Bachelor of Health Information Management
Undergraduate | LAT-HIM-DEG | 2024
Make a vital, behind-the-scenes contribution to healthcare
Combine health, business, and IT skills to unlock careers in the healthcare industry. You’ll learn how to create, use, and protect digital and traditional information about patients’ health. Explore the role of data in healthcare planning and research.
- Study method
- 100% online study with practicum placement
- Assessments
- 100% online
- Applications close
- 14 July 2024
- Credit available
- Yes
- Duration
- 3 years full time or part time equivalent
- Total subjects
- 24
- Price from
- $22,770
- Available loans
- Australian Higher Education Loan Program (HELP)
- CSP available
- Yes
Bachelor of Health Information Management
About this degree
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Apply coherent and theoretical knowledge and skills with depth in health information management and its sub-domain of health classification to real-world discipline-related scenarios across the whole of health.
- Exhibit well-developed cognitive, technical, analytical and evaluative skills in specialist health informatics technology applications, with the capacity for generating solutions to complex problems.
- Identify, analyse, interpret, and communicate health data and information using a variety of forms and media.
- Work effectively independently or as part of a team, in a variety of multidisciplinary professional and social contexts.
- Resolve ethical dilemmas appropriately in accordance with professional values and ethics as they pertain to the discipline of health information management and its subdomains.
La Trobe’s Bachelor of Health Information Management combines the clinical and business sides of healthcare to prepare you for a career as a health information expert. You’ll develop a comprehensive skillset covering areas like clinical classification, data analytics, health informatics and health systems management.
Build the foundation of your skills in health information management in your first year of study. Then deepen your technical and professional expertise throughout the rest of your degree, including 55 days of supervised professional placement.
With the perfect blend of expertise and experience, you’ll graduate ready to work in all areas of healthcare – from hospitals and community health centres to specialist disease registries.
You'll learn:
- Anatomy and physiology
- Understand the fundamental internal and external structures of the body and how they function. Learn the language of medicine.
- Health informatics and data analysis
- Discover how to apply Health Information Technology (HIT) into a healthcare setting to aid the delivery of care. Build the skills to analyse health data and disseminate health information insights at local, state, national and international levels.
- Health classification and clinical coding
- Learn how to encode patient record information using a health classification system. Understand the international and local standards for recording and communicating health data.
- Management of electronic health information systems
- Gain the skills to manage electronic health information systems, such as understanding security, access and integration requirements.
- Health information ethics and law
- Investigate the ethical challenges and legal requirements of working with health data, including ways to ensure patients can control their health information.
- Anatomy and physiology
Recommended study pattern
This degree is an Open Access pathway course, which means there is a recommended series of subjects that, once successfully completed, can be credited towards this degree. To commence the pathway for this degree, simply select subjects identified within the Entry requirements field.
Students who wish to enrol in a part time load are recommended to enrol in two subjects per study period. Please refer to theLa Trobe University Handbook to review the full structure.
Students who are studying and want to take a break (minimum one study period) must submit a leave of absence covering the relevant dates.
Students who have been accepted in a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) are required to complete the following 2 modules in their first term as a CSP student:
LTU0AIM Academic Integrity Module
ABS0WOM Wominjeka La Trobe: Indigenous Cultural Literacy for Higher Education
Award requirements
To qualify for the award of Bachelor of Information Technology, students must complete 24 subjects (360 credit points) as follows:
- 24 core subjects
Students who have been accepted in a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) are required to complete the following 2 modules in their first term as a CSP student:
LTU0AIM Academic Integrity Module
ABS0WOM Wominjeka La Trobe: Indigenous Cultural Literacy for Higher Education
Degrees are usually made up of core subjects and electives. Some degrees include a choice of majors, so you can focus your studies on a specialisation.
This list is a general overview. Download the full Degree Guide for more information.
The third university established in Victoria, La Trobe University has a diverse community of more than 38,000 students and staff. Its commitment to excellence in teaching and research prepares students to make a bold and positive impact in today's global community. La Trobe provides Open Universities Australia with its core tenets, entrepreneurship and sustainability.
Learn more about La Trobe University.
Explore La Trobe courses.
- QS Ranking 2024:
- 17
- Times Higher Education Ranking 2024:
- 18
Entry requirements
Subject enrolment is only available to students admitted into this degree.
Successful completion of the following four Open Access Pathway subjects with minimum weighted average mark (WAM) of 70%:
- HBS1HBA Human Biosciences A
- STM1001 Making Sense of Data
- HIM1HAU Healthcare in Australia
- HIM1UDH Understanding Digital Health
Demonstrate proficiency equivalent to Year 12 prerequisites.
Satisfy the academic requirements by completing the STAT multiple choice if you:
- are not currently studying an Australian Year 12 (or equivalent)
- have no prior secondary school (Year 12), VET studies, HE studies or relevant work experience that can be considered for entry, or
- do not meet the minimum academic requirements for the program.
Refer to the La Trobe University STAT page for further information.
La Trobe University will consider applications for advanced standing, or credit for prior study. Credit may be applied to a current degree if you have undertaken previous tertiary study and completed and passed subjects similar in content and standard to those offered at La Trobe, from either another recognised tertiary institution or a different La Trobe course.
Note: Applications for credit will not be considered until you have successfully been admitted to a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) in a La Trobe course offered through OUA.
Assessing whether you should apply for credit for subjects in your course:
Credit may be granted for relevant subjects. The following steps will help you to decide which subjects you wish to apply for:
- Identify subjects within your course that you think align with subjects you have already studied and have completed within 8 years of your La Trobe University course commencement year.
- Provide subject outlines with detailed information for each subject that you wish to submit for assessment for credit, identifying which subject within your course that you have identified as a match. Include subject learning outcomes/objectives and subject content for each subject.
- Provide your academic transcript for your previous studies.
*Note that a subject studied can only be used once for credit
Study method requirements
Students are required to undertake 55 days of supervised professional placement.
Career opportunities
When you graduate, you’ll be well-placed to find employment in a range of healthcare industries, including hospitals, community health centres and specialist disease registries.
Possible roles include:
- Health information manager
- Manage and secure patient records while meeting the medical, legal, ethical, and administrative requirements of healthcare delivery.
- Clinical coder
- Record healthcare data by translating descriptions of medical diagnoses and procedures into codes.
- Healthcare data analyst
- Acquire, analyse, and translate healthcare data, and provide actionable insights to physicians, clinical researchers, and decision-makers.
- Medical research officer
- Lead research projects, analyse and interpret data, and liaise with clinical collaborators.
Professional recognition
The Bachelor of Health Information Management is accredited by the Health Information Management Association of Australia (HIMAA). Professional membership may require an application to the professional body and may have additional or ongoing requirements beyond completion of the degree. Please contact the relevant professional body for details.
Career outlook
- Health and Welfare Services Managers:
- Over $120K
- Medical Administrators:
- Over $120K
- Nurse Managers:
- Over $120K
- Policy and Planning Managers:
- Over $120K
- Practice Managers:
- $75K to $93K
- Primary Health Organisation Managers:
- Unknown average
- Tribunal Members:
- Unknown average
Degree FAQs
That's up to you! Because we let you choose when to study online, you can actually pick up and pause study when it suits you. Many universities have a set time you need to complete your degree within. For some this is up to 10 years, and for others there is no limit.
There are some degrees that are stricter about when you can take breaks, and about how many years you can take to complete your degree. Please always check with your uni what the limits are.
As a general guide, Commonwealth supported place students have 10 years to finish their undergraduate degree through OUA, However, if you're studying with Griffith University, there's a limit of 8 years to complete your studies. If you want to take a break that lasts more than two study terms, you'll need to apply for a leave of absence. You can apply for a leave of absence for up to 12 months, as long as you complete your studies within the maximum time allowed for your degree.
If you're studying with Macquarie University, with the exception of certain degrees, there's no limit to how long you can take. But, please check with Macquarie Student Administration to be sure.
If you're studying with the University of Adelaide, you have up to 9 years to complete your undergraduate degree and graduate.
If you're studying with La Trobe University and want to take a break of minimum 1 study term, you must apply for leave of absence to avoid being inadvertently withdrawn from your degree.
Through OUA, you can study all year round, so it's possible to fast-track and finish up sooner than studying at a traditional uni would allow. That said, you need to spend around 12 hours a week on each undergraduate subject you do, so taking on extra work to finish ahead of time can be challenging.
You may be eligible for a HELP loan from the Australian government, depending on your citizenship status and where you'll be living during your studies. You can also pay upfront with your credit card.
Payment options are explained in Fees, and you can contact a student advisor for more information.
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