, students have the option to take the Nursing Informatics Certificate Exam, which is offered by the American Nurses Credentialing Center. In addition, students will also be prepared for the theoretical components of the Certified Professionals in Healthcare Information and Management Systems, which is offered by the Certified Professionals in Healthcare and Management Systems. These two exams will enable students to boost their credentials and make them more marketable to the many career opportunities that graduates find available to them. Those that complete the program usually are involved in administration, research, corporate settings, public and private workplaces, and consultation.

Finally, one of the greatest features of this program is that it can be completed online and onsite. This makes this program very useful for busy working professionals that would like to concentrate both on their career and their educational development.

ADMISSIONS AND TUITION

As with the above schools on this list, this degree option is very competitive. Students interested in applying must have a B.S. degree in nursing, have a current RN license, a GPA over 3.0, relevant clinical experience, a pre-admission interview, completion of a statistics course, three letters of recommendation, a typed essay, a professional resume, and an official transcript. For the full academic year, the program cost is $20,992, and the entire program takes two years to complete.

University of Pittsburgh Nursing Informatics Department

6. Rutgers Nursing Informatics Degree

Rutgers Nursing Informatics Degree

The next option on this list is the degree option by Rutgers University. This degree option focuses on advanced preparation of students to understand and execute nursing information systems. The program also realizes the necessity of consider patient care, and therefore it also touches upon that field in relation to nursing informatics.

PROGRAM FEATURES AND LENGTH

The main features of this program is that it helps students learn how to integrate nursing science, computer science, and information science to manage and communicate data, information, and knowledge into the nursing practice. Students that attend this program can expect to gain a firm grasp in information structures, information processes, and information technology. This nursing program requires a bit more coursework than other programs on this list, as it is nearly 40 credits.

Despite the program being 40 credits, it can be completed online at the pace of the student, also making it a good fit for working professionals. As it is on the bottom half of the list, it is one of the less competitive options in terms of admissions. It should be noted though that the lack of a highly competitive admissions process does not make this program any less than the other options on this list. It is still one of the top 10 nursing informatics programs. The length of this program takes two years to complete, but again, it can be completed online at the pace of the student.

ADMISSIONS PROCESS AND TUITION

The admissions process is less strenuous than other programs. Students are required to have a registered nurses license, at least a 3.2 in their undergraduate nursing career, official transcripts from all previous universities, a personal statement, professional references from other nurses, and two scholarly papers. Unlike other programs, this program does not require completion of the GRE, which may be a benefit for many professionals that are looking for a program. The GRE is an intensive exam that is often difficult to balance with professional obligations.

One truly helpful aspect of this program is that those that have already completed partial coursework at a different institution in the same field may transfer their credits and thus complete the program faster. The program also has other campuses students can take coursework in, saving time in and money due to the lack of a need to commute.

The tuition for the program for 12 credits is $8,592 for Jersey residents and $14,040 for non-residents. These tuition fees can vary depending upon which campus you choose for your studies. These particular rates are for the main Newark Campus. For more information regarding tuition fees for other campuses, just check out the following link.

Rutgers Nursing Informatics Department

7. University of Phoenix Nursing Informatics Degree

University of Phoenix Nursing Informatics Degree

The next option on this list is at the University of Phoenix. Two of the most unique aspects of this program are that it is in a great location with stellar weather year-round and students that decide to go with this option can also add another focus field to their students such as masters in health administration, business administration, and healthcare management.

PROGRAM FEATURES AND LENGTH

The program is accredited by the Commission of Collegiate College Nursing. It prepares students for leadership roles in the field of nursing informatics by incorporating leadership, nursing theory, and evidence based practice. Students have the option of studying in one of the nation’s largest nursing schools and enjoy the local nursing opportunities at facilities such as hospitals in Phoenix and the highly renowned Mayo Clinic.

The length of the program is the standard two years, and it can range anywhere from 30-40 credits. If one does choose to add another degree concentration, the student can expect the program to take a bit longer, but with results that are well worth it. The more credentials that one has, the greater hireability one enjoys when faced with the job market.

ADMISSIONS PROCESS AND TUITION

The admissions process of this program is less competitive than other programs. Students must have earned a BS degree from an accredited university of college with a cumulative GPA of 2.5. They must also have their RN license that is valid in the United States, be a citizen or resident of the United States, and verification of at least 3 years of post-graduate work in the field of nursing. Unlike other program’s requirements, this program does not require a GRE or professional references. For more information regarding the process, prospective students an contact an advisor.

While the tuition figures do not appear on the website, the school will work with interested students to find the tuition payment plan that works well for them. There are also a number of scholarships and payment opportunities that can help students ease the financial burden of tuition.

University of Phoenix Nursing Informatics Department

8. The University of Minnesota Nursing Informatics Degree

The University of Minnesota Nursing Informatics Degree

The next top nursing informatics school on the list is that of the University of Minnesota’s nursing school. It is considered to be among some of the best nursing informatics programs in the United States due to the international leadership and the connection that the university provides its students to other nursing departments and organizations around the country.

PROGRAM FEATURES AND LENGTH

This particular program is designed to focus upon providing students with a foundation in nursing informatics in order to improve the quality of healthcare. One of the greatest features about this program is that there are many opportunities that students can undertake once completing the degree, as this degree option teaches a wide range of nursing informatics concentrations. For example, students have options to delve into informatics in the field of clinical health, population and health control, research, knowledge, systems analysis, project management, human factors and usability, and clinical decision support.

Graduates are also prepared to work in interprofessional teams that are made up of clinicians, computer technology staff, and administrators. The graduate will be able to provide input in how to effectively provide technology for the right person, at the right time, that will be the most supportive at that moment. Among these program features, students are gain the knowledge and experience in order to sit in on the certification examination for nursing informatics. This will provide students with more credentials and a greater chances of being hired.

The length of the program can vary, however for students to gain the right tools and necessary skills, it is recommended that the program is completed in 3 years. This will allow students to pursue a professional career while also giving enough focus to their studies so they complete the program with the most success. During studies, students are also able to gain practicum experience during the program, which is organized by the university’s nursing department.

ADMISSIONS AND TUITION

Due to the competitive nature of the program, it is recommended that students apply early. Students are required to submit all post-secondary transcripts, their RN license, a valid GRE score, professional experience, references, and other supplemental documents that include essays and a personal statement. The current estimated cost of attendance per semester is $11,500. However, all students will be considered for a $20,000 scholarship upon submitting their application.

University of Minnesota Nursing Informatics Department

9. University of South Alabama Nursing Informatics Degree

University of South Alabama Nursing Informatics Degree

This degree option is an online degree, although it can be partially completed on-campus should the student wish to do so. It prepares current professionals in the nurse field to gain the right nursing informatics tools to give patients better care and services.

PROGRAM FEATURES AND LENGTH

The program is designed to provide professionals with the tools to perform better patient care through the development, implementation, and evaluation of health systems and management tools. These tools work to influence patient outcomes for the better by utilizing discussion, problem solving, critical thinking, and research.

A further feature of the program is that students can have the option to begin it in the spring or fall semester, and to complete the program at their own pace. The faculty of the program work with the student ensure that assignments and information is properly distributed and understood. There also is a schedule in place that helps keep students on track, especially when they are also pursuing their own employment goals.

A final feature is that students of this program also have the option to add a “nurse educator” track. This track is especially unique among these programs, and is great for those that are looking to enter the field of teaching and nursing informatics research and academia.

The length of the program is a couple of years, with over 30 credits required for completion. Due to the online nursing degree option, this can also be done in cohort with one’s professional obligations.

ADMISSIONS AND TUITION

The admissions process for this degree option is like most other degree options. Students must submit all their transcripts from previous institutions, an RN license, a GRE score, professional references, and a personal statement. Students must also complete a number of prerequisites before enrolling in courses. These prerequisites can be verified with the nursing department. Furthermore, in terms of tuition, for information, it is also necessary to contact the department.

University of South Alabama Nursing Informatics Department

10. University of Illinois Nursing Informatics Degree

University of Illinois Nursing Informatics Degree

The final option on this list is the University of Illinois’s degree option. The great thing about this degree option is that it is not designed for just nursing professionals, but generally for professionals in the healthcare profession that are looking for skills and experience in nursing informatics. The schedule is flexible, the faculty is great, and the program also has prominent industry connections to help its students succeed and advance in the professional workplace.

PROGRAM FEATURES AND LENGTH

This particular program believe in providing students with a comprehensive and thorough approach to nursing informatics. It integrates nursing informatics with patient care to give a strong basis in the implementation and organization of information systems within the healthcare industry.

The program also focuses on using the latest technology from the industry in order to teach its students. Without the latest technology, students will not be able to keep up with the high demand and constant transition that is occurring. In addition to these skills, students are also given leadership and management skills that enable them to advance in their careers.

Lastly, the length of the program ranges is the general two years. However, students that are working professionals can also continue their employment while undergoing the program. This program works with its students in a flexible and comfortable manner.

ADMISSIONS AND TUITION

The admissions information can be attained by contacting the program advisor, whose contact information is found on the link above. However, as with most programs, chances are that the program requires all college transcripts, professional experience, references, an RN license, and personal statements. One admissions factor this is not required is the GRE. This takes a great deal of stress out of the admissions process and can truly help one get their career on track. The program’s tuition is around $1,000 per credit hour, a figure which can vary depending on residency.

University of Illinois Nursing Informatics Department

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