New to Distance Ed: Health Informatics- WGU vs. Louisiana Tech University. Opinions?

I am interested in studying Health Informatics. I already have a clinical background (although not nursing) and feel it's time to go in a different direction. I've talked to people at my place of employment, from IS to HIM to the clinical informaticist. All said to go for it, as it's a good field to get into. I want to choose a school that qualifies one to sit for the RHIA exam, although I'm not sure if it directly applies to what I'm interested in. But it can't hurt.

I think I've narrowed the schools down to Western Governors University (WGU) and Louisiana Tech University. I was hoping for opinions about these two schools. And if you think I've missed a good school, let me know. How do you feel WGU would work if later down the road I want to go for a Masters at a different school, either in Informatics or maybe Healthcare Administration? And if anyone disagrees with the people I have talked to that this is a good field then please share your opinion.

Thanks for any help you can provide!

 

CAHIIM Accredited

Obviously, the program has to be CAHIM accredited to meet your requirements of obtaining professional certification. WGU and LTU are listed!

Accredited Programs

If you already hold a bachelors degree, you may consider a post graduate certificate in Health Care Informatics from Drexel University. Certificate in Health Informatics Online

or perhaps Johns Hopkins. Public Health Informatics - Certificates - Health Policy & Management - Departments - Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
(not CAHIM accredited but well respected!)

There are many online certificate programs just do a search.
I know a few healthcare administrators and they make a great living as well! I would consider a MBA with an emphasis in healthcare administration!

 

Sorry, Johns Hopkins requires you to already be in a degree program to enroll.

 

Delta, thanks for your reply. I don't have a degree so the two schools I mentioned are probably the best options. I'm just not sure which one.

 

WGU is cheap and will probably allow you go at a more accelerated pace. Louisiana Tech is also cheap. In many cases, it's probably better to attend the brick and mortar school with online programs. Just a quick look up of WGU, and employers will know it's 100% virtual. The problem with WGU and going to graduate school is that you don't get grades. A pass is the equivalent of a 3.0. This might be okay for non-competitive graduate programs with low GPA requirements, but not others. You could possibly overcome not having a GPA with a high GRE/GMAT/MAT score, but I think it's just easier to attend a school that awards grades.

 

I am doing my MBA online at Louisiana Tech, and I love it.

La Tech is on the quarter system, which usually allows you to finish quicker than semester schools.

All of my professors have been great thus far.

I chose La Tech because it is a Tier 1 national university with a good reputation.

 

I think it's been talked about a few times on here (including me), but Johns Hopkins is just about the top of the top when it comes to respected names in healthcare. Expensive, but really well known.

 

What are some other "tier 1" online schools? What would WGU be considered? Do you feel it would be better to go the LA Tech route if I want to pursue a grad degree from a different school down the road or would it make a difference ?

 

In my humble opinion, if you're considering grad school and it's at least closely related to your undergrad degree, then your undergrad school won't make a huge difference (if we're talking name recognition). However, if your undergrad degree needs to be supported by a third party organization (like ABET, CAHIIM, etc.) then you should weight those options. Make sure that if you're required to have third party support, consider this before making your final decision on schools.

 

Zebco, which school did you end up going through? I too am interested in Louisiana Tech's online Health Informatics program and came across your post.