Careers in Health Informatics
• Clinical Informaticist
• Electronics Medical Records Keeper
• Nursing Informatics Specialist
• Pharmacy or Nutrition Informaticist
• Chief Medical Information Officer
There are many excellent careers in health informatics. Health informatics is a rapidly growing field that involves collecting, analyzing and storing data into digitized patient records and electronic health records in an attempt to improve the quality of health care provided to patients. The different careers available vary by the type of health data they utilize and the size of the employer. Here are 5 careers in health informatics.
Related resource: Top 20 Health Informatics Degrees
1. Clinical Informaticist
The clinical informaticist is a professional who works in clinical settings handling the company’s medical data. Depending on the size of the company, the clinical informaticist may have responsibilities. In a small medical facility, the clinical informaticist may be the one responsible for collecting, managing and organizing the patients’ data while also making it available to health care providers, patients, and the entire staff. In a larger company, the clinical informaticist may have the same duties but may also be in charge of educating an entire team of clinical informaticists on ways to operate the systems while integrating information technology in the medical facility.
2. Electronics Medical Records Keeper
When we think of health informatics, we think of the combination of health data and information technology, and it is electronics medical records keepers who ensure the data is entered into the system. It is also their responsibility to convert the medical records into digital format. They assign different medical codes to patient information and enter it all into the company’s database. They submit information such as name, medical history, health issues, diagnosis, treatment, medications, and future appointments. They also make sure the data is secure and accurate and train other employees to do the same.
3. Nursing Informatics Specialist
Nurses have and always will be the backbone of the healthcare system because they are the medical professionals who provide healthcare to patients while also taking care of various administrative duties. Nursing requires a high level of skill and knowledge, which is why qualified RNs are constantly in demand to work with health informatics as nursing informatics specialists. The nursing informatics specialist also oversees the nursing staff and educates them on recording protocol and the importance of accuracy security. Nursing informatics is not only a much-needed position but also one of the most popular career opportunities in the field of health informatics.
4. Pharmacy or Nutrition Informaticist
Pharmacy or nutrition informaticists are important in health informatics. They collect and organize patient and prescription data to make medication more efficient and safe. They use the data to monitor the medication a patient is receiving as well as any reverse reactions the patient may have. When a physician treats a patient, the physician has access to the data regarding any prescriptions the patient may or may not have as well as any prescriptions the patient may currently be taking. A nutrition informaticist uses patient data to make accurate decisions regarding food allergies, nutritional needs and other important information pertaining to nutrition.
5. Chief Medical Information Officer
The chief medical information officer is the individual whose job it is to make sure every department’s information management team is running as efficiently as possible. Using the various information systems available to him or her, the chief medical information officer ensures that all patients are receiving the best quality of patient care. They conduct daily analysis, design software applications and take part in many information technology governance tasks. Although some work in academic settings or government positions, the majority of chief medical information officers work in hospitals.
Employment of healthcare jobs is expected 18% between 2016 and 2026 according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Individuals who are interested in working with data in a healthcare setting may find working as a clinical informaticist very challenging and rewarding. One of the various positive things about health informatics is that it offers career opportunities at all degree levels. With the right training and experience, there are always excellent careers in health informatics.