Programs
College of Graduate Health Sciences in association with College of Health Professions - Department of Health Informatics and Information Management offers Health Informatics doctoral track. This PhD is an interdisciplinary degree. Students enter the program through the UTHSC Institute for Health Outcomes and Policy (IHOP). This area of research is timely in that health systems are now substantially reliant on information management systems and increasingly vulnerable to damage due to improper management of these systems. Graduates of this program will have a specific area of expertise in health outcomes and policy as well as a core of interdisciplinary knowledge. They will become researchers, scholars, teachers, thinkers, and planners in the demanding and changing field of health informatics and information management.
For more information about these courses and the Health Informatics program, please see the UTHSC Academic Bulletin or contact Dr. Simonne S. Nouer, MD, PhD.
PhD CurriculumThe Health Policy focus of the Institute For Health Outcomes and Policy is designed to provide an intense, academic foundation for students pursuing careers in research, teaching, and health administration. The formal curriculum provides a comprehensive understanding of health policy development, implementation and analysis, with required courses in biostatistics, epidemiology, health economics and research methods as well as in health care systems and public policy. The program is designed to provide maximum flexibility for students with a variety of interests and backgrounds.
PhD CurriculumThe PhD Graduate Program in Health Outcomes and Policy, with a concentration in pharmacoeconomics, is designed to develop the knowledge and skills necessary to evaluate the economic, clinical and humanistic outcomes of medical treatment. The program focuses on producing graduates for positions that emphasize research rather than administration.
Topics addressed in the program include the many facets of economics in healthcare, including the use of pharmaceuticals, appropriateness and quality of care, patient outcomes, patient satisfaction with care, costs of both appropriate and inappropriate medication use, public policies related to health care and pharmacoepidemiological considerations. The course of study examines the respective roles and behaviors of the healthcare professionals (e.g., physicians, pharmacists, nurses, allied health) involved in patient care and the influence of healthcare-related organizations (e.g., managed care, health maintenance organizations, public and private insurance, pharmaceutical manufacturers) on health outcomes. Very important to the medication use process and the understanding of health disparities is the role of the patient. Major research interests of the faculty include evaluation of Medication Therapy Management Services, Health Disparities, and Consumer Perception of Pharmacists.
PhD CurriculumAs healthcare continues to evolve, more and more workforce in healthcare organizations will be involved in quality improvement. Advance your career in health care quality, health outcomes, policy and research through IHOP's innovative online Graduate Certificate in Health Care Quality Improvement.
This 12-credit certificate program prepares professionals in health care to implement quality improvement initiatives and to manage populations of patients to optimize efficiency and effectiveness of care and services. Participants learn to use the techniques of statistical process control, selected tools from operations research and quality improvement, information management technology, and qualitative decision-making applications to ultimately improve health service outcomes.
IHOP's Graduate Certificate in Health Care Quality Improvement meets the growing need for quality and health outcomes, policy and research specialists who can grow and sustain a culture of continuous improvement. Graduates will be prepared for quality and health outcomes, policy, or research positions within health care organizations or policy agencies, and be able to:
- Develop, implement, and evaluate quality and health outcomes improvement initiatives
- Translate national quality expectations into daily operations
- Apply processes and tools to measure, analyze, and interpret quality improvement data
- Understand information technology systems to support quality assurance
The distance-based format allows health care professionals to advance their education while working full-time, and also provides students with a rigorous curriculum and access to the resources and experts at IHOP. Further Information is available by contacting Dr. Simonne S. Nouer, MD, PhD.
Certificate Curriculum