For Release:          Immediate – December 14, 2017

Contact:                 Dave Dellecese, Public Affairs Specialist ­

                        (315) 792-7307 | ddellecese@sunypoly.edu

 SUNY Poly to Offer New Online Degree in Health Information Management

Program marks first fully online bachelor’s degree program at SUNY Poly

Utica, NY – Continuing to find new ways to use technology to innovate and educate, SUNY Polytechnic Institute is pleased to announce its increasingly expanded online degree program offerings as it adds an undergraduate bachelor’s degree in Health Management Information to its roster, the first fully online bachelor’s degree program at the institution.

“We are thrilled to receive approval for this new Health Information Management degree program, which is our debut undergraduate degree offered completely online,” said Dr. Bahgat Sammakia, Interim President of SUNY Poly. “This is once again a testament to the many ways that an institution like SUNY Poly not only advances technology for a bright future, but also uses technology to train the future workforce in key areas of need.”

SUNY Poly’s Health Information Management (HIM) program joins an already popular slate of graduate programs that includes MS in Accountancy, MS in Network and Computer Security, MS in Information Design & Technology, MS in Nursing Education, MBA, and an advanced certificate in Data Analysis. Students can pursue full-time or part-time study of the HIM program, currently offered on SUNY Poly’s Utica campus, which will be available in full online format in the Spring 2018 semester. 

This addition complements the program that continues for students attending SUNY Poly’s Utica campus, while enabling greater access for those who choose to live off-campus or have schedules that make an online degree from the institution highly desirable.

“The online format of this already popular program will allow for far greater accessibility for students from all over the state, country, and even the world,” said Dr. William Durgin, SUNY Poly Provost. “Taught by the same faculty from the SUNY Poly campus means that students, wherever they may be, are getting the same high-quality education that has become synonymous with our institution.”

The HIM program at SUNY Polytechnic Institute is accredited by the Commission on Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM) and is the only accredited, 4-year, Health Information Management bachelor’s degree offered in the SUNY system. Students are able to sit for the national registered health information administration (RHIA) exam and upon passing, become credentialed as an RHIA.

“I am very excited that the State University of New York and the New York State Education Department have approved the bachelor’s degree in Health Information Management, making it the first fully online bachelor’s degree through SUNY Poly,” said Dr. Kathleen Rourke, Interim Dean of the College of Nursing. “This is a wonderful expansion of our online programs and hopefully only the beginning of even more great things to come.”

Health information management professionals work in a variety of settings with a number of job titles. They often serve in bridge roles, connecting clinical, operational, and administrative functions. These professionals affect the quality of patient information and care at every touch point in the healthcare delivery cycle. Having skilled HIM professionals on staff ensures an organization has the right information on hand when and where it is needed while maintaining the highest standards of data integrity, confidentiality, and security. These professionals are highly trained in the latest information management technology applications and understand the workflow in any healthcare provider organization, from large-hospital systems to the private physician practice. They are vital to the daily operations management of health information and electronic health records.

“We look forward to taking an already popular program like Health Information Management and offering the educational opportunities to students anywhere in the world,” said Lorraine Kane, Chair of the Department of Health Information Management. “Health and medical administrative jobs are only expected to rise in the years ahead, and we’re fortunate to have amazing faculty that want to actively work with students on their journey into these fields.”

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of medical and health services managers is projected to grow 20 percent from 2016 to 2026, much faster than the average for all occupations. The bureau also estimates that as the large baby-boom population ages and people remain active later in life, there will likely be an increased demand for healthcare services.

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About SUNY Polytechnic Institute (SUNY Poly)

SUNY Poly is New York’s globally recognized, high-tech educational ecosystem. SUNY Poly offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in the emerging disciplines of nanoscience and nanoengineering, as well as cutting-edge nanobioscience and nanoeconomics programs at its Albany campus, and undergraduate and graduate degrees in technology, including engineering, cybersecurity, computer science, and the engineering technologies; professional studies, including business, communication, and nursing; and arts and sciences, including natural sciences, mathematics, humanities, and social sciences at its Utica/Rome campus; thriving athletic, recreational, and cultural programs, events, and activities complement the campus experience. As the world’s most advanced, university-driven research enterprise, SUNY Poly boasts billions of dollars in high-tech investments and hundreds of corporate partners since its inception. For information visit www.sunypoly.edu.