Course Summary
Health information management technologists play a vital role in maintaining medical information across sectors. Their role represents a continuum of practice concerned with health-related information and management system to collect, store, process, retrieve, analyse, disseminate and communicate information related to research, planning, provision, financing and evaluating. The skills needed to deliver these tasks are limited in the current workforce and have been highlighted as priority areas in national strategic plans. There are currently limited opportunities for employees to engage with training modules that offer a comprehensive overview of the field of Health Informatics and Data Analysis.
With the rise in the use of technology, there is an ever-increasing interest in the healthcare sector to adopt Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in the delivery of their services (such as information systems in personalised medicine, eHealth, telemedical and mHealth (mobile health) systems, etc.) in order to improve services to patients and address structural challenges in the health service. The role of medical and health information science in bridging the gaps between integrating IT systems across the healthcare sector and providing the necessary skills to implement, manage, audit and innovate within healthcare delivery systems has been highlighted as a pivotal building block in the implementation of Slaintecare as well as other HSE strategies including eHealth strategy and the Digital Transformation strategy.
The programme intends to give participants the advanced applied skills to attain employment or provide rationale for career progression for those working in the sector and be responsible for maintaining, analysing and managing components of health information systems consistent with the medical, administrative, ethical, legal, accredited, and regulatory requirements of the healthcare delivery system. It will provide a Level 7 Certificate of Science qualification in Health Data Analytics affording an advanced level grounding in the applications of health data analytics.
Graduates from this programme will have a grounding in data analysis skills necessary to critically appraise areas of process inefficiency and develop alternative frameworks for enhancing outcomes. These skills will be needed globally as the current COVID-19 pandemic will necessitate large-scale systems audit and framework development to combat future potential threats to Public Health.
Key Course Information
Lecturing schedule: Three evenings a week across semester 1 and 2.
The programme proposed intends to give participants the advanced applied skills to attain employment or provide rationale for career progression for those working in the sector and be responsible for maintaining, analysing and managing components of health information systems consistent with the medical, administrative, ethical, legal, accredited, and regulatory requirements of the healthcare delivery system.
It will provide a Level 7 Certificate of Science qualification in Health Data Analytics affording an advanced level grounding in the applications of health data analytics.
Application Closing Date : 15th August 2025
Entry Requirements
Applicants must hold a relevant National Framework of Qualifications Level 6 or equivalent and Recognition of Prior Learning. Academic achievements at third level to date must highlight numeracy and problem solving skills.
Applicants who may not have the aforementioned qualifications but who may have relevant industrial experience (typically 5 years duration in a GMP environment) may apply for consideration through the ATU Sligo RPL (Recognised Prior Learning) process
Career Opportunities
The design of this part-time programme is geared towards developing professional skills and technical qualities to meet the current and future needs of the healthcare sector and its multi-faceted health information system.
The modules in this programme are designed to provide an applied understanding and competency in various applications across health data analytics which can be useful for various roles in the HSE, TUSLA, Pharmaceuticals/ MedTech, Academia/ Research and for those interested in learning new skills and upskilling.
Further Study
This programme offers a Level 7 intermediate qualification in Health Data Analytics on a part-time basis. Further opportunities for study in advanced health data analytics and modelling at Level 8 are in the development stages at ATU Sligo. Other areas for further study include applied research programmes.
Testimonials
“This course gave me a really solid introduction to the area of health care data analysis. The syllabus covered established statistical techniques as well newer technologies and concepts such as data mining, big data and healthcare technology assessment. The course would suit people working in healthcare who are looking to make sense of the large datasets that are becoming ubiquitous in modern healthcare” Mike, Medical Physicist (2020-21).
Did you know?
A recent report, 2020 Global Health Care Outlook from Deloitte, states: Rising health care costs. Changing patient demographics. Evolving consumer expectations. New market entrants. Complex health and technology ecosystems. Health care stakeholders need to invest in value-based care, innovative care delivery models, advanced digital technologies, data interoperability, and alternative employment models to prepare for these uncertainties and build a smart health ecosystem.
Programme Fees
Academic Year 2024/25 Fees
Total Programme Fee: €2,500
Funded Places Available
Successful applicants to this course may receive funding for their fees on this course through the HCI Pillar 3 Micro-Credentials Learner Fee Subsidy initiative. The number of funded places is limited and will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis.
*Micro-credentials Subsidised Fee: €1,250
Please see here the eligibility criteria - HCI-Micro-credentials-Fee-Subsidy-Eligibility-Criteria.pdf (hea.ie)
Applicants should note that they can only be registered on one programme at a time (including a micro-credential), at ATU during the academic year (September to May).
Funding Opportunities
Next Level Skillnet funding may be available to successful applicants who fulfil eligibility criteria. Please email Sue Davies in Next Level Skillnet to find out more information: sue@nextlevel.ie
To help make the payment of fees more manageable for students who are self-funding their studies, tuition fees can be paid through payment instalment plans at ATU Sligo. For further information on instalment plans, please visit our Fees and Funding webpage.
If you apply and are approved for an online course at ATU Sligo, you will be required to pay a non-refundable deposit of €250 to secure your place. Your deposit will then be credited against the course fees once you are registered as a student. Students at ATU Sligo are also eligible to claim tax relief at the standard rate for tuition fees.
For further information and guidance about Fees and Funding for online and part-time courses at ATU Sligo, click here.
If you are seeking to take your exams online, and you meet the eligibility criteria (overseas students and those with extenuating circumstances), an additional examinations fee will apply. For further information, please visit our Examinations webpage.
Course Format
Semester 1
| Title | Credits |
|---|---|
| Advanced Statistical Methods for Health Research | 10 |
| Applications in Big Data | 05 |
Semester 2
| Title | Credits |
|---|---|
| Decision Analytic Modelling | 10 |
| Data Mining | 05 |