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Bachelor of Health Sciences and Master of Health Information Management

Course code/s: Melbourne (HZHHIM)

Course structure to be University approved.

Health Information Management deals with the business side of medicine, combining both health and information technology disciplines. This course, one of only four in Australia, provides students with the skills to analyse and manage health information and systems. The double degree combines pre-clinical and clinical study, integrating both theory and practice. The majority of subjects undertaken are core subjects.

Course structure

In first year, students will undertake an interdisciplinary common year in which they enrol in subjects with peers across the Faculty of Health Sciences. The focus is on basic human biosciences and factors influencing health and on developing an understanding of the roles of health professionals in the health and welfare sectors.

The second year of study will see students begin to develop skills in health information management including health classification (clinical coding), health informatics (e-health) and further explore the underpinning science and public health.

By the third and fourth years of the course, students will be able to apply their knowledge and practical skills to the management and professional practice of health information management. Students also gain extensive practical experience through placements and field visits, and may choose to specialise during their final year of study.

‘Early Exit’ as a Clinical Coder

Students who do not wish to proceed to complete the Master degree may leave with a profession-specific Bachelor of Health Sciences after successful completion of Years 1, 2 and 3; they are qualified as Clinical Coders and may find work in hospitals, where there is a massive shortage of qualified Clinical Coders.

First year

Teaching period	Subject code	Subject title	Credit points
TE-SEM-1	HBS1HBA	Human Biosciences A	15
TE-SEM-1	HLT1IPA	Interprofessional Practice A	15
TE-SEM-1	HLT1PHW	Perspectives of Health and Wellbeing	15
TE-SEM-1	PHE1IDH	Individual Determinants of Health	15
TE-SEM-2	HBS1HBB	Human Biosciences B	15
TE-SEM-2	HLT1IPB	Interprofessional Practice B	15
TE-SEM-2	PHE1SDH	Social Determinants of Health	15
TE-SEM-2	elective	Can be taken from anywhere in the University. Students must check they have satisfied any prerequisites.	15

 

Second year

Teaching period	Subject code	Subject title	Credit points
TE-SEM-1	HIM2HMA	Health Information Management A	15
TE-SEM-1	HIM1MTA	Medical Terminology	15
TE-SEM-1	HBS2PAT	Pathophysiology	15
TE-SEM-1	HLT2IEP	Integrating Evidence into Practice	15
TE-SEM-2	HIM3HMB	Health Information Management B	15
TE-SEM-2	HIM3PPA2	Health Information Professional Practice A	15
TE-SEM-2	HIM3CCA	Health Classification and Clinical Coding A	15
TE-SEM-2	PHE2AHR	Applied Health Research	15

 

Third year

Teaching period	Subject code	Subject title	Credit points
TE-SEM-1	HIM4HMC	Health Information Management C	15
TE-SEM-1	HIM4CCB	Health Classification and Clinical Coding B	15
TE-SEM-1	HIM4IHA	Principles of Health Informatics A	15
TE-SEM-1	HIM4AHA	Health Data Analysis A	15
TE-SEM-2	HIM5PPB	Health Information Professional Practice Placement	15
TE-SEM-2	HIM5CCC	Health Classification & Clinical Coding C	15
TE-SEM-2	HIM5IHB	Principles of Health Informatics B	15
TE-SEM-2	HIM5IEL	Health Information Ethics and Law	15

 

Fourth year

Teaching period	Subject code	Subject title	Credit points
TE-SEM-1	HIM5AHB	Health Data Analysis B	15
TE-SEM-1	HIM5PPC	Professional Practice Placement C	45
TE-SEM-2	HIM5HSI	Health System Implementation	15
TE-SEM-2	HIM5HMD	Health Information Management D	15
plus two of
TE-SEM-2	HIM5RPH	Research Project in Health Information Management	15
TE-SEM-2	HIM5IHC	Principles of Health Informatics C	15
TE-SEM-2	HIM5CCD	Health Classification and Clinical Coding D
or			15
TE-SEM-2		an approved postgraduate elective subject3

The electives allow for streaming according to the student ’s preferred professional specialisation.

Key: ¹ Free choice elective subject chosen from anywhere in the University, provided students have met any prerequisites
^2. Hospital or healthcare service-based professional practice placement with integrated, University-based theory
^3. For this elective, students may take an approved subject from outside of the Faculty (eg. Medical Statistics) consistent with their preferred specialisation.

Honours stream (HZHHIH)

Fourth year (honours stream)

Teaching period	Subject code	Subject title	Credit points
TE-SEM-1	HIM5PPC	Professional Practice Placement C	45
TE-SEM-1	HIM5AHB	Health Data Analysis B	15
TE-SEM-2	HIM5HMD	Health Information Management D	15
TE-SEM-2	PHE4RMH	Research Methods in Health 4	15
TE-SEM-2	HIM5RPH	Research Project in Health Information Management	15
plus one of
TE-SEM-2	HIM5CCD	Health Classification and Clinical Coding D	15
TE-SEM-2	HIM5HSI	Health Systems Implementation	15
TE-SEM-2	HIM5IHC	Principles of Health Informatics C	15

 

Fifth year honours stream

Teaching period	Subject code	Subject title	Credit points
TE-SEM-1	HIM5TMA	Thesis	60