MMI Program
Medical informatics is described as, "The intersection of information science, computer science, and health care. It deals with the resources, devices, and methods required to optimize the acquisition, storage, retrieval, and use of information in health and biomedicine. Health informatics tools include not only computers but also clinical guidelines, formal medical terminologies, and information and communication systems." - Wikipedia
The MMI program at Northwestern University has helped me navigate through the advancements in health information technology, standards and policy that will impact the creation, exchange and use of health information electronically. I achieved a solid understanding of fundamental telecommunication and interoperability standards that enable health information exchange, the logic and database models that form the basis of informatics products and systems, and the organizational models and policies that must be developed and applied to promote medical informatics in a variety of health care and regulatory settings. Many of the topics covered in the program were challenging, but being able to learn alongside a diverse group of students with a wide variety of backgrounds was instrumental to my successfully meeting the main objectives for each course. There were times where I wasn't sure if I really understood certain concepts, but as I progressed I realized that I could apply them to individual assignments and group projects. My professional association acknolwedged my efforts to learn about medical informatics and promote health information technology by awarding me a FORE Graduate Merit Scholarship in 2008. The award was underwritten by a national medical transcription company involved in technologies such as voice recognition and web-based health information resources. It became evident that I met my MMI learning objectives when I recently wrote the new Certified Health Data Analyst credentialing exam, given by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA). The exam covered material from every course I took in the program, including biostatistics, legal and ethical issues, interoperability and health care operations. Thus, it served as a gauge of the knowledge I have gained from the program. Now with a solid foundation both health information management and medical informatics, I may be able to participate in moving health information technology and policy forward, ultimately moving the health care system itself to a higher level of efficiency and efficacy. |
