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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. Graduates of this specialist course are in great, and rapidly increasing, demand. As students, they develop the skills to analyse and manage health information and systems throughout the healthcare sector. 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), epidemiology (causes of disease) 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. They study specialist subjects and 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.  This is the only University in Australia to provide a Clinical Coder qualification at this level.

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	HIM3PPA	Health Information Professional Practice A2	15
TE-SEM-2	HIM3CCA	Health Classification & 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	HIM4PPB	Health Information Professional Practice B2	15
TE-SEM-1	HIM4CCB	Health Classification & 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	HIM5HMC	Health Information Management C	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 & 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	Health Information Professional Practice C2	45
TE-SEM-2	HIM5HSI	Health Systems Implementation	15
TE-SEM-2	HIM5HMD	Health Information Management D	15
plus two of
TE-SEM-2	HIM5RPH	Research Project in Health Information Management3	15
TE-SEM-2	HIM5IHC	Principles of Health Informatics C	15
TE-SEM-2	HIM5CCD	Health Classification & Clinical Coding D
or			15
TE-SEM-2		an approved postgraduate elective subject4

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 HIM5CCD and HIM5IHC are strongly recommended; HIM5RPH is subject to availability.
⁴ For this elective, students may take an approved subject consistent with their preferred specialisation.

Honours stream (HZHHIH)

Fourth year (honours stream)

Teaching period	Subject code	Subject title	Credit points
TE-SEM-1	HIM5AHB	Health Data Analysis B	15
TE-SEM-1	HIM5PPC	Health Information Professional Practice C1	45
TE-SEM-2	PHE4RMH	Research Methods in Health 4 (or approved equivalent subject)	15
TE-SEM-2	HIM5HMD	Health Information Management D	15
plus two of2
TE-SEM-2	HIM5RPH	Research Project in Health Information Management	15
TE-SEM-2	HIM5HSI	Health Systems Implementation	15
TE-SEM-2	HIM5CCD	Health Classification & Clinical Coding D	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

Key: ¹ Hospital or Healthcare service-based Professional Practice placement with integrated, University-based theory.
² The electives allow for streaming according to the student's preferred professional and Honours specialisation. Students must take two of the elective subjects listed.