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Healthcare IT FAQ’s
1) Why did CSUSM decide to launch an HIT program? The program was launched in response to a regional demand for people who are trained to help improve healthcare access, quality, safety and efficiency; to facilitate greater accuracy and safety in medication delivery; and to rein in escalating healthcare costs. >back to top
2) Why consider the HIT program at CSUSM? There are a wide range of jobs and internship opportunities in demand in nearly every healthcare organization with this skill set. The convenient Saturday class schedule allows flexibility for working students as well as those who have families. The course format which includes conferences, lectures, and hands-on learning. The Faculty includes both practitioners and university professors. The HIT program will provide students with networking opportunities with local healthcare organizations and Advisory Board members. See what our current HIT students are saying: visit the Testimonials page. >back to top
3) What are dates of each term and when is registration? What do I need to do to apply? Term dates for Fall 2013 will be announced shortly. The term dates for cohort 1 were Term 1:Sept. 7- Nov. 17, 2012 & Term 2:Feb. 1- April 20, 2013. Cohorts begin every Fall. Applications will be accepted each year through August 30. Requirements for Admission include a bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of relevant experience and education, mathematical proficiency at a minimum level of college algebra, submission of an essay demonstrating critical thinking and writing skills, submission of a current resume and submission of official transcripts for all prior college/university coursework. There is no application fee and your application goes directly to Extended Learning. The one-page application should take less than 5 minutes to complete. If you meet the requirements you may Click here to submit your application.>back to top
4) Is this program financial aid eligible? Yes. Students with a BA degree may apply for federal loans. Students who are still working towards a BA may be eligible for various grants. Submit FAFSA online. This program has also been approved for WIA funding (Workforce Investment Act). Visit your local one-stop career center to apply. Click here for basic WIA information. We also accept MyCAA (Military Spouse) funding and most military awards. >back to top
5) Who are Advisory Board members and why are they important to the program’s success? Advisory Board members include: David Brailer, National Coordinator for Health Information Technology; Robert Felder, Area Physician Leader, Kaiser Permanente; Bill Spooner, CIO Sharp Health; Valerie Williams, CIO, Planned Parenthood/Pacific Southwest; Anette Asher, CEO, Glenner Memory Care Cntrs; Bevey Miner, Senior Vice President, AirStrip Technologies; Daniel Friedland, CEO SuperSmartHealth; Ahmed Ghouri, CEO, Anvita Health; Scott Khann, CIO, Illumina and David Tam Chief Administrative Officer, Pomerado Hospital, Palomar Health. They are vital to the program’s success because they will serve as mentors and advisors to our students in addition to providing us with course content that is relevant, meaningful and applicable in the marketplace. >back to top
6) Who are the HIT Faculty members? Faculty backgrounds range from Management Science and Finance to Information Systems and Operations Management as well as Nursing faculty and nurse practitioners. Several of our faculty members are trained and experienced in HIT. >back to top
7) How much does it cost? $500 per unit plus the cost of books and approximately $115 campus fees. See Program Cost Page for more information >back to top
8) What classes will students take and how long will it take to earn the certificate? Can it be done amidst a full-time job? This program is structured to accommodate working adults. The program can be completed in two semesters. Each term begins with an Opening Conference followed by all-day Saturday courses, and concluding with a Closing Conference. Both conferences will include presentations by healthcare experts, entrepreneurs, and students. Upon acceptance into the program, Extended Learning will contact you with instructions on how to register. Each term consists of three courses. See the HIT website to view the academic calendar and course descriptions.>back to top
9) What kinds of jobs can students expect to secure once they have the certificate? Students will acquire skills relevant to a range of healthcare industry sectors including providers, insurers, government agencies, plan sponsors, HIT support and training organizations, and HIT new ventures.>back to top
10) What’s the long-term job outlook for HIT grads and how much can people with this training expect to make? The long-term outlook for HIT grads is excellent. Dr. David Blumenthal, the National Coordinator of Healthcare Technology predicts that 50,000 new healthcare IT jobs will be created in the next several years to support digitized medical record systems. Further fueling the demand for HIT, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) provides incentives for Medicare and Medicaid healthcare providers to adopt electronic medical record (EMR) systems – and even imposes penalties on those which fail to do so. There are simply not enough trained practitioners in the field to meet demand and healthcare will continue to be one of the fastest-growing occupations for at least the next decade. In 2011 the average salary for the HIT professional was $81,327, ranging from a high of $109K for a data architect to a low of $72K for a web developer. >back to top
11) What are future plans/goals for the CSUSM HIT program? This program is just the first step in developing a center of excellence for education and research in HIT management; ideally a Center for Health Care Information Sciences. Our goal is to have an HIT center that can be both a resource for information for the community, a source of challenging research opportunity for our faculty and a center for both certificate and degree coursework and ongoing networking for our students. We plan to launch a Master’s degree program in HIT in the next couple of years. >back to top
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