The importance of health information management in Oman was recognized early on, leading to the establishment of the Oman Medical Records Institute in 2002. The institute was created with the goal of qualifying and developing professionals working in medical records departments, acknowledging the critical role that accurate health information plays in improving healthcare delivery. In 2004, the institute was renamed to become the Oman Institute for Health Information Management due to global advancements in health information management and the evolving needs of local health institutions. This shift reflected the growing significance of the field.

In 2011, a pivotal stage in the program's development occurred with the revision of the curriculum for the Diploma in Health Information Management. This process involved a comprehensive comparison with leading international programs to ensure that the curriculum met global standards and best practices. Additionally, significant efforts were made to enhance the quality of education by training faculty members in modern teaching methods, thereby strengthening both instructional delivery and curriculum development. This phase marked a critical investment in improving the program's academic rigour and ensuring its alignment with the evolving needs of the health information management field.

The program initially focused on training a select group of up to 24 students, exclusively from the Ministry of Health employees, ensuring a specialized workforce for the nation's healthcare system. In 2012, the first cohort of high school graduates was admitted through the unified national admission system, ensuring the inclusion of high-calibre students into the program.

Recognizing the evolving demands of the healthcare sector, the Ministry of Higher Education responded by elevating the program from a diploma to a Bachelor of Health Information Management in 2014. This upgrade was crucial in aligning the program with the increasing needs of the labour market and ensuring that graduates were equipped with the advanced skills required to excel in the field.

By Royal Decree No. 18/2018, all health institutes were integrated into the Oman College of Health Sciences, with the Health Information Management program becoming one of the key units within the college. This strategic consolidation strengthened the academic framework and enhanced the program’s capacity to meet the growing demands of the healthcare sector.

The Health Information Management program aims to prepare learners to pursue Health Information Management principles to optimize healthcare outcomes in order to promote trust and reliability. The program emphasizes integrity, excellence, and leadership. In addition, it equips individuals to excel within the dynamic healthcare system by fostering professional competencies. It also aims to deliver a comprehensive education that empowers learners to realise their fullest potential through a commitment to inquiry and lifelong learning.​

Upon completing this program, students should be able to:

• Demonstrate comprehensive knowledge of Health Information Management and Health Informatics to provide quality health information to individuals, families and groups in hospitals and communities.

• Demonstrate a thorough understanding of the role of research activities in the practice of Health Information Management.

• Apply principles of leadership and management to human resources and health information services decision-making.

• Employ medical classifications in accordance with international and national guidelines and policies to code health records.

• Apply effective techniques and principles of communication and interpersonal skills in working and dealing with individuals, families, groups and communities.

• Utilize the most appropriate trends and advanced technology to monitor and provide Health Information Services.

• Apply healthcare statistics and research to comprehensive health information analysis, including quality assessment and performance improvement.

• Use advanced cognitive and technical skills in numerical reasoning and data analysis to evaluate and modify the outcomes of the health information provided by all users and healthcare providers.

• Assume responsibility for continuous professional growth, self-reflection, and lifelong learning to maintain and advance Health Information Management competencies.

• Take responsibility and accountability for the management of tasks related to the Health Information Management functions.

• Apply a highly advanced level of understanding of the legal and ethical standards to healthcare information requirements and professional standards and promote these to patients, healthcare providers, and the public.

• Ensure data integrity, privacy, and security of health record content.

• Evaluate own personal and professional growth and development and assume responsibility for life-long learning, own professional development and maintenance of competence.

PO.BOX : P.O. Box 3720, Postal Code 112, Ruwi

email : him@ochs.edu.om

Phone Number : +96824563957