Overview
This Digital Health Advanced Certificate is aimed at post-diploma and baccalaureate healthcare students who are interested in expanding their knowledge, skills, and competencies toward the application of digital health/health informatics in the healthcare environment.
The Canadian digital healthcare landscape is rapidly evolving. Significant investment in the implementation of electronic health records (EHRs) and other advancing technologies has created a need to prepare healthcare graduates for new and emerging occupations in the digital health field.
This innovative program will prepare students to successfully work in informatics roles, inform practice, shift culture, and create forward momentum on large-scale digital health initiatives in their places of work. Graduates will gain knowledge and skills related to the clinical translation of standards, technology, and information solutions across systems; the use and measurement of clinical data and outcomes; project management and collaborative change leadership.
A flexible, learner-centred, blended approach emphasizes participatory, discussion-based learning. Team-learning, and authentic assessments of industry-based projects ensure real world learning and the acquisition of interprofessional collaboration competencies. An equity-oriented focus and an active commitment to reducing health disparities puts the patient voice at the centre of the program.
This program is offered online using the part-time course-by-course registration model designed to offer maximum flexibility. The certificate can be completed in one year, or more gradually over 5 years.
Program Aims
The primary purpose of this program is to build digital-care capacity within our clinician community to improve outcomes across healthcare communities and optimize clinical transformation.
Program Goals
Students graduating from this program will be able to:
- assess organizational requirements for digital health systems
- formulate strategies for selecting and implementing digital health systems
- facilitate the integration of technologies into clinical practice to enhance efficiency, safety and quality of care
- recognize the impact of ethical, legal, financial, and regulatory components of the Canadian healthcare system on digital health decision-making
- analyze, design, and implement digital health systems using knowledge of clinical-care processes, technologies, and workflow
- anticipate and evaluate the impact of digital health systems on clinical processes, health services delivery, and quality across the continuum of care
- liaise between clinical-care and technology departments to articulate and address clinical requirements and concerns to ensure safety and quality
- support better use of health data to help improve outcomes by advocating for data quality and data standards compliance
- collaborate with clinical, information management information technology (IMIT), analytics, and executive communities to build digital-care capacity and ensure informed analytics and outcomes across healthcare communities
- demonstrate strong communication and collaboration skills to share information with a variety of internal and external stakeholders to arrive at best overall solution
- practise effective leadership, facilitation, and negotiation skills to achieve consensus, resolve conflict, and achieve desired outcomes
- advocate for health information systems that reflect the client needs, values, and preferences and empower clients to participate in their care decisions
In development: This Advanced Certificate will potentially lead towards a modified credit structure for a Masters in Digital Health/Informatics.
Entrance Requirements
Application processing
This program is open to applications beginning:
- February 1st* for the January intake
- May 1st* for the April intake
- October 1st* for the September intake
Entrance requirements
This program has a two-step admission process. Applicants must meet all entrance requirements and will be accepted on a first-qualified basis as long as space remains.
Step 1: Pre-entry assessment
Applicants must complete a pre-entry assessment form to have their education, experience, and interest assessed by the program area.
Submit your completed pre-entry assessment form [PDF] to Glynda_Rees@bcit.ca .
Once signed by the program area, please submit your pre-entry assessment form with your online application.
Step 2: Submit your application and meet the following entrance requirements
- English language proficiency: Category 1 – English Studies 12 (73%) or equivalent
- Entry options: one of the following:
Option 1:
- Post-secondary education: Diploma or bachelor’s degree in health care from a recognized post-secondary institution.
- Post-secondary education: Diploma, associate degree, or bachelor’s degree in any discipline from a recognized post-secondary institution and
- Work experience: One year of experience in a healthcare environment.
- Post-secondary education: Diploma or bachelor’s degree in health care from a recognized post-secondary institution.
International applicants
This program is available to international applicants who will complete the program from outside Canada or who currently have a valid status in Canada other than study permit.
Study permit: International applicants accepted into this program are not eligible for a study permit.
Apply to program
To submit your application:
- Include proof of meeting all entrance requirements.
- Convert all transcripts and supporting documents to PDF files.
- Have a credit card ready to pay the application fee.
Apply Now
Scheduled Intakes
Ongoing Flexible Learning (Part-time Studies) intakes: January, April, and September.
Costs & Supplies
The current cost per 3 credit course is $925.39, but pricing will be finalized with the new fiscal year and posted under the course links.
Tuition fees
Flexible Learning (Part-time Studies) tuition is charged on a course-by-course basis. Please see the Flexible Learning Tuition & Fees page for more information.
Financial assistance
Financial assistance is not available for this program. For more information, please contact Student Financial Aid and Awards.Courses
Program Map – One-Year Compressed Format
Courses may be taken over 5 years.
* DIGH 7000 may be taken as a stand-alone course.
This program may also be completed part-time (up to 5 years). Example of a 2 year format:
Program Map – Two-Years Flexible Learning (part-time)
Class hours
Each course is delivered three hours per week synchronously and asynchronously.Program matrix
Check current availability of courses for this program.
| Required Courses: | Credits | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| DIGH 7000 | Digital Health Fundamentals | 3.0 | |
| DIGH 7100 | Digital Health Ecosystems | 3.0 | |
| DIGH 7200 | Data Fundamentals | 3.0 | |
| DIGH 7250 | Data Analytics | 3.0 | |
| DIGH 7300 | Optimizing Care Delivery and Outcomes | 3.0 | |
| DIGH 7400 | Enabling Quality Driven Care | 3.0 | |
| HLED 7270 | Project Leadership in Health Care | 3.0 | |
| DIGH 7500 | Capstone Project | 3.0 | |
| Total Credits: | 24.0 | ||
Check current availability of courses for this program.
Transfer credit
Do you have credits from another BC/Yukon post-secondary school? Do you want to know if they transfer to courses here at BCIT? Check out BCIT's Transfer Equivalency Database to find out.
Program Details
Program aim
The primary purpose of this program is to build digital-care capacity within our clinician community to improve outcomes across healthcare communities and optimize clinical transformation. Graduates from the program will gain new knowledge and skills related to the clinical translation of standards, technology and information solutions across systems; the use and measurement of clinical data and outcomes; and collaborative change leadership within the context of digital health and care environments.
The Digital Health Advanced Certificate employs a learner-centered, discussion-based teaching and learning approach, also known as the Case Method in course design. The Case Method is a participatory, discussion-based way of learning where students gain skills in critical thinking, communication, and interprofessional collaboration. The teaching cases describe real healthcare situations which present unresolved and provocative issues, situations, or questions that require resolution and provide practice in making linkages between theory and practice.
Experiential learning and authentic assessment are facilitated through capstone projects, industry-based projects, and other forms of active learning.
The DHAC applies an approach to digital health that focuses on health equity – the active commitment to reducing health disparities. An equity lens can help to ensure that the deployment of innovations in digital health technology addresses issues of health disparities and improves the experience of healthcare for diverse, marginalized, and underrepresented patient populations.
Common themes that will run through all DHAC courses are project management skills and collaborative change leadership. An Appreciative Inquiry (AI) approach to change leadership is emphasized which will prepare students to work with others to develop strategic plans, shift culture, and create forward momentum on large-scale digital health initiatives in their places of work.
Program length
Students can complete the program in one year (compressed format). The maximum amount of time allowed for completion of this program is five years.Grading
The passing grade for each course is 65%.Program delivery
Online: This program is delivered fully online.
Program location
With the exception of the Capstone project, all courses are offered through online learning.Faculty, Advisors & Staff
Experienced educators from BCIT, together with industry experts with experience relevant to subject matter and course content will teach and facilitate courses. In addition, industry experts with experience in specialized areas of digital health will be invited as guest lecturers.
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Programs and courses are subject to change without notice.