Student working on a desktop computer reviewing data charts in a classroom computer lab.

Ontario College Graduate Certificate

Health Informatics

In the Health Informatics program, you will learn how to turn health data into informed decisions through hands-on projects and applied analytics tools.

CIP Code: 51.2706
PGWP Eligible
This program meets the criteria to be Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) eligible as defined by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

Note: PGWP eligibility does not guarantee approval. IRCC assesses all applications individually.

Program Start Options

IntakeDurationFormatCampusDomesticInternational
0265
Fall
1 year
2 semesters
Full-Time
In-Person
+8 more
Domestic students accepted
International students accepted
0264
Winter
1 year
2 semesters
Full-Time
In-Person
+8 more
Domestic students accepted
International students accepted
0244
Spring
1 year
2 semesters
Full-Time
In-Person
+8 more
Domestic students accepted
International students accepted
0265
Fall
1 year
2 semesters
Full-Time
Online Live
Remote
Domestic students accepted
International students not accepted
Distance Education Program

Where Technology Meets Healthcare: Powering Informed Decisions

Embark on a cutting-edge career at the intersection of healthcare and technology with Confederation College's Healthcare Informatics program. In an era where data-driven decision-making is reshaping healthcare, this program equips you with the skills to analyze, interpret, and leverage health data to improve patient care and organizational efficiency.

Our comprehensive curriculum blends technical expertise, interprofessional collaboration, and essential interpersonal skills. You'll learn to employ healthcare informatics practices and techniques, anticipating and responding to healthcare organizations' evolving needs. From enhancing patient safety to facilitating informed decision-making across healthcare facilities, you'll be at the forefront of this rapidly growing field.

Top Highlights

  • In-Demand Skills: Develop proficiency in health analytics and business intelligence tools.
  • Versatile Career Paths: Prepare for roles ranging from project management to quality improvement.
  • Practical Application: Learn to apply data-driven strategies to real-world healthcare challenges.
  • Compliance Focus: Understand legal and ethical considerations in health information management.
  • Project Management: Gain skills in coordinating and evaluating healthcare projects.

Ideal Candidate Profile

  • Analytical: Enjoy working with data and deriving meaningful insights.
  • Tech-Savvy: Comfortable learning and adapting to new software and technologies.
  • Detail-oriented: Meticulous in handling and interpreting complex health information.
  • Collaborative: Skilled at working in inter-professional teams and communicating with diverse stakeholders.
  • Ethical: Committed to maintaining patient privacy and data security.

Contact Information

Program Files

Get detailed information about program requirements, courses, and student resources.

Admission Requirements

Fall · Winter · Spring

The following 4 intakes share the same admission requirements:

Fall (0265)Winter (0264)Spring (0244)Fall (0265)

Admission Requirements for Domestic Students

  1. Degree or diploma from an accredited university or college in a related discipline.

Admission Requirements for International Students

  1. A three/four year degree from an accredited university or college in Business, Health Sciences or Computer Science (2nd Division/2.0 (4.0 GPA scale) where applicable)
    a) Original transcripts as well as a notarized, translated copy must be provided where applicable
    b) No more than ten backlogs/failures
  2. English Proficiency
    a) Academic IELTS: 6.5, no band lower than 6.0

Prerequisites

Student Accessibility and Essential Program Requirements

Confederation College is committed to providing an accessible and inclusive learning environment and will provide reasonable accommodations to students with disabilities in accordance with the Ontario Human Rights Code, the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), and College policy.

Students who require accommodations are encouraged to engage with Student Accessibility Services and are responsible for initiating and participating in the accommodation process. Accommodation is a collaborative process involving the student, Student Accessibility Services, faculty, and the Academic School. Requests for accommodation are considered on an individual basis, and the College will work with students to identify reasonable accommodations that provide equitable access to learning while maintaining the integrity of the program.

Students are expected to demonstrate the essential knowledge, skills, professional behaviours, learning outcomes, and competencies required to successfully complete their program. While the manner in which these requirements are demonstrated may be accommodated where appropriate, the essential requirements themselves must still be achieved.

For programs involving laboratories, field work, clinical placements, aviation environments, trades training, equipment operation, simulations, community placements, or other environments where health and safety are critical, accommodations must also be consistent with applicable legislation, professional standards, licensing requirements, accreditation standards, and workplace safety obligations.

In some circumstances, a requested accommodation may not be reasonable or possible where it would:

  • Fundamentally alter an essential program requirement, competency, or learning outcome.
  • Compromise the health or safety of the student or others.
  • Conflict with provincial or federal legislation.
  • Conflict with the requirements of an external regulatory, licensing, accreditation, or professional body.
  • Prevent the student from demonstrating competencies required for safe and effective professional practice.
Note

Where a particular accommodation cannot be provided, the College will work collaboratively with the student to identify whether an alternative accommodation can appropriately address the student’s disability-related needs while maintaining essential program requirements.

Tuition & Fees

Fees for Domestic StudentsProgram Code: 0265

Year 1
Total: $5,070.00
Fee Breakdown
Academic Fees
Total Tuition Fees:$3,570.00
College Service Fee:$863.00
Health Fee:$305.00
Bus Fee:$332.00
$5,070.00

Fees for International StudentsProgram Code: 0265

Year 1
Total: $18,720.25
Fee Breakdown
Academic Fees
Total Tuition Fees:$15,748.00
College Service Fee:$863.00
Health Fee:$652.25
Bus Fee:$332.00
$17,595.25
Ancillary Fees
Municipal Levy:$75.00
Student Fees:$300.00
Recovery Fee:$750.00
$1,125.00
Note

Please note that fees are estimated and are subject to change.

Fees shown on this page are for full-time students attending the main Thunder Bay campus for Fall 2026.

Costing for Regional Campuses & Distance Education Students:

If this program is available at Regional Campuses, or to Distance Education students, see the following links for costing information.

Courses

3 intakes

Fall0265

Semester 1

HI 100

Health Data Acquisition & Management I

42 hours

Students will be introduced to the use of health information systems and technology. They will explore the uses for data in health management in relation to management, operations, quality benchmarking, policy development, reporting and improvements. Students will explore various forms of data and learn to navigate through a variety of heath data repositories while learning about codes, communication and data sources. Ethical considerations around both acquisition and management of data will be examined.

CS 106

Intercultural Communication

42 hours

In this course, students will understand barriers to intercultural communication, assess cultural differences, and apply strategies to communicate effectively with colleagues and clients from other cultures. Students will apply principles of plain language to communicate effectively to diverse audiences using a variety of communication channels. They will apply research strategies to evaluate sources of information and will apply APA standards of documentation and style to academic work. Students will analyse audience and purpose to create business correspondence using the direct approach.

LH 100

Health Systems and Policy

42 hours

In this course, students will learn about the impact of policy and system design on health outcomes in both the Canadian and provincial health systems, with a focus on Ontario and Northwestern Ontario. The course will provide an overview of public policy, how public policy works and how it is implemented in the Canadian context. The course also addresses system and policy impacts on health equity.

GB 156

Microsoft Excel

42 hours

In this course, students will have exposure to a comprehensive windows-based financial spreadsheet package to enhance their problem solving abilities. The package used will be Microsoft Excel for Windows. The student will use this as a tool to prepare calculations, reports, and presentations which are commonly performed in the modern office.

HI 101

Data Collection and Ethics

42 hours

In this course, students will learn how to collect data for analysis. Students will learn about the ethical challenges around data collection and best practices for responsible data use. Students will learn both theory and practical applications for research and data collection, using a wide variety of sources and involving many different approaches. This includes both quantitative and qualitative research methods, learning how to formulate research questions, choosing the appropriate tools, and how to recruit participants.

HI 102

Database Management & Warehousing

42 hours

Students will be introduced to the core concepts in data and information management. The course content is centered on the core skills of identifying organizational requirements, modeling them using conceptual data modeling techniques, converting the conceptual models into relational data models and verifying its structural characteristics with normalization techniques. Students will focus on the Structured Query Language (SQL), to define and manipulate data. In addition, students will understand the data warehouse lifecycle and be introduced to dimensional modeling for data warehousing.

SY 066

Sociology of Community: The Indigenous Context

42 hours

This course will provide students with an introduction to the history of colonization of Indigenous communities in Canada. Contemporary Indigenous community issues within Northwestern Ontario (NWO) and Canada will be examined. Students will explore the unique socio-political relationships between Canada and Indigenous peoples with an emphasis on colonial, legal and political issues. With a broader understanding of the context of colonization, students will analyze contemporary relationships and efforts towards renewed relationships and reconciliation.

Semester 2

HI 200

Health and Data Acquisition & Management II

42 hours

In this course, students will explore the use of data in a variety of applied settings, including the research environment, clinical settings and public health. Students will learn the basic principles of epidemiology and how this is used by health analysts. Ethical considerations around both acquisition and management will be examined.

GB 501

Project Management

42 hours

In this course, students will develop managerial skills to propose, plan, secure resources, budget, and lead project teams to successful completion of projects. Students will also learn why organizations have developed a formal project management process supported by the Project Management Institute (PMI) and its Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) to gain a competitive advantage. The case study approach will be used along with an investigation of software and collaboration tools that aid in carrying out activities of project planning and project execution.

HI 201

Statistics for Data Analytics

42 hours

Students will investigate descriptive statistics, inferential statistics, linear regression and probability concepts, hypothesis testing and more foundational statistical tools that are applicable to data analytics. Students will also explore the R programming language for use in statistical computing and graphics.

HI 202

Communicating with Data in an Inter-Professional Team

42 hours

As key members of the healthcare team, health analysts must function as competent inter-professional collaborators and communicators. Students will develop the communication skills that are critical to the role of an analyst. The ability to effectively convey complex analytical information in a variety of situations, to a variety of stakeholders and in a format that is concise and easily understood, will be a focus of this course. The creation of oral and written information briefs, presentations and accurate summaries of complex data for use in organizational decisions will be covered while respecting the privacy, security and confidentiality of personal health information.

HI 203

Data Mining for Health Analytics

42 hours

In this course, students will be introduced to ‘big data analytics’ and the data mining process. Students will learn data mining processes and common techniques in mining health care data. Topics include an overview of the data mining process, standards and output protocols, and common techniques used in mining healthcare data.

HI 204

Leadership and Management of Change in Health Informatics

42 hours

Successfully integrating health informatics into a healthcare setting requires knowledge and skills in health management. Students engage in both theoretical and applied activities to gain a practical understanding of organizational behaviour, IT procurement and health economics. Specific topics include: motivation and leadership, decision-making, power and control, conflict, management of change, requirements scoping, requests for proposal, contracts, service level agreements, population-based health economics, health consumerism and designing performance indicators for health informatics. Through projects, students develop change management plans to maximize success when implementing health informatics in the workplace.

HI 205

Capstone Project

42 hours

Students will analyze data and apply critical and creative thinking to a pertinent project. They will conduct research on the subject, think critically, solve challenging problems, and design and create the final product demonstrating their learning acquisition. They will then give an oral presentation on the project to a panel of faculty, experts, and community members who will collectively evaluate its quality & provide detailed feedback.

Winter0264

Semester 1

HI 100

Health Data Acquisition & Management I

42 hours

Students will be introduced to the use of health information systems and technology. They will explore the uses for data in health management in relation to management, operations, quality benchmarking, policy development, reporting and improvements. Students will explore various forms of data and learn to navigate through a variety of heath data repositories while learning about codes, communication and data sources. Ethical considerations around both acquisition and management of data will be examined.

CS 106

Intercultural Communication

42 hours

In this course, students will understand barriers to intercultural communication, assess cultural differences, and apply strategies to communicate effectively with colleagues and clients from other cultures. Students will apply principles of plain language to communicate effectively to diverse audiences using a variety of communication channels. They will apply research strategies to evaluate sources of information and will apply APA standards of documentation and style to academic work. Students will analyse audience and purpose to create business correspondence using the direct approach.

LH 100

Health Systems and Policy

42 hours

In this course, students will learn about the impact of policy and system design on health outcomes in both the Canadian and provincial health systems, with a focus on Ontario and Northwestern Ontario. The course will provide an overview of public policy, how public policy works and how it is implemented in the Canadian context. The course also addresses system and policy impacts on health equity.

GB 156

Microsoft Excel

42 hours

In this course, students will have exposure to a comprehensive windows-based financial spreadsheet package to enhance their problem solving abilities. The package used will be Microsoft Excel for Windows. The student will use this as a tool to prepare calculations, reports, and presentations which are commonly performed in the modern office.

HI 101

Data Collection and Ethics

42 hours

In this course, students will learn how to collect data for analysis. Students will learn about the ethical challenges around data collection and best practices for responsible data use. Students will learn both theory and practical applications for research and data collection, using a wide variety of sources and involving many different approaches. This includes both quantitative and qualitative research methods, learning how to formulate research questions, choosing the appropriate tools, and how to recruit participants.

HI 102

Database Management & Warehousing

42 hours

Students will be introduced to the core concepts in data and information management. The course content is centered on the core skills of identifying organizational requirements, modeling them using conceptual data modeling techniques, converting the conceptual models into relational data models and verifying its structural characteristics with normalization techniques. Students will focus on the Structured Query Language (SQL), to define and manipulate data. In addition, students will understand the data warehouse lifecycle and be introduced to dimensional modeling for data warehousing.

SY 066

Sociology of Community: The Indigenous Context

42 hours

This course will provide students with an introduction to the history of colonization of Indigenous communities in Canada. Contemporary Indigenous community issues within Northwestern Ontario (NWO) and Canada will be examined. Students will explore the unique socio-political relationships between Canada and Indigenous peoples with an emphasis on colonial, legal and political issues. With a broader understanding of the context of colonization, students will analyze contemporary relationships and efforts towards renewed relationships and reconciliation.

Semester 2

HI 200

Health and Data Acquisition & Management II

42 hours

In this course, students will explore the use of data in a variety of applied settings, including the research environment, clinical settings and public health. Students will learn the basic principles of epidemiology and how this is used by health analysts. Ethical considerations around both acquisition and management will be examined.

GB 501

Project Management

42 hours

In this course, students will develop managerial skills to propose, plan, secure resources, budget, and lead project teams to successful completion of projects. Students will also learn why organizations have developed a formal project management process supported by the Project Management Institute (PMI) and its Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) to gain a competitive advantage. The case study approach will be used along with an investigation of software and collaboration tools that aid in carrying out activities of project planning and project execution.

HI 201

Statistics for Data Analytics

42 hours

Students will investigate descriptive statistics, inferential statistics, linear regression and probability concepts, hypothesis testing and more foundational statistical tools that are applicable to data analytics. Students will also explore the R programming language for use in statistical computing and graphics.

HI 202

Communicating with Data in an Inter-Professional Team

42 hours

As key members of the healthcare team, health analysts must function as competent inter-professional collaborators and communicators. Students will develop the communication skills that are critical to the role of an analyst. The ability to effectively convey complex analytical information in a variety of situations, to a variety of stakeholders and in a format that is concise and easily understood, will be a focus of this course. The creation of oral and written information briefs, presentations and accurate summaries of complex data for use in organizational decisions will be covered while respecting the privacy, security and confidentiality of personal health information.

HI 203

Data Mining for Health Analytics

42 hours

In this course, students will be introduced to ‘big data analytics’ and the data mining process. Students will learn data mining processes and common techniques in mining health care data. Topics include an overview of the data mining process, standards and output protocols, and common techniques used in mining healthcare data.

HI 204

Leadership and Management of Change in Health Informatics

42 hours

Successfully integrating health informatics into a healthcare setting requires knowledge and skills in health management. Students engage in both theoretical and applied activities to gain a practical understanding of organizational behaviour, IT procurement and health economics. Specific topics include: motivation and leadership, decision-making, power and control, conflict, management of change, requirements scoping, requests for proposal, contracts, service level agreements, population-based health economics, health consumerism and designing performance indicators for health informatics. Through projects, students develop change management plans to maximize success when implementing health informatics in the workplace.

HI 205

Capstone Project

42 hours

Students will analyze data and apply critical and creative thinking to a pertinent project. They will conduct research on the subject, think critically, solve challenging problems, and design and create the final product demonstrating their learning acquisition. They will then give an oral presentation on the project to a panel of faculty, experts, and community members who will collectively evaluate its quality & provide detailed feedback.

Spring0244

Semester 1

HI 100

Health Data Acquisition & Management I

42 hours

Students will be introduced to the use of health information systems and technology. They will explore the uses for data in health management in relation to management, operations, quality benchmarking, policy development, reporting and improvements. Students will explore various forms of data and learn to navigate through a variety of heath data repositories while learning about codes, communication and data sources. Ethical considerations around both acquisition and management of data will be examined.

CS 106

Intercultural Communication

42 hours

In this course, students will understand barriers to intercultural communication, assess cultural differences, and apply strategies to communicate effectively with colleagues and clients from other cultures. Students will apply principles of plain language to communicate effectively to diverse audiences using a variety of communication channels. They will apply research strategies to evaluate sources of information and will apply APA standards of documentation and style to academic work. Students will analyse audience and purpose to create business correspondence using the direct approach.

LH 100

Health Systems and Policy

42 hours

In this course, students will learn about the impact of policy and system design on health outcomes in both the Canadian and provincial health systems, with a focus on Ontario and Northwestern Ontario. The course will provide an overview of public policy, how public policy works and how it is implemented in the Canadian context. The course also addresses system and policy impacts on health equity.

GB 156

Microsoft Excel

42 hours

In this course, students will have exposure to a comprehensive windows-based financial spreadsheet package to enhance their problem solving abilities. The package used will be Microsoft Excel for Windows. The student will use this as a tool to prepare calculations, reports, and presentations which are commonly performed in the modern office.

HI 101

Data Collection and Ethics

42 hours

In this course, students will learn how to collect data for analysis. Students will learn about the ethical challenges around data collection and best practices for responsible data use. Students will learn both theory and practical applications for research and data collection, using a wide variety of sources and involving many different approaches. This includes both quantitative and qualitative research methods, learning how to formulate research questions, choosing the appropriate tools, and how to recruit participants.

HI 102

Database Management & Warehousing

42 hours

Students will be introduced to the core concepts in data and information management. The course content is centered on the core skills of identifying organizational requirements, modeling them using conceptual data modeling techniques, converting the conceptual models into relational data models and verifying its structural characteristics with normalization techniques. Students will focus on the Structured Query Language (SQL), to define and manipulate data. In addition, students will understand the data warehouse lifecycle and be introduced to dimensional modeling for data warehousing.

SY 066

Sociology of Community: The Indigenous Context

42 hours

This course will provide students with an introduction to the history of colonization of Indigenous communities in Canada. Contemporary Indigenous community issues within Northwestern Ontario (NWO) and Canada will be examined. Students will explore the unique socio-political relationships between Canada and Indigenous peoples with an emphasis on colonial, legal and political issues. With a broader understanding of the context of colonization, students will analyze contemporary relationships and efforts towards renewed relationships and reconciliation.

Semester 2

HI 200

Health and Data Acquisition & Management II

42 hours

In this course, students will explore the use of data in a variety of applied settings, including the research environment, clinical settings and public health. Students will learn the basic principles of epidemiology and how this is used by health analysts. Ethical considerations around both acquisition and management will be examined.

GB 501

Project Management

42 hours

In this course, students will develop managerial skills to propose, plan, secure resources, budget, and lead project teams to successful completion of projects. Students will also learn why organizations have developed a formal project management process supported by the Project Management Institute (PMI) and its Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) to gain a competitive advantage. The case study approach will be used along with an investigation of software and collaboration tools that aid in carrying out activities of project planning and project execution.

HI 201

Statistics for Data Analytics

42 hours

Students will investigate descriptive statistics, inferential statistics, linear regression and probability concepts, hypothesis testing and more foundational statistical tools that are applicable to data analytics. Students will also explore the R programming language for use in statistical computing and graphics.

HI 202

Communicating with Data in an Inter-Professional Team

42 hours

As key members of the healthcare team, health analysts must function as competent inter-professional collaborators and communicators. Students will develop the communication skills that are critical to the role of an analyst. The ability to effectively convey complex analytical information in a variety of situations, to a variety of stakeholders and in a format that is concise and easily understood, will be a focus of this course. The creation of oral and written information briefs, presentations and accurate summaries of complex data for use in organizational decisions will be covered while respecting the privacy, security and confidentiality of personal health information.

HI 203

Data Mining for Health Analytics

42 hours

In this course, students will be introduced to ‘big data analytics’ and the data mining process. Students will learn data mining processes and common techniques in mining health care data. Topics include an overview of the data mining process, standards and output protocols, and common techniques used in mining healthcare data.

HI 204

Leadership and Management of Change in Health Informatics

42 hours

Successfully integrating health informatics into a healthcare setting requires knowledge and skills in health management. Students engage in both theoretical and applied activities to gain a practical understanding of organizational behaviour, IT procurement and health economics. Specific topics include: motivation and leadership, decision-making, power and control, conflict, management of change, requirements scoping, requests for proposal, contracts, service level agreements, population-based health economics, health consumerism and designing performance indicators for health informatics. Through projects, students develop change management plans to maximize success when implementing health informatics in the workplace.

HI 205

Capstone Project

42 hours

Students will analyze data and apply critical and creative thinking to a pertinent project. They will conduct research on the subject, think critically, solve challenging problems, and design and create the final product demonstrating their learning acquisition. They will then give an oral presentation on the project to a panel of faculty, experts, and community members who will collectively evaluate its quality & provide detailed feedback.

Learning Outcomes

The graduate has reliably demonstrated the ability to:

  1. Collect, analyse, and interpret a variety of health data sets to respond to a healthcare organization's needs.
  2. Apply health analytics and business intelligence tools to support evidence-informed practice.
  3. Evaluate health information practices, policies and processes to support and inform client and community care, and organizational goals and operations.
  4. Ensure compliance with legal health obligations, and professional and organizational standards as they relate to the privacy, security, and confidentiality of personal health information.
  5. Work professionally and collaboratively with stakeholders and as a member of an inter-professional team, to enhance the quality of health information and its impact on client care.
  6. Utilize health data and change-management strategies to predict possible outcomes and to inform decision-making.
  7. Co-ordinate the planning, implementation, management and evaluation of team projects by applying project management, quality improvement methods, and use of technology to support health care operations.

Meet the Program Staff

3 staff members

Careers

Graduates of the Healthcare Informatics program can pursue diverse roles, including:

  • Project Manager
  • Health Information Clerk
  • Quality Officer
  • Quality Improvement Coordinator
  • Health Records Administrator
  • Performance Improvement Analyst

Job prospects are expected to increase across Canada, with opportunities available in northern Ontario and elsewhere. International graduates may benefit from the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot in Thunder Bay.

See Career Opportunities

Clicking the button will take you to a detailed dashboard with up-to-date job data tailored to your program, including salary ranges, job titles, and projected demand.

Pathways

Confederation College offers a variety of articulation agreements designed to help you advance your education and career. Whether you're coming to us from another institution or planning your next steps after completing your program, our pathways make your transition seamless and effective.

Students at Confederation College

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