Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management
The Mercy College Health Information Management program will be the first educational program of its kind in Iowa at the bachelor’s level.
The new academic program will be offered at the Mercy College campus in downtown Des Moines, with the majority of the program courses offered in an online format, students will be able to complete the program throughout the state. This degree will prepare students to help meet the growing need in Iowa for HIM professionals and directly impact the state’s ability to stay current in the health care sector, which is leveraging the advancement in technology and analytics.
“This new bachelor’s program will develop graduates with expertise in evaluating analytics to effectively manage databases and complex information, as well as prepare them to be effective managers when it comes to addressing quality-related issues, or making procedure improvements,” said Dr. Robert Loch, Dean of the School of Allied Health at Mercy College.
This new degree was made possible thanks to a $50,000 grant Mercy College received from the Telligen Community Initiative (TCI), the private, non-profit foundation of West Des Moines-based Telligen, Inc.
Bachelor of Science in Public Health
The Mercy College Public Health program will be central Iowa’s first and only Bachelor level program of this discipline.
The primary focus of public health education is to improve health and quality of life through population-based prevention and education. Students will be prepared for an entry-level career in public health or graduate education. All students will be prepared to take the Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) exam. Having a CHES certification credential is highly desired in the public health arena.
"The increase in bachelor prepared public health professionals and health educators will help fulfill the national and state demand to address global and environmental concerns related to infectious diseases, emergency preparedness, natural disasters, chronic diseases, injury and violence, and air and water quality issues that impact the health of every community.” said Dr. Jeannine Matz, Dean of the School of Liberal Arts & Sciences at Mercy College.
