INTRODUCTION

Data is everywhere, and it affects not only how businesses and institutions are run, but how we live as individuals and as a nation. Understanding the ways to leverage big data in our professional lives will help the nation find key insights, make smarter decisions
and elevate policy formulation in Ghana. Therefore, the Diploma in Health Statistics is expected to produce health data experts to fill vacancies in available jobs that cannot be filled due to lack of supply in the country. Health Statistics professionals design and manage health information systems, with special attention to quality and privacy of health information, in a wide range of settings such as hospitals, managed and ambulatory care, insurance and pharmaceutical companies, consulting firms, and public health organisations. This programme in Health Statistics prepares professionals responsible for developing, managing and safeguarding
the most confidential patient data, including medical histories, laboratory test reports, diagnoses, treatment plans, insurance information, medications, and the notes of doctors and nurses. They work as a critical link between doctors, insurance providers and patients; they manage health records in a way that is consistent with the clinical, fiscal, administrative, ethical and legal requirements. Health Statistics graduates will gain the competency which will enable them to effectively interact with other healthcare
professionals and administrators and provide healthcare data for patient care, research, quality improvement, strategic planning,
reimbursement, and related managerial functions. The graduates will be equipped with the relevant knowledge and skills to 
innovatively analyse, design, implement, and evaluate health data. Like other institutions, which offer degrees in Health Information Management (HIM), this programme will prepare graduates to be professionals with expertise in managing patient health information and medical records, administering computer information systems, and coding the diagnoses and procedures for healthcare services provided to patients. However, the uniqueness in this programme is that our graduates will acquire expertise in disease surveillance, spatial epidemiology and all accompanying public health geographical information system applications in the development, analysis and interpretation of disease maps. Attention will be given to the creation of interactive health facility and patient location digital maps connected to the relevant databases or medical information.
 

AIM, OBJECTIVES AND OUTCOMES

The main aim of the Diploma in Health Statistics programme is to produce health statistics professionals (health data experts) who will be ready to use modern methods to design and manage health information systems, with special attention to quality and privacy of health information, in a wide range of settings such as hospitals, managed and ambulatory care, insurance and pharmaceutical companies, consulting firms, and public health organisations that cannot be filled due to inadequate supply in the country.

Objectives

The objectives of the Diploma in Health Statistics programme are to:

1.Select and apply appropriate study designs, statistical and data analysis techniques to manage common types of medical/health relevant data.

2.Use and interpret results of current and anticipated software packages for statistical analysis and data management in health statistics.

3.Analyse the requirements of information users and communicate effectively with statisticians and the wider health experts through presentations of statistical analyses results both in writing and orally

4.Propose policies to support evidence-based practice and decision making.

5.Explore current and anticipated developments in medical/health statistics

6.Appraise research designs and undertake independent research project by demonstrating knowledge in the theoretical concepts in Medical Statistics.

7.Apply for further education in Health/Medical Statistics.
 

Entry Requirement

To be admitted into the Diploma in Health Statistics programme, a candidate must satisfy the minimum University and the Department of Statistical Sciences entry requirements.
1.SSSCE Holders
i. Passes (A –D) in 3 Core subjects: English Language, Integrated Science and Core Mathematics plus,
ii. Passes in 3 Elective subjects including a pass in any of the following subjects:
Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Elective Mathematics, Economics and Geography.

2.WASSCE Holders
i. Passes (A1 – D7) in 3 Core subjects: English Language, Integrated Science and Core Mathematics plus,
ii. Passes in 3 Elective subjects including a pass in any of the following subjects:
Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Elective Mathematics, Economics and Geography.

3.Mature Students’ Entry
i. Mature Students who have attained the age of 25 years or above at the time of Application and have credits in Five (5) GCE ‘O Level subjects including English Language and Mathematics, in addition to passing an Entrance Examination and /or Interview.
ii. WASSCE and SSSCE holders who are at least 25 years old and have passes (A1-D7 and A-D Respectively) in the following 3 Core Subjects: English Language, Mathematics and Integrated Science plus passes in 2 Elective Subjects in the relevant area of study.
OR

iii. ADVANCED LEVEL Holders with credits in at least 5 subjects at the GCE ‘O’ Level (or its equivalent) including English Language and Mathematics, plus at least two passes in the relevant subjects at the Advanced Level obtained in 5 years and above
OR

iv. Other relevant Non-Tertiary Diploma qualifications from elsewhere may be considered.
 

4.Foreign Qualifications
All foreign qualifications should be referred to the Ghana Tertiary Education Council (GTEC) for determination of equivalences and eligibility for admission to tertiary institutions in Ghana (National Accreditation Board Act, 2007 [Act 744 (2(2b))].
 

Employment Opportunities

Diploma in Health Statistics graduates can work in a variety of settings, such as hospitals, health planning agencies, computer companies, consulting firms, information systems vendors, ambulatory care centers, research centers, rehabilitation facilities, insurance companies and pharmaceutical companies. Other destinations include:

•Research Institutions
•Academic Institutions,
•Government health departments,
•Ministry of Water and Irrigation
•Ministry of Environment and natural resources
•United Nations, WHO
•Health Care Insurance Organizations
•Non-Governmental Organizations

Job titles may include the following:

•Health Records Administrator
•Health Information Systems Expert
•Health Information Manager
•Medical Records Consultant
•Disease Classification and Coding Expert
•Health Education Librarian
•Health Geographer
•Public Health Information Officer
•Health Insurance Manager
•Health Information Researcher
•Medical Statistician
•Biostatistician
•Health Data Analyst
•Clinical documentation Specialist

Graduates of the Health Statistics programme are eligible to register for the national credential examination offered by the Allied Health Professions Council, Ghana, after completing a Top- Up programme in Health Information Management.