Turning Health Care Data into Better Patient Care

Department Chair Stephen Burrows discusses how the new online Master of Science in Health Data Analytics prepares professionals to turn health care data into better decisions

Key Highlights

• Sacred Heart University’s Master of Science in health data analytics is a fully online, 33-credit graduate program housed in the College of Health Professions. 
• Students develop skills in programming, data visualization, predictive modeling, and artificial intelligence, and complete an applied health care analytics capstone. 
• The program welcomes applicants from health care and other fields, with no previous experience in health care, data analysis, or programming required.

Sacred Heart University has launched a Master of Science in Health Data Analytics (MSHDA), a fully online, 33-credit graduate program that prepares students to use data to improve patient care and health care operations. 

Housed in SHU’s College of Health Professions, the program combines practical approaches to data analysis with an understanding of the clinical, operational, and regulatory considerations that shape health care decisions. It welcomes health care professionals interested in analytics, technical professionals seeking to enter health care, career changers, and recent graduates. 

Stephen Burrows, chair of the Healthcare Informatics & Administration Department, discusses why SHU developed the program, what students will learn, and how graduates can help health care organizations make better use of their data. 

What prompted Sacred Heart to create this program, and why is this the right time for it? 

The Master of Science in Health Data Analytics (MSHDA) was created in response to the tremendous growth of data generated across the health care industry—from electronic health records and clinical systems to population health platforms. At the same time, health systems, hospitals, and insurers face immense pressure to improve patient outcomes, enhance system efficiency, and reduce rising costs. This is the right time because health care organizations are rapidly shifting toward data-driven decision-making and require specialized translators who can turn complex datasets into actionable guidance. 

What is health data analytics, and how does it make a difference in patient care and operations? 

Health data analytics involves interpreting and communicating health care data to help people make better decisions. Analysts need to understand the data, the context surrounding it, and the people who will use the findings. They bridge those areas. 

In patient care, analytics helps forecast population health trends, track disease risks, personalize treatment plans, and support clinical decisions. In operations, analytics optimizes workflows—such as predicting emergency department staffing needs during volume spikes, reducing wait times, and improving discharge timing to free up hospital beds. 

Earlier in my career, for example, a nurse manager asked me to examine emergency department data to identify when additional staff would most likely be needed. Looking at historical patterns helped us understand when patient volume tended to increase and when the department was quieter. That is a practical example of using data to support the people delivering care. 

What did health care industry leaders say they need, and how did their input shape the curriculum? 

Leaders from large regional health systems helped identify the skills they want graduates to bring to their organizations. Their feedback informed the curriculum, including technical preparation in SQL, Python, and R, along with data visualization, predictive modeling, and health care applications. 

They also emphasized curiosity. A good analyst asks why a pattern appears, whether a result makes sense, and what else needs to be investigated. Producing a report is one step. Understanding what that report means requires further questioning. 

Communication matters, too. Graduates need to explain their findings in language that a physician, nurse, therapist, or hospital administrator can understand and use. 

What distinguishes Sacred Heart’s program from health informatics, data science, or business analytics? 

Health informatics is broader. It covers various ways technology is used in health care, including electronic health records and other information systems. Health data analytics is more focused and goes deeper into analyzing data. 

Data science and business analytics programs may use similar tools and methods, but the context matters. Health care data comes with clinical, operational, and regulatory considerations that differ from those in other industries. 

Our program’s home in the College of Health Professions helps shape that perspective. The MSHDA program zeroes in on advanced statistical analysis, machine learning, predictive modeling, and actionable business intelligence explicitly tailored to medical and health systems data. 

Who is the program designed for, and is previous experience required? 

We see two particularly strong audiences. One includes clinicians and other health care professionals who want to develop technical and analytical skills. Nurses, physical therapists, occupational therapists, and other professionals may already understand patient care and want to contribute in a different way. 

The other includes people with technical or data backgrounds who want to apply their skills in health care. They bring a different perspective and need to learn the context that makes health care data distinctive.  

The program also welcomes recent graduates and career changers. Previous experience in health care, data analysis, or programming is not required. The curriculum is structured to welcome applicants from both health care and non-health care backgrounds, equipping them with foundational data literacy and core programming skills from the ground up. 

What will students actually do during the program? 

Students will work with analytics tools such as Python or R to write scripts to clean data, build visual data dashboards, and construct machine learning models. 

All students complete an applied capstone addressing a real health care analytics challenge using actual data. Projects are developed with faculty and industry partners and may examine issues such as operational efficiency, population health, or clinical decision support.

Students can also explore applied research and collaborative projects through SHU’s Center for Analytics, as well as optional internship opportunities with health care partners. 

What positions will graduates pursue, and what is driving employer demand? 

Potential roles include health care data analyst, population health analyst, clinical informatics analyst, health care business intelligence analyst, health care analytics consultant, and operations analyst. 

Health care organizations already have teams dedicated to analyzing data and responding to questions from across their systems. Industry leaders have told us they want more master’s-prepared candidates who understand both analytics and health care. 

The growth of digital information is part of that demand. Organizations also need to understand how to use that information to improve care, manage resources, and address operational problems. 

How does the program prepare students to use artificial intelligence responsibly? 

Students first need a strong foundation in analytics and statistical methods. Those fundamentals help them understand the tools they are using and evaluate what the results mean. 

The curriculum includes machine learning and artificial intelligence in health care, along with data governance, ethics, and security. Patient privacy and the consequences of clinical decisions make careful evaluation particularly important. 

What excites you personally about launching and leading this program? 

Leading this program offers a unique opportunity to shape the future of medicine by bridging the gap between numbers and human care. By preparing the first cohorts of students, I’m excited to welcome students from diverse backgrounds and to have them come out of this program with the ability to step into high-impact roles where their analytical insights directly translate to better patient outcomes, streamlined hospital operations, and healthier communities. 

For more information about the curriculum, admission requirements, and application process, visit Sacred Heart University’s Master of Science in Health Data Analytics program page.