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Online Master of Science in Clinical Informatics & Patient-Centered Technologies

About

For more than 15 years, the Online Master of Science in Clinical Informatics & Patient-Centered Technologies program at the University of Washington has been providing professionals in health care settings with the technology skills and clinical care knowledge they need to advance their careers and deliver better patient care.

Our program was established in 2004 with the support of a federal grant. In 2008, the CIPCT program received a second federal grant to move its coursework fully online, increasing our reach to students across the country.

Rankings and Partnerships

The Online Master of Science in Clinical Informatics & Patient-Centered Technologies is considered one of the top health informatics programs in the nation. U.S. News & World Report ranked our program in the top 10 for nursing informatics programs in 2018.

The program is offered through two top-ranked University of Washington schools: the School of Nursing and the School of Medicine. In its 2023 rankings, U.S. News & World Report ranked the School of Nursing No. 1 among public schools with graduate nursing programs and the School of Medicine No. 1 in the nation in primary care training.

The program fosters unique collaborations with the UW School of Medicine's Department of Biomedical Informatics and Medical Education and Madigan Army Medical Center's Clinical Informatics Fellowships. The CIPCT program supports fellowships accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) by offering the didactic component for fellows as they complete training and earn experience in clinical informatics.

A self-sustaining, fee-based degree, the Online Master of Science in Clinical Informatics & Patient-Centered Technologies is administered in partnership with Continuum College, which extends the reach of the UW with a range of online and on-campus programs for working professionals and other learners of all ages.

Affiliations

The Online Master of Science in Clinical Informatics & Patient-Centered Technologies is a Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) Academic Organizational Affiliate. CIPCT students can join HIMSS free of charge and enjoy the benefits of complimentary membership. 

Additionally, the CIPCT program is a HIMSS Approved Education Partner (AEP). As an AEP, the CIPCT program: 

  • Meets HIMSS’s rigorous standards for world-class, effective health information and technology and healthcare education or training. 
  • Offers education or training with the Certified Associate in Healthcare Information and Management Systems (CAHIMS) or the Certified Professional in Healthcare Information and Management Systems (CPHIMS) continuing education hours. 
  • Has exclusive access to valuable education and promotional resources offered by HIMSS.

The program’s curriculum serves as a solid foundation for students interested in taking a HIMSS certification exam.