Postgraduate Certificate in Digital Health (PGCertDigHeal)

Summary

Healthcare systems are increasingly dependent on data, technology and digital solutions, while at the same time consumers expect to use personalised digital technologies to enhance their own individual health and well-being. Future roles for healthcare professionals will include the provision and transformation of services using digital technology, but there is an identified shortage of people with the right skills to meet the growing demand for professionals working in the specialty of Digital Health.

The Postgraduate Certificate in Digital Health (PGCertDigHeal), offered by the Department of Information Science in partnership with the Otago Medical School, is designed for people working or planning to work in health sector management and leadership roles. Delivered online, the course will suit full-time students who are seeking a qualification in this area but who cannot physically be in Dunedin. Similarly, it will meet the needs of professionals who wish to upskill part-time or full-time, who may not be able to take leave from current employment, or those who are caring for dependents. Graduates of the PGCertDigHeal will have gained an understanding of the concepts and practical skills required to evaluate, select and implement health information systems and digital health products and services.

The PGCertDigHeal papers are foundational, introducing the fundamentals of digital health, including the underlying technologies, the place and future of digital tech in the healthcare system, the managerial, social and ethical implications of the use of technology in healthcare, and the selection and application of digital health solutions for/by consumers, groups and populations.

The PGCertDigHeal can normally be completed in a minimum of 12 months (in 2024 the PGCertDigHeal can be completed in a minimum of 6 months, as both the required papers will be taught in semester 1).