Medical informatics, dual study program

• What are electronic patient records?
• How do electronic patient records help to provide better care for sick people?

Modern healthcare is inconceivable without intelligent software and networked devices. The computer tomograph produces digital images of the inside of the human body, which the clinic sends to the GP's surgery with a click. Diabetics can manage their condition independently with a blood glucose meter and app. In rural areas, telemedicine supports the care of sick people.

Three examples that show the diverse areas of application of medical informatics. It works at the interface between computers, people, medicine, care and innovative technology. Image and signal processing are just as much a part of it as software development and the management of medical information systems. In the Bachelor's study program, for example, you will deal with electronic patient records and how they help to provide better care for sick people.

Dual study means that you spend a maximum of three weekdays at Fachhochschule Dortmund and at least two weekdays at the company. This study program offers particularly great opportunities and potential because

• academic training and company practice are closely interlinked.
• it offers a double qualification (IT Specialist IHK and Bachelor of Science) with an individual specialization
• students get to know the practical side of the business at an early stage and
  take on responsible tasks during their studies.
• they train important key qualifications both in the company and at the university.
• graduates of dual study programs have excellent career prospects and are usually taken on directly by their training company.
• their livelihood is secured by the company salary and
  the company pays the tuition fees.

In the first semesters, you will learn all the essential basics of computer science, including programming. You will then expand your knowledge of software technology, databases and IT infrastructure. Mathematics is also an important component. At the same time, you will learn the basics of medical informatics and the fundamentals of human medicine. To complete your professional qualification, business administration and technical English are on the curriculum.

The first five semesters of the training-integrated variant prepare you in parallel for the IHK examination in IT in the field of application development. This takes place in the sixth semester. If you have already completed an apprenticeship as an IT specialist before starting your studies, you can study alongside your job and continue to work in the company on practical days. Both can be incorporated directly into project work and final theses.

As you progress, you will work on a project-oriented and interdisciplinary basis. For example, you can develop an ultrasound simulation in virtual space, combining medical programming and mathematical knowledge. This includes extracting and measuring bones from X-ray images or generating 3D objects from magnetic resonance imaging data sets.

After successfully completing the program, you will graduate with a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) degree and have completed vocational training or work experience as an IT specialist.

• Telematics and telemedicine
• Visualization and interaction
• Signal and image processing in medicine
• Data protection and data security

Graduates work, for example, in

• the development of medical software
• the integration of clinical IT systems in hospitals
• maintenance
• sales and distribution
• system implementation
• the area of customizing
• Exciting projects in the healthcare sector
• the development of medical apps
• 3D and 4D visualization and analysis of medical signals and images

• Overview of the Masters in the Faculty of Computer Science (Opens in a new tab) 

The qualification for studying at universities of applied sciences is proven by the certificate of the university of applied sciences entrance qualification or a previous education recognized as equivalent.